Read the Bible

The Temporal and Eternal

¹ For we know that if ^(F1)the ^(C1)earthly ^(C2)tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house ^(C3)not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.² For indeed in this house we ^(C1)groan, longing to be ^(C2)clothed with our dwelling from heaven,³ inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked.⁴ For indeed while we are in this tent, we ^(C1)groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be ^(C2)clothed, so that what is ^(C3)mortal will be swallowed up by life.⁵ Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who ^(C1)gave to us the Spirit as a ^(F1)pledge.

⁶ Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that ^(C1)while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord--⁷ for ^(C1)we walk by faith, not by ^(F1)sight--⁸ we are of good courage, I say, and ^(C1)prefer rather to be absent from the body and ^(C2)to be at home with the Lord.⁹ Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be ^(C1)pleasing to Him.¹⁰ For we must all appear before ^(C1)the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for ^(F1)his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

¹¹ Therefore, knowing the ^(C1)fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are ^(C2)made manifest also in your consciences.¹² We are not ^(C1)again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an ^(C2)occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.¹³ For if we ^(F1)are ^(C1)beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.¹⁴ For the love of Christ ^(C1)controls us, having concluded this, that ^(C2)one died for all, therefore all died;¹⁵ and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer ^(C1)live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

¹⁶ Therefore from now on we recognize no one ^(F1)(C1)according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ ^(F1)according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.¹⁷ Therefore if anyone is ^(C1)in Christ, ^(F1)he is ^(C2)a new creature; ^(C3)the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.¹⁸ Now ^(C1)all these things are from God, ^(C2)who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ^(C3)ministry of reconciliation,¹⁹ namely, that ^(C1)God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, ^(C2)not counting their trespasses against them, and ^(F1)He has ^(F2)committed to us the word of reconciliation.

²⁰ Therefore, we are ^(C1)ambassadors for Christ, ^(C2)as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be ^(C3)reconciled to God.²¹ He made Him who ^(C1)knew no sin to be ^(C2)sin on our behalf, so that we might become the ^(C3)righteousness of God in Him.