2 Corinthians 5
Book of 2 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
the word tabernacle here is the old English word for Tent. Paul is showing us an important perspective that all christians should adopt. our Earthly house is a tent, a temporary dwelling place. It’s not our final destination and it should not be our main focus in life. We should life like we know our house is just a temporary dwelling that we will move on from.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
The temporary housing we have now and the living difficulties we may face now, should make us desire more and more for the final clothing and home previsions that will be provided by Christ! I don’t desire to improve my earthly standing because that will not last anyways, instead my innermost desire is for the final home and clothing provided by Christ that can not be taken away and whose value can not be decreased by a fluctuating stock market.
5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
Christ knew when we got saved that we would have a life full of hardships and that we would need help to keep us on track. So He sent the Holy Spirit as a downpayment, giving us comfort and reminding us of the promise and hope we have to look forward too.
when you buy a house or car, usually you make a down payment. This reassures the bank that I have the ability to make the monthly payment. This gives the bank confidence. It’s the same with Jesus, the Holy spirit was given to us ahead of time to give us confidence that what He said he would do, He will do!
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
It’s funny because when you buy a house with a loan, Usually you look forward to that day when it’s yours and you don’t owe any money. Its fully yours! Jesus is looking forward to that day as well and he is getting things ready for that, and we too are looking forward to that day!
The day when the labouring, heart ache, pain, sickness and hardships are over! Here Paul is telling us to labour with that thought in mind! Remember, Christ will judge all of us based on our works, salvation is secure through faith but there is still the Judgement seat of Christ where all believers are rewarded for those things we did for Christ! Not for your own glory but the things you did purely to bring glory to Christ!
11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. 12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
They know the wrath and judgement of God and this pushes them to share the gospel, their intentions are on display and fully known to God and Paul is expressing that he desires the church at Corinth to understand his motives as well.
Paul desires that the church in Corinth praise God together for the right reasons. Do not give glory to people because of their outward actions, instead give glory to God the hearts that have been healed and made whole.
13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
Simply put if we are going completely crazy it is for the cause of God and it will look like foolishness to the world, but the worlds perspective looks correct but thats is for your own purpose, not for Gods. To follow God’s cause, many times looks crazy to people and to follow mans ideas looks correct even when its not.
2 Corinthians 5:13 (AMP)
13 For if we are beside ourselves [mad, as some say], it is for God and concerns Him; if we are in our right mind, it is for your benefit,
14 For the love of Christ constrains us, because we thus judge: that if one died for all, then all have died. 15 And He died for all, that those who live should not from now on live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
Constrains = synéchō = to Hold together. The love of Christ holds us together both with Christ and with each other. So if one dies, Christ, than we all die so that just as Christ lives, we all live, but we do not live for ourselves any more. we now live for Christ! and that life in Christ is lived in perfect unity will all believers.
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
We no longer look at each other according to our fleshly bodies. We now look at each other according to our new position as children of Christ! We who believe are all new creatures, our spirit is now made alive and we are now in one body, the body of Christ, with one goal! serving God!
18 All this is from God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their sins against them, and has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation. 20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us. We implore you in Christ’s stead: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
What a great way to end this weeks sermon, We who believe have been reconciled to God (have a restored relationship with God) as such, we now have the ministry given to us to help show others How they too can have a restored relationship with God!
I will add here the same sentiment that Paul added and I implore or urge all of you who do not have a relationship with God, those who have never believed in Him for salvation, to do that today!
God made Jesus, who never sinned, to take on your sin to buy you a relationship with God! Believe in Him for salvation and run to him and make Him your father! He is waiting to adopt you and put His son’s righteousness on you! come to Him today and be made a new creature, with a new purpose and a new family!