2 Corinthians 5

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

1We know something for sure. Our body here is like a tent. One day this tent will be taken down. But God has a home for us that lasts forever. He built it himself. No human hands made it. It is in heaven.

2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

2Right now we groan inside. We long to put on our new home from heaven, like new clothes.

3If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

3When we have that new home on, we will not be left bare.

4For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

4While we live in this tent body, we groan. Life feels heavy. We do not want to be left with no body at all. We want the new one. Then what dies in us will be swallowed up by life.

5Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

5God is the one who made us ready for this very thing. He gave us his Spirit as a first gift. It is his promise that the rest is coming.

Note"The earnest of the Spirit" uses an old word for a first payment. It is money paid up front that promises the rest is coming.

6Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

6So we are always brave. We know that while we are at home in this body, we are away from the Lord.

7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

7We live by trusting God, not by what our eyes can see.

8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

8Yes, we are brave. We would rather leave this body and be at home with the Lord.

9Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

9So we work hard to please him. It does not matter if we are here or there.

10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

10We must all stand before Christ's judgment seat, where he decides about each life. Each person will get back what he did while in his body, good or bad.

11Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

11We know what it means to fear the Lord. So we try to help people believe. God sees exactly what we are. I hope you can see it too, deep inside.

Note"The terror of the Lord" here does not mean being scared of God. It means knowing what it means to fear him, the way the Berean Bible says it.

12For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.

12We are not praising ourselves to you again. We are giving you a reason to be proud of us. Then you can answer people who care about how things look, not about the heart.

13For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.

13If we seem out of our minds, it is for God. If we seem calm and sensible, it is for you.

Note"Beside ourselves" is an old way of saying "out of our minds."

14For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

14Christ's love keeps us going. We are sure of this: one man died for all. So all died.

15And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

15He died for everyone. Now those who live should not live only for themselves. They should live for him who died for them and rose again.

16Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

16So from now on we do not judge anyone by outward, human ways. We once thought about Christ that way. We do not anymore.

17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

17So anyone who belongs to Christ is made new. The old is gone. Look, the new has come!

18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

18All of this comes from God. He made us his friends again through Jesus Christ. He gave us the job of telling others how to be his friends again.

19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

19Here is the message. God was in Christ, making the world his friends again. He was not counting people's sins against them. He has given us that message to tell.

20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

20So we speak for Christ, like messengers sent by a king. It is as if God were asking you through us. We beg you, in Christ's place: come back and be God's friends.

21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

21Christ never sinned. Yet God made him to be sin for us. So, joined to him, we could be made right with God.