Chapter 5
1 For we know that if the earthly house of our tent is dissolved , we have a building from God , a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens .
2 For most certainly in this we groan , longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven ,
3 if indeed being clothed , we will not be found naked .
4 For indeed we who are in this tent do groan , being burdened, not that we desire to be unclothed , but that we desire to be clothed , that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life .
5 Now he who made us for this very thing is God , who also gave to us the down payment of the Spirit .
6 Therefore we are always confident and know 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 courageous, I say , and are willing rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord .
9 Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent , to be well pleasing to him .
10 For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ that each one may receive the things in the body according to what he has done , whether good or bad .
11 Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord , we persuade men , but we are revealed to God , and I hope that we are revealed also in your consciences .
12 For we are not commending ourselves to you again , but speak as giving you occasion of boasting on our behalf , that you may have something to answer 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 sober mind , it is for you .
14 For the love of Christ compels us ; because we judge thus: that one died for all , therefore all died .
15 He died for all , that those who live should no longer live to themselves , but to him who for their sakes died and rose again .
16 Therefore we know no one according to the flesh from now on . Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh , yet now we know him so no more .
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ , he is a new creation . The old things have passed away . Behold , all things have become new .
18 But all things are of God , who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ , and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation ;
19 namely , that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself , not reckoning to them their trespasses , and having committed to us the word of reconciliation .
20 We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ , as though God were entreating by us : we beg you on behalf of Christ , be reconciled to God .
21 For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf , so that in him we might become the righteousness of God .