Our Future after Death

5 For we know that if our temporary, earthly dwelling g h is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling i in the heavens, j not made with hands. k 2 Indeed, we groan in this body, desiring l to put on our dwelling from heaven, 3 since, when we are clothed, m we will not be found naked. n 4 Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality o may be swallowed up by life. 5 And the One who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.

6 So, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we * walk by faith, p not by sight, q 8 and we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord. r 9 Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing s to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the tribunal t of Christ, u so that each may be repaid v for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless.

11 Therefore, because we know the * fear of the Lord, w we seek to persuade people. We are completely open before God, and I hope we are completely open to your consciences as well. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in the outward appearance x rather than in the heart. 13 For if we are out of our mind, y it is for God; if we have a sound mind, z it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels a us, since we have reached this conclusion: If One died for all, b then all died. 15 And He died for all c so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, d but for the One e who died for them and was raised.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

16 From now on, then, we do not know f anyone in a purely human way. g Even if we have known h Christ in a purely human way, i yet now we no longer know j Him in this way. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; k old things have passed away, and look, l new things m have come. n 18 Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: o 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world p to Himself, q not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors r for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, s “Be reconciled to God.” 21 He made the One who did not know sin t to be sin u for us, v so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.