Date Posted:13:19:24 12/02/01 Sun Author:Rev. Hoyt Noel Jr. Subject: II Corinthians 2:5-21
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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;
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.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ,
I used the preceding chapter in second Corinthians to preface my remarks, however, I would like to point out one thing before beginning. This is a sort of thing that dogma can be formed by, and as most of us know here, dogma is something people hold on to dearly and are not about to give up. Many people are so much into being "religious" that they don't have time for what's really important, having a personal relationship with God and the Lord Jesus Christ. That being said, there are many schools of thought about what will happen to us when we pass from this earthly life, and I suspect, we will for the most part be surprised to find out when it happens to us. I myself subscribe to the absent from the body, present with the Lord school of thought as is indicated in the chapter I have quoted above. Everyone has an opinion, many are different, but everyone has one that they have formulated, if they have thought about it much. If you think about what Paul said here, it could conceivably go either way. It could be that we lie in stasis with our earthly bodies waiting for the day when the Lord returns, or we could be instantly with the Lord. When one considers the love God has for His creations especially in light of the fact that Jesus died for us, it seems the likely prospect would be that we would be going on to be with the Lord at that instant of death. After all, it is the desire of all born again Christians to be with the Lord as much as possible while we are still in our earthly bodies, and the Lord desires to be with us so much He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. It therefore stands to reason (at least to me) that the Lord would call us home as soon as we have left this life. What is really important however, is to live as though Jesus was standing next to you, and desire nothing more than to be with God for all eternity starting right now. If you would not be looking for this and that and signs and wonders, and traditions, and rituals, and such, and just concentrate on following the teachings of the bible, living a godly life, having the indwelling of the spirit, and being in a constant state of prayer, none of this dogma will matter one whit.
Consider Jesus' thoughts: (Luke 12) 22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
And that is what's really important.
In the love of Jesus Christ,
Rev. Hoyt Noel Jr., AAMin, MTh.
Pastor
New Hope Congregational Christian Church
Roanoke, Ala.
Senior pastor/Administrator
The Body of Christ Church Online
