A Bible Class: #1 of 2 Corinthians 5

 

I want to teach you 2 Corinthians, chapter 5. But, I can’t do this in one blog. Too long—doesn’t take long to read, but if we cross-reference all Scriptures to prove the doctrine, it’ll take more than one blog, maybe more than 5 blogs, can’t tell for sure yet. But, if you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, you’ll enjoy this (at least, I hope so.)

2 Cor.5 is so full of the magnificence of our doctrine-for-today that even though you can read it in a few minutes, it will take many, many pages for me to cross-reference the explanation passages and make application to living today which makes one gasp with excitement because of belonging to the Lord! It is awesomely easy to be entreated, filling us with hope, making us see what is and what is not important, taking away the unnecessary religion rituals, bringing to light the spiritual citizenry of which we’re a part and then literally naming our profession! This chapter is SO rhapsodic!

That’s a lot for one chapter. So we do have to start by borrowing 3 verses from the previous chapter—2 Cor.4:16, 17, 18.

16. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory:

16. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

See how we leave those verses with an understanding of belonging to the ONE who lives eternally? (Latching on to verse 14 in ch.4 will help in seeing that clearly.) See how that now we must concentrate our efforts on thinking about things which are not yet visible to our eyes, but we know they are right out there, just about to be in our grasp? The reference to the life we now live (our light affliction) guides our direction to seeing what it can bring us eternally: “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory!” Can you define that? Me neither. But, through a cross reference with 1 Cor. 3:9-15 we can understand how a “weight of glory” can be the outcome of our work—Work in v.12 is defined as either “gold, silver, precious stones,”—all measured by weight, not size; or on the down side as, “wood, hay or stubble”—all of which burn to nothingness. Ergo: the correct “sort” of works bring an “eternal weight of glory” unto our Lord!

NOW, to the wondrous chapter of which I started to talk:

The first four verses of chapter 5 are about our eternal expectations, bodily. We’re not going into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in these bodies of clay, thankfully. God has built us a “house” for us to be clothed into —one not made with hands, but (seemingly) spoken into existence by God Himself, no doubt to honor His Son for the great work He has done, a proof of which is found in

Phl 3:20For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Phl 3:21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

We obviously want that house, that glorious body, and we’d rather not die to get it, so some of us may expect the Lord Jesus to provide a more glorious presentation of it. (note: Paul thought it might be soon enough for him to see it while still in this earth-bound body, but it was not to be. His thoughts notwithstanding, that doesn’t change the ultimate plan and manner of the Lord

1Th 4:13But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

1Th.4:14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

1Th.4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

1Th 4:16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Th.4:17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Meeting the Lord in the air (literally mentioned here and in Gal.1:4) is only mentioned in Scripture these two times and is directed specifically at the “church, which is his body,” or the Body of Christ. All the eternal inheritances spoken of in the other 53 books of the bible are concerning eternity either on the earth/ then a new earth or the city (New Jerusalem) which comes down from God out of heaven and rests upon the earth (see Rev.21&22, and Heb.11:8-10 & 12:22-24.) The Land was promised specifically to Israel 85 times in Scripture as being a “for ever” inheritance. I think we do not get to claim that. The city is specifically given to a priesthood proclaimed loudly in the entire book of Hebrews and in Rev. 21 their names are on the gates and judgment seats of the city. I don’t think we get to claim that, either.

You see how few verses in 2 Cor. 5 we have stepped into? I’m sure you do. Verses 1 thru 4 have barely been touched. But, read this, read the references, ask me anything you want and if I know the answer it will come from Scripture. If I don’t have an answer, I will search for one and if I can’t find one, I will NOT make one up. You can count on it. Making up answers or taking answers from Scriptures not written to us is the reason we have 4,200 denominations—started by man, never started by God or His word.

Thanks for reading, The Elder