Our Heavenly Dwelling
1
For we know that if 1the tent that is 2our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, 3a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
3
if indeed by putting it ona we may not be found naked.
4
For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened--not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal 6may be swallowed up by life.
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He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, 7who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
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So we are always of good courage. We know that 8while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,
8
Yes, we are of good courage, and we 11would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
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So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to 12please him.
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For 13we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, 14so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
The Ministry of Reconciliation
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Therefore, knowing 15the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But 16what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.
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17We are not commending ourselves to you again but 18giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart.
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For if we 19are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.
14
For the love of Christ 20controls us, because we have concluded this: that 21one has died for all, therefore all have died;
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and he died for all, 22that those who live might no longer live for themselves but 23for him who for their sake died and was raised.
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From now on, therefore, 24we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.
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Therefore, if anyone is 25in Christ, he is 26a new creation.b27 The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
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All this is from God, 28who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us 29the ministry of reconciliation;
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that is, in Christ God was reconcilingc the world to himself, 30not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us 31the message of reconciliation.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)