THE TWO TABERNACLES AND THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL
2 Corinthians chapter 5
Introduction
In this and the next chapter, Paul continues to give reasons for the ministry of the Gospel, emphasizing the need to strive in this life in view of the Judgement Seat of Christ.
The two tabernacles – verses 1 to 8
The word "tabernacle" here refers to the natural body in which we live in this world, and also to the "spiritual body" in which believers will be "clothed" when Christ returns for His Church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, 1 Corinthians 15:52).
In this mortal tabernacle we "groan in anguish" - not for a desire to die, but to receive our further "clothing" - the house or spiritual body that will be our "eternal habitation", and who prepares us for this is the Holy Spirit (see also Ephesians 1:14).
The judgement seat of Christ – verses 9 and 10
Another motive which induces preachers (and all Christians) to please the Lord is that they will have to appear before the judgement seat of Christ (see Romans 14:10). This does not refer to the final judgement standing before the Great White Throne (Revelation 20:11-15), but to a court where only the saved will appear, for examination of their service as servants of God since their conversion. There they will receive reward and praise, or reprimand and loss, according to their loyalty and zeal (or otherwise) since they converted to Christ (2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, Luke 19:11) .
The motives for preaching of the Gospel – verses 11 to 17
In this passage, Paul speaks of himself as representing what all the preachers of the Gospel should be. His reasons were:
The fear of the Lord (v. 11 - see Matthew 10:28 and 28:19-20). Paul preached the Gospel as not only a privilege but also a duty - the Lord Jesus sent him in this service and the believers should recognize it and give it as answer to the critics who took pride in appearance and not in sincerity. What the enemies called "insanity" (v. 13) was done in the service of God and the "sound mind" of Paul was for the benefit of believers. The love of Christ (v. 14) is for all and is in the believers. He died for all, then all believers have died in Him. He lives (v. 15) and believers live, not only in Him, but also for Him.Therefore, we know Christ, both as a Man (teacher, prophet, example, etc...) and as the Son of God who died and rose again (16).
A "Christian" is a new kind of man, with a new nature and a new understanding of things (17).
Reconciliation – verses 18 to 21
The reason for this dramatic change in relations between God and man is that Christ, through His sacrificial death in our place, fully satisfied the divine justice that was against us. Thus, the barrier separating us from Christ - our sin - was removed by this sacrifice made by Christ and accepted by God, who wished this reconciliation to be announced by the apostles (18-19).
As "ambassadors" (authorized messengers of the Lord), the apostles begged the men to be reconciled to God through faith in Christ, the perfect and holy Son who on Calvary's cross took upon Himself the sin of the world, paid the penalty, and thus, by the salvation of believers, they have revealed the holiness, justice and love of God.
Richard Dawson Jones (1895 - 1987)
1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,
3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.
4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.
5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.
13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians chapter 5