We Should be a New Person, Now that We have Faith in Christ |
2 Corinthians 5:1-21 Paul's 2nd Epistle to the Corinthians [in Smaller Chunks] |
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle, [a.k.a. tent or church,] were dissolved, we have a building [from] God, [a] house not made with [human] hands, [but instead is] eternal, in the heavens. [1 Corinthians 3:9-11 For we are [laborers, a.k.a. workers,] together with God. You are God's [farmers, who plant,] & you are God's building. I have laid the foundation, according to the grace of God, which is given to me, [like] a wise master-builder. And another [builds upon it.] But let every man [pay attention] [to] how he [builds upon it.] For no man can lay [any] other foundation than [what] is laid, which is [through] Jesus Christ.] |
For we groan [about] this, earnestly, [a.k.a. sincerely,] desiring to be clothed, [within] our house, which is from heaven. [Revelation 3:5-6 He [who overcomes,] the same [person] shall be clothed in white [garments.] And I won't blot out his name [from] the Book of Life, but I will confess his name [in front of] My Father, & before His Angels. He [who] has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit [says] to the churches.] |
If [its] so, that being clothed, [then] we shall not be found naked. [Revelation 16:15 *[Watch, I come [like] a thief. Blessed is he, [who watches,] & [keeps] his garments, lest he [walks] naked, & they see his shame.] |
For we, [who] are in this tabernacle, do groan, being burdened, [a.k.a. worried;] not that we would be unclothed, but [being] clothed, that mortality, [a.k.a. death,] might be swallowed up, [by Eternal] Life. [John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, [so] that [whoever believes] in Him, should not perish but have Everlasting Life. For God [didn't send] His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world might be saved through Him.] |
Now, He, [Who has done] the [very] [same] thing for us is God, Who also [has] given the earnest, [a.k.a. down payment,] of the [Holy] Spirit to us. [Ephesians 1:12-14 That we, who 1st trusted in Christ, should be to praise His glory. In Whom you also trusted, after you heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel [for] your Salvation. After that, you also believed, & you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, in Whom is the earnest, [a.k.a. down payment,] of our inheritance, until the redemption purchased [by the blood of Jesus Christ, for this] possession, [for] the praise of His glory.] |
Therefore, we are always confident, knowing that, [while] we are at home in [this] body, we are absent from, [a.k.a. not with,] the Lord. (For we walk, [a.k.a. follow, in] faith, & not by sight.) I say, We are confident, & [instead] willing to be absent from [this] body, [in order] to be present with the Lord. [For this reason,] we [labor, a.k.a. work, so] that we may be accepted [by the Lord,] whether [we are] present or absent. |
For we must all appear [in front of] the judgment seat of Christ; [so] that everyone may receive the things done [through Christ's] body, according to [what] he [has] done, whether [it's] good or bad. [Revelation 22:12-15 *And [watch,] I come quickly; & My reward is with Me, & shall be to give every man according [like] his work, [a.k.a. deeds.] I Am [the] Alpha & Omega, the Beginning & the End, the First & the Last. Blessed are [those, who] do His commandments, [so] that they may have right to the Tree of Life, & may enter in through the gates into the city. For [outside] are: dogs; sorcerers; [sexual traffickers;] murderers; idolaters; & [whoever loves] & [makes] [up] [lies.] |
Therefore, [know] the terror of the Lord, we persuade men, [that] we are made manifest, [a.k.a. visible,] to God. And I trust [that the Lord God] [is] also made [visible within] your consciences. |
For we [don't] commend, [a.k.a. praise,] ourselves to you again, but [we] give you [an] occasion to glory, [a.k.a. boast,] on our behalf. [So that,] you may have [something of which] to answer [those, who glorify] [God] in appearance [only,] & not [within] [their] heart. |
For whether we [are] beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we [are] sober, it's for your [case.] For the love of Christ [constrains, a.k.a. controls,] us; because we judge [like this:] that if One died for all, then all were dead. [Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is Eternal Life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.] |
And that [Jesus Christ] died for all, [so] that [those, who] live, should [no longer] live unto themselves [from now on,] but [they should live] to Him, [Who] died for them, & rose again. |
[For this reason, we know no man [according to] the flesh [from now on, although] we have known Christ [in] the flesh. [1 Corinthians 15:3-10 *For 1st of all, I delivered to you [what] I also received, [about] how Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures. And that [Christ] was buried, & that He rose again the 3rd day, according to the Scriptures. And that [Jesus Christ] was seen [by] Cephas, [a.k.a. Simon Peter,] then [by] the 12. After that, [Jesus] was seen [by over] 500 brethren at once. Of whom the greater part, [a.k.a. majority,] remain to this [day,] but some [have] fallen asleep, [a.k.a. died.] After that, [Jesus] was seen [by] James; then [by] all of the apostles. And last of all, [Jesus Christ] was also seen [by] me, [like by] one born out of due time, [a.k.a. like a past-due baby.] For I am the least of the apostles, & I'm not [worthy] to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God, I am what I am. And [God's] grace which was bestowed, [a.k.a. presented to,] me, wasn't [done] in vain. But I [labored] more abundantly than all [those; still,] not I, but [it was accomplished through] the grace of God which was with me.] |
[As of now,] we [don't] know, [a.k.a. recognize,] Christ [anymore.] Therefore, if any man [is] [a believer] in Christ, he is a new creature, [a.k.a. creation.] Old things are passed away, & [see,] all things [have] become new. [Colossians 3:9-10 [Don't] lie to one another, [since] you have put off the old man with [its] deeds; & have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge, [according to] the image of Him, [Who] created him.] |
And all things are [from] God, Who [has] reconciled, [a.k.a. restored,] us to [Him, through] Jesus Christ, & [has] given us the ministry of reconciliation, [a.k.a. reuniting.] |
[Specifically,] that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself. Not imputing, [a.k.a. attributing,] their trespasses, [a.k.a. sins,] to them. And [God] has committed to us the Word, [a.k.a. Gospel,] of reconciliation. [Romans 3:23-24 For all have sinned, & come short of the glory of God; being freely justified by His grace through the redemption, that is in Christ Jesus.] |
Then, we are now ambassadors for Christ, as though God did [urge] you, [through] us. In Christ's stead, [a.k.a. place,] we pray [that] you [are] reconciled to God. For He [has] made [Jesus Christ,] Who knew no sin, to be [an atonement for our] sin for us; [so] that we might be made, [a.k.a. become,] the righteousness of God [through Jesus Christ.] [1 Peter 2:24 Who His Ownself, [bore] our sins in His Own body on the [cross made from a] tree, by Whose stripes we are healed, [so] that we, being dead to [sin, would] live unto righteousness.] |