2 Corinthians 5

1 For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven-God-made, not handmade2-4 - and we'll never have to relocate our "tents" again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move-and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what's coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we're tired of it! We've been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies!5 The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what's ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less.

6 That's why we live with such good cheer. You won't see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don't get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead.7 It's what we trust in but don't yet see that keeps us going.8 Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we'll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming.

9 But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing. Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that's what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions.10 Sooner or later we'll all have to face God, regardless of our conditions. We will appear before Christ and take what's coming to us as a result of our actions, either good or bad.

11 That keeps us vigilant, you can be sure. It's no light thing to know that we'll all one day stand in that place of Judgment. That's why we work urgently with everyone we meet to get them ready to face God. God alone knows how well we do this, but I hope you realize how much and deeply we care.12 We're not saying this to make ourselves look good to you. We just thought it would make you feel good, proud even, that we're on your side and not just nice to your face as so many people are.13 If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you.

A New Life

14 Christ's love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do.15 He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.

16 Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't look at him that way anymore.17 Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it!18 All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other.19 God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing.20 We're Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God's work of making things right between them. We're speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you.

21 How? you say. In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.

2 Corinthians 6

Staying at Our Post

1 Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don't squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us.2 God reminds us, I heard your call in the nick of time; The day you needed me, I was there to help.3 Don't put it off; don't frustrate God's work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we're doing.4 Our work as God's servants gets validated-or not-in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times;5 when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating;6 with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love;7 when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing his power; when we're doing our best setting things right;8 when we're praised, and when we're blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted;9 ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die;10 immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.

11 Dear, dear Corinthians, I can't tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life.12 We didn't fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren't small, but you're living them in a small way.13 I'm speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!

14 Don't become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That's not partnership; that's war. Is light best friends with dark?15 Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands?16 Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God's holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way: "I'll live in them, move into them; I'll be their God and they'll be my people.17 So leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good," says God. "Don't link up with those who will pollute you. I want you all for myself.18 I'll be a Father to you; you'll be sons and daughters to me."

2 Corinthians 7

1 With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let's make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let's make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God. More Passionate, More Responsible

More Passionate, More Responsible

2 Trust us. We've never hurt a soul, never exploited or taken advantage of anyone.3 Don't think I'm finding fault with you. I told you earlier that I'm with you all the way, no matter what.4 I have, in fact, the greatest confidence in you. If only you knew how proud I am of you! I am overwhelmed with joy despite all our troubles.

5 When we arrived in Macedonia province, we couldn't settle down. The fights in the church and the fears in our hearts kept us on pins and needles. We couldn't relax because we didn't know how it would turn out.6 Then the God who lifts up the downcast lifted our heads and our hearts with the arrival of Titus.7 We were glad just to see him, but the true reassurance came in what he told us about you: how much you cared, how much you grieved, how concerned you were for me. I went from worry to tranquility in no time!

8 I know I distressed you greatly with my letter. Although I felt awful at the time, I don't feel at all bad now that I see how it turned out. The letter upset you, but only for a while.9 Now I'm glad-not that you were upset, but that you were jarred into turning things around. You let the distress bring you to God, not drive you from him. The result was all gain, no loss.

10 Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain. But those who let distress drive them away from God are full of regrets, end up on a deathbed of regrets.

11 And now, isn't it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You're more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible. Looked at from any angle, you've come out of this with purity of heart.12 And that is what I was hoping for in the first place when I wrote the letter. My primary concern was not for the one who did the wrong or even the one wronged, but for you-that you would realize and act upon the deep, deep ties between us before God.

13 That's what happened-and we felt just great.14 If I went out on a limb in telling Titus how great I thought you were, you didn't cut off that limb. As it turned out, I hadn't exaggerated one bit. Titus saw for himself that everything I had said about you was true.15 He can't quit talking about it, going over again and again the story of your prompt obedience, and the dignity and sensitivity of your hospitality. He was quite overwhelmed by it all!16 And I couldn't be more pleased-I'm so confident and proud of you.