Study Desk

because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

For we know that if our earthly house, the tent we live in, is dismantled, we have a building from God, a house not built by human hands, that is eternal in the heavens.

For in this earthly house we groan, because we desire to put on our heavenly dwelling,

For we groan while we are in this tent, since we are weighed down, because we do not want to be unclothed, but clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.

for we live by faith, not by sight.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.

For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

For the love of Christ controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died.

And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea through us. We plead with you on Christ's behalf, "Be reconciled to God!"

God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.

For he says, " I heard you at the acceptable time , and in the day of salvation I helped you ." Look, now is the acceptable time ; look, now is the day of salvation !

We do not give anyone an occasion for taking an offense in anything, so that no fault may be found with our ministry.

by truthful teaching, by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness both for the right hand and for the left,

Our affection for you is not restricted, but you are restricted in your affections for us.

Do not become partners with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

And what mutual agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said, " I will live in them and will walk among them , and I will be their God , and they will be my people ."

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that could defile the body and the spirit, and thus accomplish holiness out of reverence for God.

Make room for us in your hearts; we have wronged no one, we have ruined no one, we have exploited no one.