ELNORA’S BIBLE STUDY WITH FRIENDS, 2 Corinthians 5, December 13, 2024

 

        

Introduction to Chapter 5

The previous chapter ended with references to the great suffering experienced by Paul and those working with him to preach the gospel. In 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, Paul says he and his fellow workers had been "afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed." In other words, the God who had allowed them to experience the great burden of suffering had also kept them from being physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually destroyed by it.

Paul acknowledges that he may eventually be killed for preaching about Jesus. He is prepared for that. In fact, he longs for what will come after that moment. He describes our bodies in this fallen world as a temporary dwelling place, like a tent. It is not built to last forever. Waiting in eternity, for all who are in Christ, is a dwelling place that will last forever. 

Jesus used similar language when telling his disciples what to expect when they go to be with Him, "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, that where I am you may be also" (John 14:1–4). (https://www.bibleref.com/2-Corinthians/5/2-Corinthians-chapter-5.html)

New Bodies, Verses 1-10, TEANNIE

1 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. ² We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. ³ For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies.^[a] 4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. ⁵ God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. ⁶ So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. ⁷ For we live by believing and not by seeing. ⁸ Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. ⁹ So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. ¹⁰ For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

^{SECTION QUESTIONS:} 

1. What is the fear of the Lord? How is it different than fearing a war or disease? 

2. Talk about the tent that is our earthly home. (V.1)

3.  In verse 4, Paul says, “While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh...” In what way is this true for you?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 

4. What aspect of YOU 2.0 do you most look forward to?

God's Ambassadors, Part 1, Verses 11-16, DESTINY

¹¹ Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. ¹² Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us,^[b] so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. ¹³ If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. ¹⁴ Either way, Christ’s love controls us.^[c] Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.^[d] 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. ¹⁶ So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 

^{SECTION QUESTIONS:} 

5. Paul says in verse 11 "What we are is known to God." What were they?

6. What kind of "outward appearances" may a church focus on rather than the heart?

^{THOUGHT QUESTIONS:}

7. Think about an area of your life where the love of Christ is not controlling you. Perhaps it is your relationship with your spouse. Maybe it is your words. Or maybe it is how you react to your children when they misbehave. Ask God to help the love of Christ control you in that area. In the next week, make a conscious effort to grow in love in that area. 

God's Ambassadors, Part 2, Verses 17-21, TBD 

¹⁷ This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! ¹⁸ And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him. ¹⁹ For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. ²⁰ So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” ²¹ For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,^[e] so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

^{SECTION QUESTIONS:} 

8. What is the message of reconciliation and who is it for? 

9. What should be our life's work? 

10. What do you think Paul is saying in verse 17?

11. What does it mean to be "in Christ?" 

^{THOUGHT QUESTIONS:}

1. How does the world view Jesus? 

What does it mean that a believer is a new creation? What about him/her changes? Did something in you change when you became a believer? 

Why did God choose people rather than another method (angels) to spread the gospel of reconciliation? 

 

An ambassador is a very important position.

 A foreign country’s primary point of contact is with the other country’s ambassador. Here are some of the responsibilities of an ambassador:

• To live in the foreign country and understand it’s people and customs, but not to become one of them. As Christ’s ambassadors, we live in this world and understand the problems they face, but we are not to be like the world.

• To be the spokesman for taking the message of one’s home country to the foreign country. An ambassador doesn’t have authority to craft his own message. He is a representative and must convey that message correctly without miscommunication while also being humble. As believers, we are God’s spokesman. We are called to take His message to this world. We must not change the message or insert our own. Instead we should clearly and humbly communicate God’s message.

• To be mindful continually that their actions reflect on their country. A poor ambassador can bring shame, create distrust, or start a war. As believers, our actions are important. People are watching us to see how we live. We are to shine the light of Christ, attracting people to Him through our good deeds.

• To keep peace or establish diplomatic relations. As believers, we are called to the ministry of reconciliation. Our job is to bring peace between God and people in the world through the gospel.

Jesus Is Made Sin & We Are made Righteous

For our sake – Everything Jesus did was for us. He made him who knew no sin – Jesus was completely sinless in every way. He alone of all the Jews who ever lived kept the Old Testament law 100% of the time, fulfilling all righteousness. Jesus is the only person who has ever lived who knew no sin. Never giving into temptation, He did not experience the guilt and shame of sin.

That is why He could be the perfect sacrifice. On the cross, Jesus substituted Himself for us. He became as if He was the one who had done all of the sins and God punished Jesus for those instead of us. This is the principle of imputation. Our sins were imputed to Him. And His righteousness is imputed to us.

Note that Jesus did not actually become a sinner. But He was treated by the Father as if He were one.

Have you ever made a really good trade? God offers the best deal imaginable. You can trade all your sins and the eternal punishment in store for those sins and in exchange receive the righteousness of God’s Son, the only one who has ever lived a perfectly holy human life. So that we might become the righteousness of God – This is the second part of that trade. Jesus’ righteousness is imputed to you. When God looks at you, He will see instead the righteousness of Christ. He won’t see you as the sinner you are, but as made holy by the lamb.

 https://studyandobey.com/inductive-bible-study/2-corinthians/2-corinthians-5-1-10/

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 Bible Study Lesson - Free Lesson With Questions

Prayer Confession for 2 Corinthians, Chapter 5

“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (2 Corinthians 5:1)

Heavenly Father, thank You for my life and the knowledge that by grace through faith, I have been made a new creation in Christ. This earthly body will be replaced with a heavenly dwelling, not made with hands but formed and fashioned by my God and Saviour. Thank You for the words of encouragement in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, that no matter what trials, tribulations, persecution, and pain I may have to face while living in this earthly tent, I have the assurance of a permanent building from God, an eternal house in the heavens. Keep me ever mindful that this world is not my home and that my citizenship and eternal inheritance is kept for me in heaven. Thank You that one day I will be dressed in immortality and be made like unto Jesus, my God and my Saviour. Praise Your holy name, AMEN.

“If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.” (2 Corinthians 5:3)

Heavenly Father, thank You that in Christ we have an assurance that we are not only forgiven of our sins and have received the gift of eternal life by faith, but are part of the new creation in Christ and have passed from death to life. Thank You that in Him we will not be found naked, but have received an inheritance in heaven and will soon be clothed with a new, eternal body, that far surpasses this frail, dying frame. Thank You for sending Jesus to be the propitiation for my sin and thank You that by His death and Resurrection, sin and death have been defeated. I praise You for the wonderful assurance that my body will also be resurrected and I will be complete and blameless at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ; spirit, soul, and body. Hallelujah! Praise His holy name, AMEN. 

“For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.” (2 Corinthians 5:4)

Heavenly Father, what a joy to know that a day is coming when all that is mortal will be swallowed up by life, and we will stand in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank You for the truth that we will one day be clothed in a new, resurrected body, like Christ's own glorified body. Thank You that we are not under God's condemnation because we have trusted Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and how I praise You that the suffering and groaning of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. I praise You for Your goodness and grace, and I pray in the holy name of Jesus, my Lord, and my God, AMEN.

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Loving Lord, thank You for Your written Word which contains all that we need as unbelievers to be forgiven of sins, as well as all that we need as Your saved children, to live godly lives in Christ Jesus. Father, I realize that in Your grace You have excluded no one from Your gift of Salvation, but You simply hold us accountable to believe in Your precious Son. But now I understand that You also hold me accountable to grow in grace and in a knowledge of the Lord Jesus, by faith in Christ and not by trusting in my own abilities, if I am to become a mature believer in Christ. Lord, I want to grow in my Christian life and to live my life as unto the Lord. Teach me Your ways and guide me with Your Holy Spirit. Lord, I want to be accountable to You in my Christian life. Give me a teachable Spirit and a desire to apply all the truths that I am learning, for I desire to do Your will in my life. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.

Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/2-Corinthians/5