2 Corinthians 5
Our Home in Heaven
1 We know that the earthly tent we live in will be destroyed. But we have a building made by God. It is a house in heaven that lasts forever. Human hands did not build it.
2 During our time on earth we groan. We long to put on our house in heaven as if it were clothing.3 Then we will not be naked.
4 While we live in this tent of ours, we groan under our heavy load. We don't want to be naked. We want to be dressed with our house in heaven. What must die will be swallowed up by life.
5 God has made us for that very purpose. He has given us the Holy Spirit as a down payment. The Spirit makes us sure of what is still to come.
6 So here is what we can always be certain about. As long as we are at home in our bodies, we are away from the Lord.7 We live by believing, not by seeing.8 We are certain about that. We would rather be away from our bodies and at home with the Lord.9 So we try our best to please him. We want to please him whether we are at home in our bodies or away from them.
10 We must all stand in front of Christ to be judged. Each one of us will be judged for the good things and the bad things we do while we are in our bodies. Then each of us will receive what we are supposed to get.
Christ Brings Us Back to God
11 We know what it means to have respect for the Lord. So we try to help other people to understand it.
What we are is plain to God. I hope it is also plain to your way of thinking.12 We are not trying to make an appeal to you again. But we are giving you a chance to take pride in us. Then you can answer those who take pride in how people look rather than in what is really in their hearts.
13 Are we out of our minds? That is because we want to serve God. Does what we say make sense? That is because we want to serve you.
14 Christ's love controls us. We are sure that one person died for everyone. And so everyone died.
15 Christ died for everyone. He died so that those who live should not live for themselves anymore. They should live for Christ. He died for them and was raised again.
16 So from now on we don't look at anyone the way the world does. At one time we looked at Christ in that way. But we don't anymore.
17 Anyone who believes in Christ is a new creation. The old is gone! The new has come!18 It is all from God. He brought us back to himself through Christ's death on the cross. And he has given us the task of bringing others back to him through Christ.
19 God was bringing the world back to himself through Christ. He did not hold people's sins against them. God has trusted us with the message that people may be brought back to him.20 So we are Christ's official messengers. It is as if God were making his appeal through us. Here is what Christ wants us to beg you to do. Come back to God!
21 Christ didn't have any sin. But God made him become sin for us. So we can be made right with God because of what Christ has done for us.
2 Corinthians 5
1 For we know that if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.2 For verily in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from heaven:3 if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.4 For indeed we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened; not for that we would be unclothed, but that we would be clothed upon, that what is mortal may be swallowed up of life.5 Now he that wrought us for this very thing is God, who gave unto us the earnest of the Spirit.6 Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord7 (for we walk by faith, not by sight);8 we are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.9 Wherefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing unto him.10 For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad.11 Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest unto God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.12 We are not again commending ourselves unto you, but speak as giving you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have wherewith to answer them that glory in appearance, and not in heart.13 For whether we are beside ourselves, it is unto God; or whether we are of sober mind, it is unto you.14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died;15 and he died for all, that they that live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who for their sakes died and rose again.16 Wherefore we henceforth know no man after the flesh: even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.17 Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new.18 But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation;19 to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation.20 We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God.21 Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.