2 Corinthians 5
5
Living by Faith
1We are convinced that even if these bodies we live in are folded up at death like tents, we will still have a God-built home that no human hands have built, which will last forever in the heavenly realm. 2We inwardly sigh # 5:2 The Aramaic uses the phrase “to sigh and yearn.” as we live in these physical “tents,” longing to put on a new body for our life in heaven, 3in the belief that once we put on our new “clothing” we won’t find ourselves “naked.” 4So, while living in this “tent,” we groan under its burden, not because we want to die but because we want these new bodies. We crave for all that is mortal to be swallowed up by eternal life. 5And this is no empty hope, for God himself is the one who has prepared us for this wonderful destiny. And to confirm this promise, he has given us the Holy Spirit, like an engagement ring, as a guarantee. # 5:5 By giving us the Holy Spirit, God is making us a promise, a guarantee of receiving our full inheritance. The Greek word for “down payment” (or “pledge”) is arrabōn and is used in Greek culture for “engagement ring.”
6That’s why we’re always full of courage. Even while we’re at home in the body, we’re homesick to be with the Master—7for we live by faith, not by what we see with our eyes. 8We live with a joyful confidence, yet at the same time we take delight in the thought of leaving our bodies behind to be at home with the Lord. 9So whether we live or die # 5:9 Or “at home or away from home.” we make it our life’s passion # 5:9 Or “our driving ambition.” to live our lives pleasing to him. # 5:9 Or “in full agreement with him.” 10For one day we will all be openly revealed before Christ on his throne # 5:10 Or “judgment seat.” so that each of us will be duly recompensed for our actions done in life, # 5:10 Or “done in the body” or “time spent in the body.” The judgment for our sins fell upon Christ on the cross, and the believer will never be judged for his sins. This judgment (scrutinizing) is for rewards. There will be different levels of reward given to believers after death. For some, there will be no reward, yet they will still be saved. See Rom. 14:10–12; 1 Cor. 3:10–15. whether good or worthless.
The Message of Reconciliation
11Since we are those who stand in holy awe of the Lord, # 5:11 Although the Greek word phobos is usually associated with fear or dread, the classic use of the word is “deepest awe/respect.” See 1 John 4:18. we make it our passion to persuade others to turn to him. We know that our lives are transparent before the God who knows us fully, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences. 12Again, we are not taking an opportunity to brag, but giving you information that will enable you to be proud of us, and to answer those who esteem outward appearances while overlooking what is in the heart.
13If we are out of our minds in a blissful, divine ecstasy, # 5:13 The Greek word existēmi means to be outside of one’s self in a state of blissful ecstasy and filled with pleasure. It is to come into another state of consciousness of being lost in wonder and amazement. it is for God, but if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. 14For it is Christ’s love that fuels our passion and holds us tightly, # 5:14 Paul uses the Greek word synechō (syn = “together with”; echō is where we get our English word echo), which is translated as “seize,” “compel,” “urge,” “control,” “lay hold of,” “overwhelm,” “to be held together,” “to grip tightly,” “completely dominate.” Paul is stating that the motivating passion of his life is Christ’s love filling his heart, leaving him no choice but to surrender everything to God. Paul gives us seven empowering motivations by which we are to live our lives: (1) the Holy Spirit—v. 5, (2) faith—v. 7, (3) a joyful confidence that we have new bodies waiting for us in heaven—v. 8, (4) our life’s passion to live for Christ—v. 9, (5) the knowledge of our appointment to stand before Christ—v. 10, (6) our holy awe of God—v. 11, (7) Christ’s endless love for us—v. 14. because we are convinced that he has given his life for all of us. This means all died with him, 15so that those who live # 5:15 Or “and he died for all so that those who live.” The repetitive phrase from v. 14 has been enfolded into the verse for the sake of English clarity. should no longer live self-absorbed lives but lives that are poured out for him—the one who died for us and now lives again. 16So, from now on, we refuse to evaluate people merely by their outward appearances. For that’s how we once viewed the Anointed One, but no longer do we see him with limited human insight. # 5:16 From man’s point of view, Christ was a blasphemer and false teacher. Yet when we see him from the eyes of faith, we view him as the pure and holy one, God’s Son.
17Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new person. All that is related to the old order has vanished. # 5:17 This would include our old identity, our life of sin, the power of Satan, the religious works of trying to please God, our old relationship with the world, and our old mind-sets. We are not reformed or simply refurbished, we are made completely new by our union with Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Behold, everything is fresh and new. # 5:17 Or “Behold, a new order has come!” 18And God has made all things new, # 5:18 As translated from the Aramaic and implied in the Greek. and reconciled # 5:18 Or “who has restored us to friendship with God.” us to himself, and given us the ministry of reconciling others to God. 19In other words, it was through the Anointed One that God was shepherding the world, # 5:19 As translated from the Aramaic. The Greek is “God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them.” not even keeping records of their transgressions, and he has entrusted to us the ministry of opening the door of reconciliation to God. # 5:19 As translated from the Aramaic. 20We are ambassadors # 5:20 To be ambassadors for Christ means that we are his diplomatic agents of the highest rank sent to represent King Jesus and authorized to speak on his behalf. We are the voice of heaven to the earth, invested with royal power through the name of Jesus and authority of his blood. of the Anointed One who carry the message of Christ to the world, as though God were tenderly pleading # 5:20 Or “begging.” with them directly through our lips. So we tenderly plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Turn back to God and be reconciled to him.” 21For God made # 5:21 The Greek word Paul uses is poieō, a verb that, when nominalized, is poiema (poem, or poetry). Christ is God’s poetic masterpiece who became the glorious sacrifice for sin. Though disturbing to the eyes of man, God saw the work of redemption culminated in the masterful poetry of his Son suspended on a cross to give us heaven’s righteousness. Read Isa. 52:10–53:12. the only one who did not know sin to become sin for us, # 5:21 Or “the sin offering.” See Ex. 29:14; Lev. 4:3; Num. 8:8; Eph. 5:2. so that we might become the righteousness of God through our union with him. # 5:21 This one verse is perhaps the greatest verse in the New Testament to describe our salvation through the sinless Savior and his substitutionary death on the cross. A wonderful divine exchange took place at the cross. All of our sins were left there, our guilt was removed and forever gone, and we walked away with all of God’s righteousness. What bliss is ours! Every believer today possesses the perfect and complete righteousness of Christ. We are seen by the Father as righteous as his Son.
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2 Corinthians 5: TPT
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