Introduction
Theme of 2 Corinthians
“Suffering and weakness are the patterns of Gospel ministry.”
Segway
The picture painted by the patriarch Abraham in a good backdrop for our passage tonight.
Hebrews 11.8-10
8 By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Big Idea
The confidence
that the Holy Spirit gives us in the resurrection
is a powerful motivation
to please God.
I. Our Groan
For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.
Tent used to denote the body
Emphasizes the temporary/transient character of the body
Compared to a house
Destroyed like “dismantled” (net) or taken down (wuest, nlt)
A. We Know—we have a building from God (resurrection body)
From God
Not made with hands
Eternal
In the Heavens
B. We Groan—desiring our habitation from Heaven
Creation groans
cf Romans 8.23-25
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
C. We Want—mortality to be swallowed up by life
“It may be that tin emphasizing the future embodied state he is countering the Gnostic ideas of salvation (the release of the soul from the prison of the body) which may have been of some influence in Corinth.” --Colin Kruse TNTC
THOUGHT
We don’t want to be rid of the body. (Hinduism, etc.)
The Christian hope is not for the body to be dissolved but to be transformed.
“With Paul there is a difference. He is not looking for a Nirvana with the peace of extinction; he is not looking for absorption in the divine; he is not looking for the freedom of a disembodies spirit; he is waiting for the day when God will give him a new body, a spiritual body, in which he will still be able, even in the heavenly places, to service and to adore God.” William Barclay.
II. Our Confidence
5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6 So we are always confident, knowing that while 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, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
A. Our Guarantee—the Holy Spirit
cf. 2 Corinthians 1:20-22
20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
Ephesians 1.13b-14 …you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
B. Our Walk—by faith not by sight (what is seen)
cf. 2 Corinthians 1:20-22
20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
The patriarchs in Hebrews 11.13-14
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
C. Our Confidence—absent from the body is present with the Lord Phil’p 1
Believers have not need to fear death. It is the realization of their hopes.
APPLICATION:
For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21
III. Our Aim
9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
A. Our Aim (goal)—to please God
Well pleasing
How to we please God?
1. Do not live according to the flesh --Romans 8.5-8
2. Be spiritually minded --Romans 8:6-8
3. Have faith in God --Hebrews 11:6
4. Fear God and hope in His mercy --Psalm 147:10-11
5. Praise God with our lips --Hebrews :15-16
B. Our motivation—the judgment seat of Christ
2 Corinthians 5.10 "... whether good or bad."
Good is "agathos" useful, pleasant, honorable, etc...
Bad is "phaulos" common, worthless, of no account.
These are helpful constructs for us to evaluate our thoughts, words, and actions. We should go beyond (not away from) simple do's and don'ts to the idea of considering what has eternal value versus the temporal rubbish that just takes up space. Maybe think of it as editing out unnecessary, vague words in a paper or article. Think of it as throwing out the clutter or avoiding substandard building materials for high-quality ones that will stand up to normal wear and tear.
Good is "agathos" useful, pleasant, honorable, etc...
Bad is "phaulos" common, worthless, of no account.
These are helpful constructs for us to evaluate our thoughts, words, and actions. We should go beyond (not away from) simple do's and don'ts to the idea of considering what has eternal value versus the temporal rubbish that just takes up space. Maybe think of it as editing out unnecessary, vague words in a paper or article. Think of it as throwing out the clutter or avoiding substandard building materials for high-quality ones that will stand up to normal wear and tear.
cf. 1 Cor. 3.10-15 (Cf. Romans 14:10-12)
12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.
APPLICATION: Don’t despise the treasure of Christ for a passing pleasure. A Moss
