More to Come

2Corinthians 5:1-11

Intro: Why do Christians continue to preach the gospel of Christ even though we get tired and weary, give out? People make fun of us, persecute us. We suffer pain, misery, discomfort. We don’t really feel at home in this world. Christ is not to be mentioned in public. Some people hate the name of Christ. The Apostle Paul tells us in these verses why we continue to preach and teach the gospel in a hostile world. Paul says to look beyond what we can see in this life to what we can’t see with our physical eyes because there is more to come.

I. What every Christian should know. 2 Corinthians 5:1 (NLT)  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. We have the assured prospect of the resurrection, and of eternal life. Every Christian should know that 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. It is immortal! Eternal! The future body shall never be taken down or dissolved by death.  And it is to abide forever in the heavens-in the world of glory with Jesus and God the Father. It will never to be subject to a world of sin, suffering, and death again.

II. Every Christians desire. 2 Corinthians 5:2-4 (NLT) 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. 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.

This body is subjected to so many pains, and to so much suffering, as to make us earnestly desire to be invested with that body which shall be free from all suffering, death, and sin. We groan and sigh not to die, but to be given our new bodies from above. Romans 8:23 (NLT) And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. Our desire is for this promise of God to come to pass right now!

III. Holy Spirit is preparing us for this very thing. 2 Corinthians 5:5 (NLT)  God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.

The Lord God has planned not only to justify believers through his Son’s sacrificial death, but he also has planned to glorify them with heavenly bodies. [Rom. 8:30]

Part of God’s wonderful plan to save those who believe in his Son includes the Holy Spirit as proof of his and their eternal destiny with God the Father. The Spirit in us is a guarantee that God will one day pay up in full. Paul envisioned on one glorious day, at Christ’s return, God would complete the process that had already begun in us, with the help of the Holy Spirit.   

Philippians 1:6 (NLT)  And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

IV. Christians live by confident faith. 2 Corinthians 5:6-7 (NLT) 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. While we are absent from the body, we are confident- full of courage, hope, and good cheer because we walk by faith knowing that even though we are absent from the Lord now, we have His Spirit within us and one day we will be with Him forever in person.

V.  Christians long to be with their Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8 (NLT) 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. Christians actually long to be with the Lord; It is not a creation of their own ideas and thoughts. It is not worked up by their own desires and man-made hopes. It is a conviction—the sure knowledge, a state of mind—that is created by the Holy Spirit who is within the believer. When a believer dies, he or she will be with Jesus. Philippians 1:21 (NKJV) For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Paul is saying, If I live, it’s for Christ. If I die it will mean I see Jesus face to face. Believers will not float in a limbo state. There is no purgatory, there is no soul sleep. Instead, they will have a personal encounter with the Savior. Then, when Jesus returns in all his glory, all believers will be given heavenly bodies that will be perfect and will last forever.  

VI. The Aim of the Christian. 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 (NLT) 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. The fact that we, as Christians, will meet Jesus should inspire both joy and a holy fear—joy that we will finally be with our Savior and fear that Jesus will hold us accountable for our actions.Knowing that when you die you will be with Jesus should inspire you to live to please your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ always. Just as you live for Christ’s sake on this earth, you will continue to live for him in heaven. The transformation that the Holy Spirit is working within you now will finally be completed: You will become like Jesus- Romans 8:29 (NKJV)  For God predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Eternal life is a free gift given on the basis of God’s grace Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV) ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.

But Christians’ lives will still be judged by Christ. Salvation is never obtained by works, and this judgment before Christ will not determine believers’ eternal destiny. Instead, at this judgment, Christ will reward Christians for how they have lived on earth. God’s gracious gift of salvation does not free Christians from the requirement of faithful obedience to Christ. All Christians must give an account for how they have lived in this body. This is a sober reminder to all Christians that we must evaluate all we do from God’s perspective.

VII. Christians should have a solemn fear of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:11 (NKJV)
¹¹ Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. Many skip over fear as a motivation for serving God. But many forget that fear isn’t fundamentally bad. Fear keeps people from jumping out of airplanes without a parachute. Fear of God means awe, wonder. We have a proper respect for his perfect nature and great power. For those who have persisted in evil and rebellious ways, contemplating God should inspire dread. Believers who contemplate God should be filled with reverential awe, standing in wonder and amazement at his greatness. Knowing God’s perfection and that he will judge everyone’s actions should spur Christians to work hard to persuade others to know God.

Invitation: All men are appointed to die and after that the judgment. {Heb. 9:27} We are to be prepared to meet our Savior when we die by living for Him today. Are you personally prepared for what’s on the other side? Will these things be true of you or do you fear death and what’s on the other side? If you are not prepared to meet Christ, then you should fear dying. Be saved right now while there is still time. Ask Jesus to forgive your sins. Invite Him into your heart to live in you and through you. Go to church and be baptized! Don’t be ashamed of Jesus and He won’t be ashamed of you on judgment day.