1 Assurance of the Resurrection For we know that if Job 4:19;1 Cor. 15:47;2 Cor. 4:7 our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house Mark 14:58; Acts 7:48; Heb. 9:11, 24 not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this Rom. 8:23;2 Cor. 5:4 we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,
3 if indeed, Rev. 3:18 having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.
4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, 1 Cor. 15:53 but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.
5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also Rom. 8:23; (2 Cor. 1:22); Eph. 1:14 has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.
7 For Rom. 8:24; Heb. 11:1 we walk by faith, not by sight.
8 We are confident, yes, Phil. 1:23 well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
9 The Judgment Seat of Christ Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
10 Matt. 16:27; Acts 10:42; Rom. 2:16; 14:10, 12 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, Gal. 6:7; Eph. 6:8 that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
11 Knowing, therefore, (Heb. 10:31; 12:29; Jude 23) the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
12 Be Reconciled to God For 2 Cor. 3:1 we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity 2 Cor. 1:14; Phil. 1:26 to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.
13 For Mark 3:21;2 Cor. 11:1, 16; 12:11 if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that (Rom. 5:15; 6:6; Gal. 2:20; Col. 3:3) if One died for all, then all died;
15 and He died for all, (Rom. 6:11) that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
16 2 Cor. 10:3 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, (Matt. 12:50) yet now we know Him thus no longer.
17 Therefore, if anyone (John 6:63) is in Christ, he is (Rom. 8:9) a new creation; Is. 43:18; 65:17; (Eph. 4:24); Rev. 21:4 old things have passed away; behold, all things have become (Rom. 6:3–10; Col. 3:3) new.
18 Now all things are of God, Rom. 5:10; (Eph. 2:16; Col. 1:20) who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
19 that is, that (Rom. 3:24) God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are Mal. 2:7; Eph. 6:20 ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
21 For Is. 53:6, 9 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become (Rom. 1:17; 3:21); 1 Cor. 1:30 the righteousness of God in Him.