II Corinthians Lesson Page

II Cor. Chapter 5:1-21

Distributed by:  Internet Bible Studies

Memory verses for this week:  1 Pet 5:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, ³According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.  

Introduction:     Last week in Chapter 4, we studied about what the true gospel message is all about.  Paul had been faithful to preach the gospel consistently with truth and sincerity.  He told us that if the gospel be hid, it is hid from those who are lost and deceived by Satan.

I.                    The Future Body and Home of the Child of God 

2 Corinthians 5:1  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

Paul knew if it came down to having “this tabernacle” dissolved by death, he still would have a heavenly building waiting him in heaven.  He would have a resurrected body which will endure forever.  The resurrection body is not a body built with hands bur one built by God.  Verse 2 speaks of how we realize the weakness of our bodies and groan as we anticipate our resurrected body.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 

^{1 Cor. 15:42}  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: ⁴³It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: ⁴⁴It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 

The thing we groan for is not death, but we long to have our bodies transformed.  There is little mentioned in God’s word about what takes place between the time we die and when we go to be present with the Lord.  I believe the moment our eyes close in death, we open to be present with the Lord.  

Philippians 1:23  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

We see that as an assurance that God will fulfill this promise of future glory, He has even now given us the Holy Spirit to give us confidence that it will come to pass.  Verse 6-8 speak of how when we are home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.  But we would much rather be absent from the body and be home with the Lord which is far better.

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

We see that we all (saved Christians) will have to stand before the judgment seat of Christ.  We will not stand there to determine our salvation, only the saved are here at this judgment seat.  This has to do with receiving rewards for what we have done in the body for the cause of Christ.  The determination of going to heaven or hell is made in this life.

Romans 14:10-12  But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord,  every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

1 Corinthians 3:12-15  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.  14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

II.  The Motives of the True Gospel Ministry

11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. 12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.

The fact that we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ is an indication of  the first motive of the true Gospel ministry.  This motive is “the fear of the Lord.”  We know the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  Because of this fear and the knowledge of the terror of the Lord, we persuade men to turn to God.  Though many attack and criticize Paul, he needed no defense because God knew his true motives.  Paul does not intend to praise himself, but wishes to tell what the Lord has done both for and through him.

J. Vernon McGee had these comments on verse 12.

In other words, if you are declaring the full counsel of God, you can do it in a loving manner. You don’t have to bring down thunder and lightning. However, we need to recognize and we need to state very clearly that men are lost. If we do say that, we are not commending ourselves; that is, we are not trying to become popular. I am always afraid of the soft-soap type of thing we hear today. There is so much today that goes the way of psychology, how to become a well-adjusted human being. May I say to you that if you are without Christ, it is not a psychological adjustment that you need. You are a hell-doomed sinner, and you are on the way to hell. What you need is Christ!

It may not make me popular to say this to you, but it is the Word of God. We don’t commend ourselves to you. We don’t want you to glory in us. The important thing for us to do is to declare the whole counsel of God. Our motivation to get out the Word of God is a recognition of God’s judgment. That is the thing that would arouse many a sleepy church member today.

13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. 14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 

Some of Paul’s enemies had accused him of being mad. Others accused him of being sober.  Paul became all things to all men that me might reach some.  Paul was not mad, but a man who was about the Father’s business.  The message that needs to be preached is that Christ died for the sinner.  We need to know him not in the head, but in the heart.   We need to know Jesus as our own Risen Lord and Savior.

III.  The Saved Person Becomes a New Creature in Christ 

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 

When we get saved, we have a new desire in the heart.  We have become a new creature in Christ, and all the old things have passed away.   As baptism so clearly pictures, the old man has died, and the new man has risen to walk in newness of life.   Jesus has reconciled us through Jesus Christ.  To reconcile us to God, He has brought us back to proper relationship with the Heavenly Father.  We could not on our own do this, but we have an advocate with the Father who can. 

^{I John 2:1} My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: ²And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 

 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.  20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.   

We are ambassadors for Christ.  An ambassador is a high minister of state who represents one country in another land.  You and I represent our heavenly country.   If an ambassador fails to properly represent his home country, the chief justice calls him home. How well do we represent our heavenly home?  Verse 21 tells us that Jesus who knew no sin, became sin for us.  Because of Christ, we may be made righteous to God. 

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Prov 4:18  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

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