2 Corinthians 5, the blueprint for ministry, is one of the most exciting chapters in all of the New Testament! This is Paul's personal confession – “Why I do what I do!” We began our overview of this great chapter today, by dividing the chapter into three main sections: Encouragement – V.1-8 Motivation – V.9-16 Direction / Instruction – V.16-21 Currently, we are each the “earthen vessel” that the Holy Spirit indwells. 1 Cor. 6:19-20 We are eternal software in temporary hardware – our physical bodies! We are headed for an upgrade at the Day of Christ – the rapture of the Church Age saints, when we receive our incorruptible, immortal, eternal bodies! 1 Cor. 15:50-57 According to v.1-4, our bodies are groaning, waiting for the moment that we shall be clothed with our house that is from heaven. Romans 8:23-25: And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14), even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. The issue of our clothing from heaven is an awesome Bible study! In Genesis 2:25 the first couple was created by God , and in the innocence of sinlessness, they were naked and not ashamed, but, as soon as sin entered the equation, they were naked, afraid, and ashamed. Genesis 3:7-12 Spiritually speaking, we are given strict warning concerning taking proper measures not to be found naked and ashamed at the Day of Christ! 1. The responsibility of abiding in Christ is taking action concerning our individual sanctification, separating from what we once were, conforming ourselves to the image of Christ, which is God's will! Romans 12:1-2 1 John 2:28: And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. Revelation 3:17-19: Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Our white raiment, our linen garments, are specific to us of the Church Age. We know that the marriage supper of the Lamb, spoken of in Matthew 22:1-14, and Revelation 19:7-9, will have a bride – the Church Age saints (Ephesians 5:25-32, 2 Corinthians 11:2, Revelation 21:9), the bridegroom – the Lord Jesus Christ, and the wedding guests – Old Testament saints, who are currently in heaven, and Tribulation saints, who will be resurrected before the end of the tribulation, after they spend the tribulation under the altar / paradise, which will be reopened after the rapture / the Day of Christ. Revelation 6:9-11: And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. Revelation 7:13-17: And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Revelation 19:7-8: Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. In v.5-8, our encouragement is that our salvation is a gift, sealed by the Holy Spirit! The down payment of our eternal inheritance / the earnest of our inheritance is the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22: Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. Dear friends, according to scripture, we who are saved, are either alive here on earth, or, we are alive in heaven, once death has taken its toll upon us. There is no place called purgatory, no intermediary place of penance that we must go before entering the glory of heaven. Absent from the body is present with the Lord! Next week, we will study v.9-15. V.9 is the key verse for the rest of the chapter. Please ponder this thought, as we prepare for our study: What we believe and how we behave must always go together!
