2 CORINTHIANS Chapter 5 - We Live By Faith Not By Sight

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)