2 Corinthians

We know that when our earthly tent, or our dwelling, is destroyed, we can count on a building from God—a heavenly dwelling not built by human hands—that lasts forever.

For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling.

If indeed, when we have taken it off, we will not be found naked.

As long as we are in the field tent, we truly lament our unbearable fate, because we do not want this clothing taken away from us; instead, we would put the other over it so that the mortal body may be absorbed by true life.

This is God’s purpose for us, and he has given us the Spirit as a pledge of what we will receive.

So we always feel confident. We know that while living in the body, we are exiled from the Lord,

living by faith without seeing;

but we dare to think that we would rather be away from the body to go and live with the Lord.

So, whether we are at home or away, we only wish to please the Lord.

Anyway, we all must appear before Christ’s tribunal to receive what we deserve for our good or evil deeds in this life.

The Criterion of Faith

So, we understand the fear of the Lord, and we try to persuade others while living openly before God. I trust that your conscience testifies to what we truly are.

Once again, we do not seek to gain your approval; we want to give you a reason to be proud of us so you can respond to those who value appearances over reality.

Now, if I have spoken foolishly, let only God hear; if what I have said makes sense, accept it for yourselves.

Indeed, the love of Christ compels us, and we realize that if he died for all, then all have died.

He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died and rose again for them.

Therefore, from now on, we regard no one from a human perspective; even if we once knew Christ in a human way, we no longer see him that way.

The Message of Reconciliation

For that same reason, anyone in Christ is a new creature. The old things have passed away; a new world has arrived.

All of this is the work of God, who, in Christ, reconciled us to himself and entrusted us with the ministry of reconciliation.

Because in Christ, God reconciled the world to himself, no longer counting their trespasses against them, and entrusted to us the message of reconciliation.

So we present ourselves as ambassadors of Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We ask in the name of Christ, be reconciled to God.

He had no sin, but God made him bear our sins so that in him we might be innocent in front of God.