FOR WE KNOW. This links what he is about to say, with 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. THIS TENT WE LIVE IN. A tent is a temporary place to live. This is how Paul thinks of this physical body. Compare Mark 14:58, where Jesus contrasts his physical body with his resurrection body. See also notes on 1 Corinthia... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOW WE SIGH. The Christian has already received the _first of God's gifts_ (Romans 8:23) which is the _guarantee_ (2 Corinthians 5:5). But the fact that there is more to come makes Paul eager to make the change! Compare 1 Corinthians 15:47.... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHOUT A BODY. Greek thought saw the _immortal soul_ living forever without any body at all! Paul and the others proclaimed a raising from death which included a new body. Compare 2 Peter 3:13 and notes.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILE. "The feeling of oppression does not come from a desire to escape from this world and our suffering, but it comes from our eager desire to exchange this mortal life for true life!!!" PUT ON OVER US. Paul purposely says it this way to show that there is a _continuity_ between our physical body... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD IS THE ONE. Again Paul points to God as the source of _heavenly house._ Compare Romans 5:18 and note. AS THE GUARANTEE. The Spirit is our guarantee, because it is through the Spirit that we will be raised from death (Romans 8:11).... [ Continue Reading ]
SO WE. Now Paul uses the language of a _refugee._ "Because we expect to live eternally, we are always full of courage as we live out our life here!" WE KNOW THAT. "As long as we live in this present body, we are away from the Lord's home, and we are still refugees and strangers as we wait!... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT SIGHT. "In our life here on earth, we do not see the heavenly things we long for! So our lives are based on faith, not sight.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WOULD MUCH PREFER. "We have no fear of death, and would like to receive our heavenly home (resurrection body) _now,_ and be at home with the Lord!... [ Continue Reading ]
WE WANT TO PLEASE HIM. This is Paul's answer to the problem. Whatever the Lord has for him, is what he wants!!! See how Paul explains this in Philippians 1:18-26.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE CHRIST. Paul had no idea of anyone earning their salvation (see Ephesians 2:8)!!! Yet he taught that everyone was obligated to respond to this _grace of God_ through good actions in their bodily life.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO FEAR THE LORD. Not terror, but reverence and respect. Terror is never a valid motive to obey the Lord (1 John 4:18). [_MacKnight_ takes this to mean: "Knowing, therefore, the terribleness of the Lord's displeasure, we persuade men to repent and believe the gospel. "] The Good News shows God's lov... [ Continue Reading ]
WE ARE NOT. It may be that in the strong letter, Paul seemed to boast about his work (see 2 Corinthians 11:16_ to_ 2 Corinthians 12:13). But Paul is very sensitive to the accusation that he has done this! He wants to give them a true picture of his mission and work, so that they can answer the oppon... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE WE REALLY INSANE? Some said this about Jesus (Mark 3:21 and note). _MacKnight_ thinks the false teachers accused Paul of being insane because of the risks and dangers he placed himself in for the sake of the Good News. Compare Acts 26:24 and note. OR ARE WE SANE? At times Paul reasoned with them... [ Continue Reading ]
BY CHRIST'S LOVE. "In our service to Christ, we are not insane. We are ruled in all this by Christ's love for us. We take great risks and place ourselves in danger, because we recognize that one man died for all men." WHICH MEANS. Christ's death was for all! 2 Corinthians 5:15 explains this. All men... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THAT. "If you take Christ-on-the-cross seriously, you will see that Jesus died for all, Jew and Gentile. If you imitate Christ, you will no longer live for yourself, but you will live for Christ. For this reason, you become a Christian by being baptized into Christ's death (Romans 6:3-11; Colossi... [ Continue Reading ]
NO LONGER, THEN. Christians do not _create distinctions_ (James 2:1-4). EVEN IF. Before Paul became a Christian, he did look at Jesus from a human point of view. He could see no value in the _cross._ Compare 1 Corinthians 1:23. The cross makes peace between Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:14).... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN. At the time anyone is joined to Christ. See Galatians 3:27. HE IS, Not: he will be; but he is! The _new being_ is opposed to the human point of view. It supersedes racial distinctions (Galatians 6:15), and it is a life of the Spirit (Romans 8:10-11). THE OLD. Sin, guilt, and punishment are all... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THIS IS DONE BY GOD. Paul gives the credit to God! For Paul, the _cross_ demonstrates both Christ's love and God's love!!! CHANGED US FROM ENEMIES. Note Christ's sacrifice changes us, not God! God's act in Christ to set us free changes us from enemies to friends, when we reach out through faith... [ Continue Reading ]
OUR MESSAGE. The basis of the Good News is that God himself had acted and was making friends of those who had rebelled against him! KEEP AN ACCOUNT. _MacKnight_ says: "That God is by Christ bringing back the world to himself, promising not to punish them for their trespasses, but to pardon them upon... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THOUGH GOD HIMSELF. _Proxy_ probably would be a better word than _ambassador._ Paul (and every Christian) acts as a _proxy_ for God by trying to persuade others to let God change them from enemies into friends!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
CHRIST WAS WITHOUT SIN. The sinlessness of Jesus is affirmed throughout the New Testament. Christ therefore satisfied the righteous demands of the Law. GOD MADE HIM SHARE OUR SIN. _MacKnight_ understands this to mean that God made Christ our sin-offering. The rite of the _scapegoat_ pictured what Je... [ Continue Reading ]