We
Live By Faith Not By Sight
NOW
WE KNOW
THAT
IF THE EARTHLY TENT WE LIVE IN IS DESTROYED,
WE
HAVE A BUILDING FROM GOD,
AND
ETERNAL HOUSE IN HEAVEN,
NOT
BUILT BY HUMAN HANDS.
2
MEANWHILE WE GROAN,
LONGING
TO BE CLOTHED WITH OUR HEAVENLY DWELLING,
3
BECAUSE WHEN WE ARE CLOTHED,
WE
WILL NOT BE FOUND NAKED.
4
For while we are in this Tent,
We
Groan and are Burdened,
Because
we do not wish to be Unclothed
BUT
TO BE CLOTHED WITH OUR HEAVENLY DWELLING,
SO
THAT WHAT IS MORTAL
MAY
BE SWALLOWED UP BY LIFE.
5
NOW IT IS GOD WHO HAS MADE US FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE
AND
HAS GIVEN US THE SPIRIT AS A DEPOSIT,
GUARANTEEING
WHAT IS TO COME.
6
Therefore we are always Confident
And
know that as long as we are at home in the body
We
are away from the Lord.
7
WE LIVE BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT.
8
We are Confident, I say,
AND
WOULD PREFER TO BE AWAY FROM THE BODY
AND
AT HOME WITH THE LORD.
9
SO WE MAKE IT OUR GOAL TO PLEASE HIM,
WHETHER
WE ARE AT HOME IN THE BODY
OR
AWAY FROM IT.
10
FOR WE MUST ALL APPEAR
BEFORE
THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST,
THAT
EACH ONE MAY RECEIVE WHAT IS DUE HIM
FOR
THE THINGS DONE WHILE IN THE BODY,
WHETHER
GOOD OR BAD.
The
Ministry Of Reconciliation
11
SINCE, THEN, WE KNOW WHAT IT IS TO FEAR THE LORD,
WE
TRY TO PERSUADE MEN.
What
we are is Plain to God,
And
I hope it is also Plain to your Conscience.
12
We do not try to Commend ourselves to you again,
But
are giving you an Opportunity to take Pride in us,
So
that you can answer those who take Pride in what is seen
RATHER
THAN WHAT IS IN THE HEART.
13
If we are out of our mind,
It
is for the sake of God;
If
we are in our right mind,
It
is for you.
14
FOR CHRIST'S LOVE COMPELS US,
BECAUSE
WE ARE CONVINCED
THAT
ONE DIED FOR ALL,
AND
THEREFORE ALL DIED.
15
And 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.
16
SO FROM NOW ON
WE
REGARD NO ONE FROM A WORLDLY POINT OF VIEW.
THOUGH
WE ONCE REGARDED CHRIST IN THIS WAY,
WE
DO SO NO LONGER.
17
THEREFORE IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST
HE
IS A NEW CREATION;
THE
OLD HAS GONE,
THE
NEW HAS COME!
18
All this is from God,
WHO
RECONCILED US TO HIMSELF THROUGH CHRIST
AND
GAVE US THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION:
19
THAT GOD WAS RECONCILING THE WORLD TO HIMSELF
IN
CHRIST,
NOT
COUNTING MEN'S SINS AGAINST THEM.
AND
HE HAS COMMITTED TO US THE MESSAGE OF RECONCILIATION.
20
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.
21
GOD MADE HIM WHO HAD NO SIN
TO
BE SIN FOR US,
SO
THAT IN HIM
WE
MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.
(2
Corinthians 5)
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