2 Corinthians 5 - Made into Ambassadors for Christ

2 Corinthians 5 - Made into Ambassadors for Christ5 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, 3 inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. 4 For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.For we know (certain) that if the earthly tent which is our house (body) is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens (resurrected body).For indeed in this house we groan (in our earthly body) longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven (looking forward to our heavenly body)So that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life (swallowed up by eternal life)Inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed (spiritually)Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge (a down payment on signed contract – a done deal) A deposit toward our guaranteed redemption !6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight— 8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.Therefore (because of this guaranteed redemption) being always of good courage (because we know that we know what’s next). … Knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord we walk by faith, not by sight (it takes faith to see yourself in heaven because you can’t see it yet)… we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with Lord (we can’t wait to be in heaven with the Lord because we know its so much better).Therefore (because of these facts) we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.  So whether we live or die we want to be pleasing to Him (The Lord).For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. We do get judged by Christ and recompensed for good or bad (blessings and corrections).11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences. Knowing the fear of the Lord (the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom) Pro 9:10… knowing this… we persuade men … but we are made manifest to God (brought to light, visible, known for who we are).. and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences (lit up, visible, real in your conscience)  you know and feel what we have said is true and it compels you!12 We are not again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride iWelcome to the Outbless Weekly bible study hosted by bible teacher and humber servant Michael Metcalf Thank you for listening to The Outbless weekly bible