Paul's Epistles - 2 Corinthians Part 7 – Glorified Bodies

INTRODUCTION

Paul's second letter to the church in Corinth began with letting the church know that Paul was happy to hear that the church had received and responded correctly to his first letter.

Remembering James 5:19, 20 " My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, ²⁰ remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins."  

Paul explained why he didn't visit them and that he was pleased they had responded well to his first letter, even though not all had repented.

Last week we looked at Paul encouraging the church to allow the offender of incest return to the congregation, because he had truly repented and turned away from his sin, therefore he had been forgiven. Paul said that his punishment by the church forcing him to leave the congregation was enough, and that since he had repented and was forgiven, they must allow him back.

Paul reminded them that it was not that long ago, they too were not living as God wanted them, and they repented, and were forgiven by Paul.

Paul reminds the church in Corinth, and us as well, that forgiveness to those who have repented is essential, not only because we are commanded to do so by Christ, but because when we forgive, we keep Satan from having a way to outwit us.

Satan will use our unforgiveness as a weapon against us in his schemes.

As long as we have unforgiveness against someone who has repented, we are being disobedient to the Lord, which in turn allows a foothold for Satan to work against us.

Satan is always looking for an area of our lives where we are being disobedient, which allows him room to work his schemes against us.

This week Paul speaks of our bodies on earth and eternally.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE II Corinthians 5:1-10

  Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

    I.      EARTHLY TENT

a.      If (when) this body is destroyed

                                                                         i.      This is a tent

                                                                      ii.      Temporary dwelling

                                                                   iii.      We will eventually die

1.      Hebrews 9:27 "...man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment."

b.     We have a building from God

                                                                         i.      To replace this temporary tent

                                                                      ii.      It is everlasting, glorified body we receive at resurrection

c.      "...a house not made by hands..."

                                                                         i.      But by God

                                                                      ii.      A glorified body created by God to last and live forever

II.      THE BODY GROANS

a.      So in this body we groan

                                                                         i.      Not meaning complaining

                                                                      ii.      But seeing by faith what is to come and longing for it

b.     Desiring to be clothed

                                                                         i.      Speaking of the day when the corruptible (tent of our fallen bodies) will put on incorruptible (the new resurrected body)

                                                                      ii.      When the mortal (tent, fallen body that will eventually die) puts on immortality (the glorified everlasting resurrected body)

1.      I Corinthians 15:50-53 "I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- 

52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality."

c.      Great White Throne Judgment and the Judgment Seat of Christ

                                                                         i.      The Great White Throne Judgment is God judging the "unsaved" by the First Covenant, for their Works

1.      Revelation 20:12 (KJV) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

2.      Revelation 20:13, 15 (KJV) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works...And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

                                                                      ii.      The Judgment Seat of Christ is the judging of the "saved" by the Second Covenant, for their works

1.      1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (KJV) ...I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

III.      THE GREAT DEPOSIT

a.      Right now we are burdened

                                                                         i.      Wanting the coming resurrection (not necessarily wanting death)

                                                                      ii.      Mortality will be swallowed up by life

1.      I Corinthians 15

b.     We know our new bodies await

                                                                         i.      Because God has given us the Holy Spirit as a deposit

                                                                      ii.      Therefore, we are always confident to be absent from the body and present with the Lord

c.      So we walk by faith

                                                                         i.      Life is a journey

                                                                      ii.      Christians are travelling to another land through this life

                                                                   iii.      1 Peter 2:11 "Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul."

                                                                     iv.      So we live by the Spirit, not sight.

                                                                        v.      It is faith that controls us, not sight

CONCLUSION - THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST

So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Death holds no terror for the child of God

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