Introduction

Second Corinthians 5 moves from present suffering to future hope. Paul longs for the heavenly body, lives to please Christ, and describes the ministry of reconciliation—God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us.

Longing for the Heavenly Body (verses 1-10)

We know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God—an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when clothed we will not be found naked. While in this tent we groan, burdened, not because we want to be unclothed but to be clothed with the heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. God made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Therefore we are always confident and know that while at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please Him, whether present in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

• Tent to Building: Earthly body is temporary; heavenly body is eternal
• Spirit as Deposit: The Holy Spirit guarantees our future
• Faith Not Sight: We walk believing what we cannot see
• Please Him: Our goal whether alive or dead

The Ministry of Reconciliation (verses 11-21)

Since we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and Paul hopes it is plain to their conscience. He is not trying to commend himself again but giving them an opportunity to take pride in him, to answer those who take pride in appearance rather than heart. If Paul is out of his mind, it is for God; if in his right mind, it is for them. For Christ's love compels them, because they are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died and was raised.

From now on Paul regards no one from a worldly point of view. Though once he regarded Christ this way, he does so no longer. If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Key Takeaways

• New Creation: In Christ, everything is made new
• Reconciled: God brought us from enmity to peace through Christ
• Ambassadors: We represent Christ's appeal to the world
• Great Exchange: He became sin so we could become righteous

Reflection Questions

• Is your goal to please Christ whether alive or with Him in death?
• What does it mean to you that you are a new creation in Christ?
• How are you fulfilling your role as Christ's ambassador?