Our Eternal Dwelling// Romans 8:18–27
1For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4For while we are in this tent, we groan under our burdens, because we do not wish to be unclothed but clothed, so that our mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5And it is God who has prepared us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a pledge of what is to come.
6Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord. 7For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So we aspire to please Him, whether we are at home in this body or away from it. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
- 2CO 5:8[NOTABLE]For a believer, death is not the end of the story. To be away from the body is to be at home with the Lord. Paul says the same in Philippians 1:23: to depart and be with Christ is far better.
- 2CO 5:10[PROPHECY]We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad → STILL TO COME
- 2CO 5:10[FIELD NOTES]The judgment seat is the Greek word bema, the same raised platform in the forum of Corinth where Paul stood before Gallio, Acts 18:12. Every Corinthian had seen it. See the Gallio Field Notes page in Acts.
Ambassadors for Christ
11Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well. 12We are not commending ourselves to you again. Instead, we are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you can answer those who take pride in appearances rather than in the heart.
13If we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died. 15And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.
16So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
- 2CO 5:17[NOTABLE]Not a cleaned up version of the old you. A brand new creation. The old has passed away, so your past does not get the final word.
18All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
- 2CO 5:18[FULFILLS]To make reconciliation for iniquity ← DAN 9:24b
20Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God. 21God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
- 2CO 5:21[FULFILLS]Wounded for our transgressions and 2 more ← IS 53:5a; JER 23:5-6; ZECH 3:4
- 2CO 5:21[NOTE]THE GREAT EXCHANGE. Jesus took our sin, and we get His righteousness. Martin Luther called this the happy exchange: Christ takes on everything bad that belongs to us, and we receive everything good that belongs to Him. It is the whole gospel in one verse.