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.

2 Corinthians 5

Living by Faith, Not by Sight

1 For we know that if our earthly house, the tent we live in,s is dismantled,t we have a building from God, a house not built by human hands, that is eternal in the heavens.2 For in this earthly houset we groan, because we desire to put ont our heavenly dwelling,3 if indeed, after we have put ons our heavenly house,t we will not be found naked.4 For we groan while we are in this tent,s since we are weighed down,t because we do not want to be unclothed, but clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.5 Now the one who prepared us for this very purposet is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.t6 Therefore we are always full of courage, and we know that as long as we are alive here on eartht we are absent from the Lord –7 for we livet by faith, not by sight.8 Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be awayt from the body and at home with the Lord.9 So then whether we are alivet or away, we make it our ambition to please him.t

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,s so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.t

The Message of Reconciliation

11 Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord,t we try to persuadet people,t but we are well knownt to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too.12 We are not trying to commendt ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us,t so that you may be able to answer those who take pridet in outward appearancet and not in what is in the heart.13 For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.14 For the love of Christt controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christt died for all; therefore all have died.15 And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.t16 So then from now on we acknowledget no one from an outward human point of view.t Even though we have known Christ from such a human point of view,t now we do not know him in that way any longer.17 So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed awayt – look, what is news has come!t18 And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.19 In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given ust the message of reconciliation.20 Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His pleat through us. We plead with yout on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”

21 Godt made the one who did not know sins to be sin for us, so that in hims we would become the righteousness of God.