2 Corinthians 5:1-21

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy
Series: 2 Corinthians (Acts)

Rusty's Notes

• Paul has spent the last couple of chapters explaining what authentic ministry is.

OUR FUTURE AFTER DEATH
2 CORINTHIANS 5
1 For we know that if our earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands. 2 Indeed, we groan in this tent, desiring to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 since, when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life.

• Can we talk about this life here on earth?
• I am physically limited by my flesh suit.
• Gravity… as the Holidays go on… so do the pounds.
• Think about life 3-4 years ago vs today.
• Pandemic came – quarantine came.
• Seclusion came – isolation came.
• Things changed
• We were at home in our comfy pants, Traegers, Netflix and devices.
• We got out for a season…
• But now we are crawling back into our holes again because it is easy.
• GMA Report
• Our bodies are groaning for something greater than all this!

5 Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.
6 So we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

• Difference between Judgment Seat and Great White Throne Judgment.
• Judgment Seat is for believers… based upon works. Those things we have done in the flesh vs the things we have done in the Spirit.

11 Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your consciences.

• I’m telling you… you can’t be lulled into the ways of this world… devices… isolation… expectations.
• It is killing your kids… it is killing you.
• You aren’t even aware of what is happening but the alarms are going off all around you.

12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us (boast), so that you may have a reply for those who take pride (boast) in outward appearance rather than in the heart.

• The world is more focused on appearance and doing than they are spiritual side of themselves.
• You have to stop what the majority is doing and focus on the Spirit that lives inside of you.

13 For if we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

• Yes! The world is going to think you are stupid.
• Yes! You will be criticized.
• I’m going to choose to do things differently… even from those who are doing church!
• Spoke to a church staff about sabbath rest.
• Paul is appealing with believers to not listen to the false teachers.
• He wants them to live a life of authentic ministry.
• You fix dinner for your family and you are pleading with them to come to the table.
• “I only have 10 more minutes of this movie.”
• I’m begging you… quit playing games… quit chasing things that are irrelevant to what is happening around you.
• There are people who are spiritually and physically dying.

14 For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all (John 3:16), and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.

• It is not about us.
• We focus on us… which is what the world points us to… then it brings anxiety, depression and disappointment.
• If we focus on Jesus… He is going to point you to others because that is authentic ministry.
• Doing things for others allows joy to rise to the top.

 
THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION
16 From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way.

• Worldly perspective… acts done in the flesh.

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!

• What passed away? Something died! It is gone!
• Your sinful nature… what was once natural to you.
• Now you have been made new.
• A transformation has occurred and most believers never realize it.
• Yes, they know they have salvation… but do they know this tent has a living God inside of them?

18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

• Crisis intervention… the ministry of sitting down across from someone and saying, “Jesus has already dealt with that.
• It has been reconciled.
• Let’s move forward.

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”

• We sit down with people and remind them of their identity.
• Police Chief walks in dressed in total uniform and everyone sees him for the police chief.
• The Police Chief is not his badge.
• I see you in a whole different perspective.
• Received and welcomed.

21 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.[1]

• This is past tense.
• It is already a done deal.
• You have been made righteous.
• You are reconciled.
• This is what we have to constantly remind ourselves and our families.

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (2 Co 5:1–21). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.