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Great Thoughts - 2 Corinthians 5
Great Thoughts From 2 Corinthians 5
Some chapters are just packed with great thoughts and this is one of those chapters. I chose to simply quote a verse and add a short comment as I worked my way through this chapter.
2 Corinthians 5:6–7 6So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7for we walk by faith, not by sight.
We have never seen God, Jesus, or heaven yet we live our lives with the hope of seeing all three. Those who will only ‘believe’ what they see end up only believing in temporary things. For us however such faith is not ‘blind faith’ that is unreasonable, but based upon evidence that God has provided.
2 Corinthians 5:9 9So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
So we walk by faith but such trust in God has at its core the desire to please our Lord. Our values, goals, and principles don’t change with our location but are secure in our trust in God.
2 Corinthians 5:10 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
Our principles and our life choices are grounded in our faith but that faith includes the reality of accountability. Death does not end our accountability, but will rather usher us towards the day of giving an account. Such also forms the foundation for the ultimate justice for we trust that God will make all things right in the end. This allows us to deal with things that are less than perfect now.
2 Corinthians 5:11 11Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.
Hence our walking by faith has as part of its foundation the reality of judgment and the realization of how terrible it will be for those who are ungodly and obey not the gospel (2 Thess. 1:8). The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
2 Corinthians 5:14–15 14For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
Love may trump fear as the ultimate motive, but fear is often the beginning point of this relationship with God. As we grow in our relationship with Jesus, we find that our love for Him and all that He stands for takes control of our lives. We choose to serve him not out of fear of judgment but out of love.
2 Corinthians 5:17 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
As we come to grips with God and His wrath against our sin, we also come to grips with the fact that God will forgive and let us start all over. Our history truly isn’t the measure of who we NOW are in Christ. Such WERE some of you - but you were washed, sanctified, and justified in Jesus (see 1 Cor. 6:9-11).
2 Corinthians 5:21 21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
This is what changed everything. He did set an example but none of us live up to it. His perfection was the foundation of the once-for-all acceptable sacrifice for the sin of the world. Through his sacrificial death we have been cleansed and forgiven. Our righteousness is a declared righteousness based upon such forgiveness.
Thank you Lord, for giving purpose and hope to our lives. Hugh DeLong
