Common - II Corinthians - 5

5:1  For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

5:2  Here indeed we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,

5:3  so that when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.

5:4  For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed, but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

5:5  Now he who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

5:6  Therefore we are always of good courage; and we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,

5:7  for we walk by faith, not by sight.

5:8  We are confident, I say, and would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

5:9  So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

5:10  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.

5:11  Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men; but what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.

5:12  We are not again commending ourselves to you, but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you may have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.

5:13  For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

5:14  For the love of Christ controls us, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.

5:15  And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

5:16  From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a fleshly point of view; even though we once regarded Christ from a fleshly point of view, we regard him thus no longer.

5:17  Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.

5:18  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

5:19  that is, God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

5:20  We are therefore ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his appeal through us. We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

5:21  For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.