©2002 Pastor Tom Miles

This chapter begins with the words, “the house not made with hands,” a very weighty phrase contrasting our earthly body with the resurrection body.  Paul addresses issues pertaining to temporal and eternal matters.  Father, help us understand Your Word as we meditate upon it!

2 Corinthians 5:1 Paul says this body we live in (our earthly house) is just a tent or tabernacle designed for temporary use not designed as a lasting dwelling place.  It is simply a habitation for our spirit or soul while on this earth.  Paul moves on to speak of our resurrection body saying it is not built with earthly hands (2 Peter 1:13-14 & 2 Corinthians 5:6-8).

2 Corinthians 5:2-3 Our body, our earthly tabernacle covered with flesh and pulsing with blood will no longer be once we are called to our eternal home.  We will receive a glorious and new body at that time.  This fleshly body cannot enter heaven but our resurrection body will be glorious, immortal and imperishable.  We will not be found without a body, without clothing, for we will have exactly what God has created for us!  We will be clothed with our heavenly bodies.

2 Corinthians 5:4-5 Paul says this tent is simply our dwelling for the journey to eternal life or eternal damnation.  To groan for deliverance from it means that the burdens we face with this fleshly body are great and demanding.  Sin has caused many things to happen to our bodies that have caused great decay and death to our physical being and Paul longs for the resurrected body that will be free from pain and burdens.  It is not that he wishes to die but just that he longs to be with Jesus clothed with the heavenly raiment our spiritual bodies will take on when Christ comes for us.  At this time of resurrection for these fleshly bodies we will take on immortality.  Paul states that it is the Spirit of Christ in us that causes us to groan for the glory, justification, sanctification, and redemption of our souls to receive the pledge of God's divine love (Romans 8:23 1 Corinthians 15:53; and 2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:4).

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 When we know that being in this body means being absent from the Lord physically but not spiritually it should cause our faith to grow, which in turn should cause us to walk more by our faith instead of by sight.  We should long for being with Christ!  Being absent from this body and present with the Lord should be our desire daily.  Even though we walk in the flesh we can be in the spirit.  Christ came as an example to show us that it is possible to walk in the fleshly mortal body yet still be one with God!

2 Corinthians 5:9-10 Paul tells us we are to endeavor to be well pleasing to Christ!  It makes no difference if we are in this body or absent from this body we must live as if we are with Christ at all times realizing there will be a day when Christ will judge us all and it is to our benefit that our life till that day is one in line with God's will for us.  Because it is determined by our deeds and walk with Christ as to how we will be judged!  Works will not take us to heaven, but works must be a part of our life if Christ dwells in us.

2 Corinthians 5:11 We are motivated by the fear of the Lord does not mean they are afraid of the Lord but instead means they revere the Lord.  They are in awe of Him and respect Him with greatness.  They know of the Lord's ability to bring life and take life.  They know of the judgment the Lord says will come at the return of Christ.  It is because of their knowledge of the Lord and their fear of Him that they desire earnestly deliver the Word of Christ to all people.  Paul says that not only do they know of him and what he speaks but also God knows him and knows what he speaks to be the truth.

2 Corinthians 5:12-13 Paul's greatest desire is to live for God in all areas of his life and to live in a manner of servitude to the Corinthians so they can see that it is God that gets the glory and so they can see the truth of Christ to distinguish from false teachers that will come against God's chosen ones (Acts 26). Many of the things Paul did seemed to some to be that of a mad man.  His zealousness, visions, revelations from God would cause many to feel that way towards him.  Paul says though that he does all things for their good!

2 Corinthians 5:14-17 For the love of Christ which comes to us and our love going to Him controls us if we are willing to let it.  We are controlled by the love of Christ who gave His all for every person in the world and Paul says that he now lives just for Christ.  This is how we should live also--just for Christ.  We are all born with the nature to sin and had man been born any differently Christ would not have had to die for them.  We should from the minute we accept Christ live for Him instead of living unto ourselves.  We so often fail to change anything in our life waiting for Christ to come in and do it for us.  We have to make the change though.  We cannot continue on expecting God to just change us when He desires.  We must make an effort showing God we are serious about Him.
Paul says that he no longer makes judgments on how a person looks or acts, or what others say about him.  Paul believes if a person is in Christ then they are a new person, a new creation, and all things have become new.  If the person truly is in Christ than they are willing to make changes and see things in a new light and take on a completely new outlook on life throwing away the old way of living and taking on a new way through Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Paul says we have been reconciled to God through Jesus Christ and have the ministry of reconciliation which means we are in the position through Christ to offer reconciliation to others.  We can bring others to Christ and through Christ they can be reconciled to God!  God has offered to the world through Jesus reconciliation and HE has dedicated the ministry of reconciliation to Paul and others.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 As apostles of Christ we are to spread the Gospel of Christ through out the world.  Christ willingly became sin so that we might live free from sin.  Christ hung on the cross and suffered death and burial so that we could become the righteousness of God in HIM!

Father, thank You for giving Christ so that I might live and become the righteousness of YOU in HIM!  Make me always conscious of what Christ did for me.  Let me never forget the cross, the death, the burial and most importantly the resurrection and ascension of JESUS!  Jesus I thank You for becoming sin for me so I could live free from sin in Your name I pray Amen!

Where Jesus is Lord!
Living Vine Ministries
Pastor Thomas Miles

For instructions on being Born Again click on banner at top of page.
Thank you for reading.