SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 5
Bible Verses:
“ For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
(2 Corinthians 5:7-10)
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)
OUR HEAVENLY DWELLING (vs. 1-10)
The earthly dwelling we live now will one day be destroyed. Now, we are at home in the body and away from the Lord. But if we live by faith, we are confident that when we are away from the body, we are at home with the Lord. That is why we must be clothed with the heavenly dwelling by making our goals to please God. For one day, we have to appear before the judgment seat of Christ and receive what is due us from the things done while in the body whether good or bad” (v. 10)
THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATON (vs. 11-21)
Christ had reconciled us to God through His sacrifice on the cross. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature, the old has gone and the new has com!” (v. 17). We are now Christ’s ambassador. As ambassador, we represent Christ to invite the lost to receive Him. Let us make sure that our message, methods, and motives are right so that our work may stand the test of time when we stand before Him.
THOUGHTS:
- God guarantees us an everlasting body at the resurrection. Therefore, we are confident to spend eternity with Christ. In the meantime, let us keep this hope as inspiration for our faithful service.
- All Christian must give account on the day of judgment. Each will be judged or rewarded according to how he lives. So, be careful of how you live today.
- If anyone is in Christ, Chri’st”s love controls his life. He is dead to his old life. Therefore, he should not live to please himself but to please God. Let us begin a new life under a new Master.
- An ambassador is an official representative of our country to adhere. As believers, we are Christ’s ambassador to bring the message of reconciliation to the world., How are you fulfilling your commission as Christ’s ambassador?