2 Corinthians 5

Our Heavenly Dwelling

5For we know that if ^kthe tent that is ^lour earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, ^ma house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ²For in this tent ⁿwe groan, longing to ^oput on our heavenly dwelling, ³if indeed by putting it on¹ we may not be found naked. ⁴For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal ^pmay be swallowed up by life. ⁵He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, ^qwho has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.¹

⁶So we are always of good courage. We know that ^rwhile we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, ⁷for ^swe walk by faith, not ^tby sight. ⁸Yes, we are of good courage, and we ^uwould rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to ^vplease him. ¹⁰For ^wwe must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, ^xso that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

¹¹Therefore, knowing ^ythe fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But ^zwhat we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. ^12aWe are not commending ourselves to you again but ^bgiving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. ¹³For if we ^care beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. ¹⁴For the love of Christ ^dcontrols us, because we have concluded this: that ^eone has died for all, therefore all have died; ¹⁵and he died for all, ^fthat those who live might no longer live for themselves but ^gfor him who for their sake died and was raised.

¹⁶From now on, therefore, ^hwe regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. ¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is ⁱin Christ, he is ^ja new creation.^{2 k}The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ¹⁸All this is from God, ^lwho through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us ^mthe ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹that is, in Christ God was reconciling³ the world to himself, ⁿnot counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us ^mthe message of reconciliation. ²⁰Therefore, ^owe are ambassadors for Christ, ^pGod making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. ^21qFor our sake he made him to be sin ^rwho knew no sin, so that in him we might become ^sthe righteousness of God.