Focusing On Eternal Value

After years of putting money into a savings account, a wife tells her stay-at-home husband the good news: “Honey, we’ve finally got enough money to buy what we started saving for in 1979.” Her husband blushes with giddy excitement. “You mean a brand-new Cadillac?” he asks. “No,” says the wife, “a 1979 Cadillac.”

Historical/Cultural Context -

Sometime afterward (c. A.D. 55), Paul left Ephesus, traveling north to Troas (a port city). There he had arranged to meet Titus and hear how the Corinthians had responded to the severe letter (2:12). Not finding Titus there, Paul crossed over to Macedonia to await him in that location. Eventually Titus arrived, reporting the Corinthians’ response to the recent letter and bringing news of other developments in Corinth (7:5–7). The book of 2 Corinthians (actually his fourth letter to that church) was Paul’s response to the news brought by Titus.

Biblical Text -

2 Corinthians 5:1–11 NKJV

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - Life Is Short, Focus On The Things That Have Eternal Value, & Have Confidence In God.

Life Point- Life Is Short Compared To Eternity

Exegetical -

2 Corinthians 5:1–4 BSB

Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. So while we are in this tent, we groan under our burdens, because we do not wish to be unclothed but clothed, so that our mortality may be swallowed up by life.

Homiletical -

I have some news for you folks. One day our bodies will stop functioning. On that day we will be with the Lord.

Sin sin entered the world the world has been waiting for the completion of the redemption of Christ.

Romans 8:20–25 BSB

For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time. Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see? But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.

If you are saved you understand what Paul is speaking about. A groaning inside us. A desire to be with Jesus and to have this flesh be turned into a glorious body one that is incorruptible.

As Paul puts it, we long for the day that “mortality may be swallowed up by life.”

There is a day when this body will be transformed to be like Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 NKJV

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

2 Corinthians 5:4 BSB

So while we are in this tent, we groan under our burdens, because we do not wish to be unclothed but clothed, so that our mortality may be swallowed up by life.

If anyone told you that Christianity is going to be your best life now, or that Christ will take your life and make it all roses and honey drops, then that person lied to you.

The Christian life is about turning over our burdens to God who will help us through them, who will help us uphold them. In the midst of trials and tribulations He will give us peace to walk this life.

If Jesus was whipped, beaten, and crucified how do so many think they deserve better than their master?

Jesus said:

Matthew 10:24–25 BSB

A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!

This is why false teachers are so dangerous. They appeal to the flesh, they appeal to good emotions and financial security. But that isn’t Scripture. Jesus said to deny yourself. Paul said to crucify the flesh.

Matthew 16:24–26 BSB

Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Galatians 5:22–26 BSB

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.

Illustration -

“I have no time for the endless nostalgia: ‘Oh gosh I used to . . . Life is too short; I don’t have any time for sitting and saying I miss things. What’s the point? Go and do something else.”

Life Point - We Are Confident In God & Walk By Faith

Exegetical -

2 Corinthians 5:5–8 BSB

And God has prepared us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a pledge of what is to come. Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Homiletical -

God has prepared us for this very purpose. What purpose?

To press on spreading the Gospel, doing God’s work looking forward to seeing the redemption of all creation. The day when this will all be changed, when there will be a new heaven and a new earth.

Revelation 21:1–4 BSB

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Not only that, God the Spirit has come as a down payment of these things that are to come. He is in the believer.

John 14:15–18 NKJV

“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

On the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was given to be in the believer he did not leave but takes up residence in every believer.

It is He who does the sanctifying, cleaning up, work in our lives, it is He who teaches us all things, it is He who speaks to us in the still small voice, and it is He who convicts of sin and points to Jesus for salvation.

The believer is not alone to try to walk the path of God’s righteousness because God Himself has taken up residence in the believer.

2 Corinthians 5:6–8 BSB

Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Therefore. Therefore what?

Because we have God on the inside and we have become regenerate in our spirit we are always confident in the Faith.

For while we are in this body we must walk by faith and not by sight even though we long to be with the Lord, He has left us here for a purpose and we must walk by faith.

What is faith? It is trust, trust in God.

Hebrews 11:1–3 BSB

Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. This is why the ancients were commended. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Hebrews 11:6 BSB

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Life Point - We Focus On What Has Eternal Value

Exegetical -

2 Corinthians 5:9–11 BSB

So we aspire to please Him, whether we are here in this body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad. Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well.

Homiletical -

So because we have the Holy Spirit in us and because we walk by faith and not by sight. We aspire to please Him.

Why?

Because He first loved us and we love Him. It is because of love that we seek to please Him.

1 John 4:17–19 BSB

In this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love. We love because He first loved us.

Romans 5:5 BSB

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

2 Corinthians 5:10–11 BSB

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad. Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well.

There is a judgement seat of the believer that we will have to appear before to account for the things done in this life. It will not be to determine salvation because that is already settled, but to determine rewards that will be given.

If we believe all that is written here then we know what it means to fear the Lord.

Proverbs 9:10 BSB

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Because of the greatness of God and the understanding of the things that have eternal value we are and do share the Gospel with all of creation. If you don’t understand His greatness and the terror that strikes the hearts of the unsaved man, then you need to spend more time in the Word of God. You also should read some text on the subject as well.

A good extra biblical text to start with is Jonathan Edwards sermon “In the hands of an angry God.”

Please notice that all of this doctrine that was discussed today and written by Paul all leads to the same conclusion. You need to be spreading the Gospel. If you have a true understanding of what is at stake then we all need to have a passion to spread the Gospel.

Matthew 28:19–20 NKJV

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Life Principle– Life Is Short, Focus On The Things That Have Eternal Value, & Have Confidence In God.

Call to Action – altar call….