2 Corinthians 5

1 For we know that if our earthly house of the tent is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, everlasting, in the heavens. [a] 2 For indeed in this we groan, longing to be clothed over with our dwelling place from heaven, [b] 3 if indeed, having put it on, we will not be found naked. [c] 4 For indeed we who are in the tent groan, weighed down, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed over, so that the mortal may be swallowed up by life. [d] † 5 And the one who prepared us for this very thing is God, who gave us the pledge of the Spirit. [e]

6 So being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are away from home from the Lord — [f] 7 for we walk through faith, not through appearance — [g] 8 we are of good courage, and are rather pleased to be away from home out of the body and at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore we also count it our honor, whether at home or away from home, to be well pleasing to him. [h] 10 For we must all be made plain before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive back the things done through the body, according to what he practiced, whether good or worthless. [i] †

11 Knowing, then, the fear of the Lord, we persuade people; but to God we have been made plain, and I hope that we have been made plain also in your consciences. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to boast on our behalf, so that you may have something toward those who boast in face and not in heart. [j] 13 For if we were out of our mind, it was for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. [k]

14 For the love of Christ grips us, having judged this: that one died for all, therefore all died; [l] 15 and he died for all so that those who live may no longer live for themselves but for the one who died for them and was raised. 16 So then, from now on we know no one according to flesh; even if we have known Christ according to flesh, yet now we no longer know. [m] 17 So then, if anyone is in Christ — a new creation. The old things passed away; look, new things have come. [n]

18 And all things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the service of reconciliation: [o] 19 that is, God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their transgressions against them, and having placed in us the word of reconciliation. 20 On behalf of Christ, then, we are ambassadors, as though God were urging through us. We beg on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God. [p] 21 The one who did not know sin he made sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. [q]