Religion & Spirituality
Sermon NotesIt is so easy to forget how temporary this life is. We tend to live as if nothing will ever change, as if life will keep going as it always has. We think we will always have tomorrow. But every now and then, reality breaks through and we see our lives for what they are: a fleeting moment. The Christian gospel tells us that this fleeting life on earth is not our final end. If we are in Christ, we have a glorious destiny. Our descendants may forget us in this life, but God will not forget us in the world to come. Followers of Christ receive the hope of eternal life. This future hope gives us perspective on this life and its frailties and suffering. This future hope gives us a destiny beyond imagination that empowers us to move forward in the service of Christ. As Christians we should balance a realistic assessment of our human frailties with the honor that Christ gives us now and after death. When we do this, we will hold fast to faith in Christ and receive the salvation that God has offered in Him.I. In verse 1 The present earthly body is contrasted with the resurrection bodyA. The apostle began with a statement of confidence. We know that certain things are true.1. 2 Cor 5:1 briefly summarizes what Paul had earlier written in 1 Corinthians 15 about the nature of the resurrection body. The confident assertion, we know, was based on the argument set forth in 1 Cor 15.B. We know that the temporary physical body is being destroyed.1. Paul had referred to his mortal body (4:10-11) as “wasting away” (4:16). Now he compared his body to a warn-out on the earth tent soon to be destroyed. 2. In Christ’s incarnate body He tabernacled or tented among us John 1:14. This is why the eternal perspective (2 Cor 4:17) should be maintained.C. We know that the physical body will be replaced by a permanent resurrected body. 1. The picture is living in a temporary tent while waiting for house to be built. The physical body is the temporary tent. The resurrected body is the permanent house.2. An earthly body is temporary, a heavenly body is eternal.D. Paul described the building from God as an eternal house in heaven.1. Paul is referring to the future resurrected bodies of believers, 2. The reference to the heavenly body as a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands is reminiscent of Jesus’ description of His own resurrection body as a temple not made by man’s hands (Mark 14:58).3. Paul is not addressing the intermediate state. In fact Scripture teaches very little about the intermediate state. “Absent with the body is to be present with the Lord.” V, 8II. For indeed 2-3A. In this house we groan1. In this earthly body we groan because of the burdens of life.2. Groan usually referred to pain and agony. Paul had in mind the longing that believers experience when they compare their present existence with their condition when Christ returns. 3. In verses 3-5 Paul explained why we groan for the heavenly dwelling.B. In this house we long to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven1. Our dwelling from heaven is dwelling place which is from heaven2. The suffering and pain of life in this world ca