Read the Bible

Our Future after Death

¹ For we know that if our earthly tent we live in^(C1) is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens,^(C2) not made with hands.^{(C3) 2} Indeed, we groan in this tent, desiring^(C1) to put on our heavenly dwelling, ³ since, when we have taken it off,^(F1) we will not be found naked.^{(C1) 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^(C1) may be swallowed up by life. 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,^(C1) not by sight.^{(C2) 8} In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.^{(C1) 9} Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing^(C1) to him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat^(C1) of Christ,^(C2) so that each may be repaid^(C3) for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

¹¹ Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord,^(C1) we try to persuade people. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your consciences. ¹² We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in outward appearance rather than in the heart. ¹³ For if we are out of our mind,^(C1) it is for God; if we are in our right mind,^(C2) it is for you. ¹⁴ For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: If one died for all,^(C1) then all died. ¹⁵ And he died for all^(C1) so that those who live should no longer live for themselves,^(C2) but for the one^(C3) who died for them and was raised.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

¹⁶ From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective.^(F1) Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective,^(F2) yet now we no longer know him in this way. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;^(C1) the old has passed away, and see,^(C2) the new has^(F1) come!^{(C3) 18} Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.^{(C1) 19} That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world^(C1) to himself,^(C2) not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors^(C1) for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf:^(C2) “Be reconciled to God.” ²¹ He made the one who did not know sin^(C1) to be sin^(F1) for us,^(C2) so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.