Two of the Promises
1. The promise that our Home is Heaven
2. The promised that We are changed
2 Corinthians 5:1-6:13
Our Heavenly Dwelling
For we know that if the tent, which is our earthly home, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened--not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
The Ministry of Reconciliation
Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you."
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.
1. The Promise that our Home is Heaven!
2 Corinthians 5
Vs. 1 "For we know that if the tent, which is our earthly home, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
Vs. 20 "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us."
Vs. 6 "So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith not by sight."
Look at this! We are ambassadors! We have our Heavenly dwelling and a place to live in the foreign land in which we serve!
We have ambassadors from the U.S. in every major country in the world. Some of these countries are very hostile to Americans. These ambassadors however have a place to stay and work out of, their tents so to speak because they aren't permanent. But back in the States, they have a permanent home that wont be taken away.
God does this for us as well. We are His ambassadors here on Earth, but our real home is Heaven!
Once in Heaven we will live with and see God, but here on earth, we must walk by Faith.
2. The promise that We are Changed
Vs. 2 "For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling,"
Vs. 4 "For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened -- not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life."
Vs. 16 "From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer."
Vs. 17 "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Wow! This is great, not only is our True home in heaven, but through Christ we have been made new! We have a longing to be with Christ, that is wanting to put on our heavenly dwelling and we want to be further clothed, that is in our heavenly garments. Paul tells the Corinthians that he no longer regards anyone according to the flesh! Meaning that everyone has an eternal soul and this is how he looks at people. He also says, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away!" We were born into the service of darkness, but Christ has changed us and made us new, now we are of the kingdom of Light! We serve Christ!
So, what should we do with this?
Vs. 5:18-6:1 "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Working together with him, then we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain."
We are to go out and tell of the Good News of Jesus Christ!
Why?
Vs. 5:10 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."
Paul also tells us that it will be a hard road to walk, but he tells us how to walk it and what will happen to us along the way. This is found in 6:4-10
2 Corinthians 4:7-9
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;"
Romans 8:31
"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
In Christ
Dave
2. The promised that We are changed
2 Corinthians 5:1-6:13
Our Heavenly Dwelling
For we know that if the tent, which is our earthly home, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened--not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
The Ministry of Reconciliation
Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you."
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.
1. The Promise that our Home is Heaven!
2 Corinthians 5
Vs. 1 "For we know that if the tent, which is our earthly home, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
Vs. 20 "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us."
Vs. 6 "So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith not by sight."
Look at this! We are ambassadors! We have our Heavenly dwelling and a place to live in the foreign land in which we serve!
We have ambassadors from the U.S. in every major country in the world. Some of these countries are very hostile to Americans. These ambassadors however have a place to stay and work out of, their tents so to speak because they aren't permanent. But back in the States, they have a permanent home that wont be taken away.
God does this for us as well. We are His ambassadors here on Earth, but our real home is Heaven!
Once in Heaven we will live with and see God, but here on earth, we must walk by Faith.
2. The promise that We are Changed
Vs. 2 "For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling,"
Vs. 4 "For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened -- not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life."
Vs. 16 "From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer."
Vs. 17 "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Wow! This is great, not only is our True home in heaven, but through Christ we have been made new! We have a longing to be with Christ, that is wanting to put on our heavenly dwelling and we want to be further clothed, that is in our heavenly garments. Paul tells the Corinthians that he no longer regards anyone according to the flesh! Meaning that everyone has an eternal soul and this is how he looks at people. He also says, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away!" We were born into the service of darkness, but Christ has changed us and made us new, now we are of the kingdom of Light! We serve Christ!
So, what should we do with this?
Vs. 5:18-6:1 "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Working together with him, then we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain."
We are to go out and tell of the Good News of Jesus Christ!
Why?
Vs. 5:10 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."
Paul also tells us that it will be a hard road to walk, but he tells us how to walk it and what will happen to us along the way. This is found in 6:4-10
2 Corinthians 4:7-9
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;"
Romans 8:31
"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
In Christ
Dave
posted by Mark 1:17 at 5:27 AM
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