A House Not Made with Hands

After Paul wrote about the momentary light afflictions that he faced in his earthen vessel, he turned his attention to the glory of the resurrection and eternity.

Paul contrasts our mortal body with our resurrected body

A. Our Mortal Body

1. Is Made Only for This Earth

2 Corinthians 5:1 (NASB95)

1 For we know that if the earthly tent

2. Is Temporary

2 Corinthians 5:1 (NASB95)

1 For we know that if the earthly tent

Paul was a tent maker. Poles break, seems rip and need repaired, wind wreck a tent in a minute.

we are not turtles. their shells are their homes and part of their bodies as well.

3. Is Our Home for Now

2 Corinthians 5:1 (NASB95)

1 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house

We don’t despise our bodies and abuse them.

4. Will Die

2 Corinthians 5:1 (NASB95)

1 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down,

2 Corinthians 5:4 (NASB95)

4 we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.

2 Corinthians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chapter 12: Facing Death Confidently (2 Corinthians 5:1–8))

For all, death comes like an utterly unsympathetic landlord waving an eviction notice. But that eviction merely releases believers from a wretched earthly neighborhood to an infinitely grand and glorious dwelling in a heavenly neighborhood

5. Makes Us Groan

2 Corinthians 5:2 (NASB95)

2 For indeed in this house we groan

2 Corinthians 5:4 (NASB95)

4 For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan

Groan for glory. we should want Jesus.

6. Is a Burden

2 Corinthians 5:4 (NASB95)

4 For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened

weighed down or heavy.

My 600 pound life

8. Is Absent from the Presence of God

2 Corinthians 5:6 (NASB95)

6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord

9. Demand Living by Faith

2 Corinthians 5:7 NASB95

7 for we walk by faith, not by sight—

Romans 8:23–24 NASB95

23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?

Hebrews 11:13 NASB95

13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

B. Our Resurrection Body

1. Is Our Possession

2 Corinthians 5:1 (NASB95)

1 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God,

2. Is Permanent

2 Corinthians 5:1 (NASB95)

1 we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

1 Corinthians 15:40–42 NASB95

40 There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body;

3. Is from God

2 Corinthians 5:1 (NASB95)

1 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

4. Is Made by God

2 Corinthians 5:1 (NASB95)

1 we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

not procreated.

Custom designed and made by the creator Himself!

5. Is Eternal

2 Corinthians 5:1 (NASB95)

1 we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

1 Corinthians 15:53–54 NASB95

53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.

6. Is Heavenly

2 Corinthians 5:1 (NASB95)

1 we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 Corinthians 5:2 (NASB95)

2 For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven,

7. Is True Life

2 Corinthians 5:4 (NASB95)

4 For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.

clothed - Philosophers though the body was bad and they longed to be free of their bodies and exist on a higher plane as pure spirits.

Modern Buddhist thought of Nirvana “the state of the snuffed out candle” is the same idea just repackaged.

8. Is The Culmination of His Plan

2 Corinthians 5:5 (NASB95)

5 Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.

2 Corinthians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The next Existence Fulfills God’s Purpose

God’s ultimate purpose in salvation is not justification but glorification

9. Is Guaranteed

2 Corinthians 5:5 (NASB95)

5 Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.

How do we know that we have a glorified body coming our way? The indwelling of the Holy Spirit!

Do you suffer from lack of assurance of your salvation? See the evidence of the Spirit of God in your life through the fruit of the Spirit, desire to worship, stirring and filling of the Spirit.

Jesus said:

John 3:8 NASB95

8 “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

10. Gives Us Courage

2 Corinthians 5:8 (NASB95)

8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

Philippians 1:21 NASB95

21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Philippians 1:23 NASB95

23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;

2 Corinthians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Chapter 12: Facing Death Confidently (2 Corinthians 5:1–8)

Believers should long for heaven like a prisoner longs for freedom, like a sick man longs for health, like a hungry man longs for food, like a thirsty man longs for a drink, like a poor man longs for a payday, and like a soldier longs for peace.

11. Is Home

2 Corinthians 5:8 (NASB95)

8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.