Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 5

{5:1} For we know that if the earthly house of our tent is
dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands,
eternal, in the heavens. {5:2} For most certainly in this we groan,
longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven; {5:3}
if so be that being clothed we will not be found naked. {5:4} For
indeed we who are in this tent do groan, being burdened; not that we
desire to be unclothed, but that we desire to be clothed, that what is
mortal may be swallowed up by life. {5:5} Now he who made us for this
very thing is God, who also gave to us the down payment of the Spirit.

{5:6} Therefore, we are always confident and know that while we are
at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord; {5:7} for we walk by
faith, not by sight. {5:8} We are of good courage, I say, and are
willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the
Lord. {5:9} Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or
absent, to be well pleasing to him. {5:10} For we must all be revealed
before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the
things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or
bad. {5:11} Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men,
but we are revealed to God; and I hope that we are revealed also in
your consciences. {5:12} For we are not commending ourselves to you
again, but speak as giving you occasion of boasting on our behalf,
that you may have something to answer those who boast in appearance,
and not in heart. {5:13} For if we are beside ourselves, it is for
God. Or if we are of sober mind, it is for you. {5:14} For the love of
Christ constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all,
therefore all died. {5:15} He died for all, that those who live should
no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and
rose again. {5:16} Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now
on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know
him so no more. {5:17} Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have
become new. {5:18} But all things are of God, who reconciled us to
himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of
reconciliation; {5:19} namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the
world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having
committed to us the word of reconciliation. {5:20} We are therefore
ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us:
we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. {5:21} For him
who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we
might become the righteousness of God.



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