Verses 1-5
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Our physical bodies are a tent or house for our human spirit and the Holy Spirit. These bodies will die / will be destroyed.
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Verses 2-3. Since God will provide for us in the kingdom, He will not afterward make us unprovided for. This is a simple truth.
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If we are alive on earth when Christ returns, we will be given, at that moment, new bodies that live forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17, 1 Corinthians 15:51).
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But people who are currently in heaven already have a glorified body, since they are present with Christ, and they will appear in their glorified body, with Christ as He descends from heaven.
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And the Holy Spirit, who is with us now, is God's promise that we will receive a new body.
Verses 6-8
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While we are on earth in our current bodies, we are not present with Jesus, nor do we see Him. But we can still be confident because we live by faith. And living by faith means that we believe in Jesus without needing to see Him.
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Faith brings confidence! Don't expect to see things before you will have confidence. Walk by faith instead, as such faith is needed for effectiveness in this life.
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Eventually, we will be with Jesus in His kingdom, and we desire this.
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Know that when a person dies, their spirit becoming absent from their body, they go to heaven to be present with Christ.
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Verses 9-11
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Verses 9-10. Live obediently because you too, even as a believer, will experience a form of judgment after you die (Hebrews 9:27, Romans 14:10-12).
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Both your good and bad works will be weighed and will have a recompense in the kingdom. Good works will be rewarded (1 Corinthians 3:14).
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As believers, we are forgiven of all sin (past, present, and future) (Colossians 2:13-14, Hebrews 10:10, 1 John 2:12), in that through Jesus' blood we will not suffer the wrath of God or the condemnation of hell (Romans 3:23-26).
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And our works done while we were unbelievers are completely blotted out (Acts 3:19).
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But, to a point, you will answer for things you chose to do after you became a believer. And there will be a judgment (James 3:1, Proverbs 11:31, 1 Peter 4:17), but this judgment is not damnation.
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Sin you committed after salvation, and especially after gaining knowledge, will have consequences in the kingdom (Luke 12:47-48). For there is grace for works done in ignorance, but not for works done with knowledge (Numbers 15:27-30, Hebrews 9:7, Hebrews 10:26, Luke 12:47-48).
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As we increase in knowledge, we also become harsher on ourselves, and we judge ourselves, and even others, more harshly. And as we judge so we will be judged. Just as you would consider one who knew better to be worthy of greater judgment, so the same shall be rendered to you (Matthew 7:1-2, James 2:12-13).
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Verse 11. This is meant to bring a healthy fear, which will motivate you to live pleasing to God and to encourage others to repent.
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Speak about the fear of God's wrath to unbelievers, so they understand the need to repent and believe.
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Verses 12-15
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In Paul's heart, he was crazy about Jesus and was compelled by God's love to lay down his life for Christ.
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Verse 12. In the same way, truly and from your heart, be crazy and zealous for Christ, but be clear and understandable in your speech and action for the benefit of others.
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We don't help others just by being a Jesus-freak. We have to speak in a way that people can understand, relate to, and therefore grow from (1 Corinthians 9:19-23).
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Verses 13-14. Out of love for us all, Christ died for us all, and now He calls us to live for Him!
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Therefore, out of love, don't live for yourself; live for Him! Live for Him by helping others to live for Him too!
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Verses 16-20
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Verse 16. Knowing that people are not merely what their present bodies appear to be, but are able to receive a new body and a new life in Christ, don't look at people for what they are and judge them for it. Instead, recognize that Jesus died for them to be made new, and love them!
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Verses 17. Believers are a new creation, all old things having passed away! Our sins are forgiven, our minds are being renewed, our spirits are joined with the Holy Spirit...we are never-before-seen creations of God.
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See believers this way, and preach to unbelievers with the hope that they can become this too!
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Verses 18-21
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Just as you have been reconciled to God—restored to relationship with Him—live your life to reconcile others to God.
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Tell others that Christ became our sin, and died for it on the cross, so that we could become righteous and therefore right with God!
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