“Living for Jesus!”

2 Corinthians 5:9–15 CSB

9 Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 11 Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your consciences. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in outward appearance rather than in the heart. 13 For if we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.

(5:9) – “Therefore…” refers back to (v.8)

2 Corinthians 5:8 CSB

8 In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

When a believer dies, he or she is IMMEDIATELY “…at home with the Lord.”

I. The Reality of the Resurrection COMPELS US to LIVE in the FEAR OF THE LORD! – (5:9-10)

The KJV/NKJV translates (v.9) “…whether present or absent” and I’ve often heard this means that whether Paul was with the Corinthians, or absent from them, “…we make it our aim to be pleasing to him.”

THERE IS a better possibility, based on the CONTEXT that the words, “at home or away” (“present or absent”) are talking about whether a person is alive or dead!

In other words, whether living or dead, there should be NO DIFFERENCE in your CONDUCT!

“…at home” translates, ἐνδημέω: to be in a place where one rightfully or normally belongs—‘to be at home, to fit in a place.

“…away” translates, ἐκδημέω: to be absent from a place where one rightfully or normally belongs—‘to be absent, to be away from.’

(v.10) – My friends, one day we will all STAND BEFORE GOD!

Romans 14:10–12 CSB

10 But you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give praise to God. 12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

The question is, do we live with the awareness that we will one day “…give an account” of ourselves to God?

IF YOU TRULY BELIEVE THAT, THEN START LIVING LIKE IT RIGHT NOW! Live in the fear of the Lord!

I’ve heard arguments that believers should not be ‘afraid’ of God, that because of our security in Christ, we should NOT “fear the Lord.”

If that’s the case, then somebody should have told KING SOLOMON!

Proverbs 1:7 CSB

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.

If that’s the case, then somebody should have told the EARLY CHURCH!

Acts 9:31 CSB

31 So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

If that’s the case, then somebody should have told JESUS that!

Isaiah 11:2–3 CSB

2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— a Spirit of wisdom and understanding, a Spirit of counsel and strength, a Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. 3 His delight will be in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, he will not execute justice by what he hears with his ears,

Jesus delighted in the fear of the Lord!

II. The Reality of the Resurrection Gives Us a NEW OCCUPATION! – (5:11-15)

A. Our MOTIVATION – (v.11a)

What is the “…fear of the Lord” (φόβον τοῦ κυρίου)?

Matthew 10:28 CSB

28 Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

That the Lord is able to destroy both soul and body in hell!

Hebrews 10:26–31 CSB

26 For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who disregarded the law of Moses died without mercy, based on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment do you think one will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God, who has regarded as profane the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know the one who has said, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, and again, The Lord will judge his people. 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

That it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!

Matthew 7:24–27 CSB

24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash.”

That unless you build your life on the Rock, it will fall “…And great was its fall.”

John 14:6 CSB

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Acts 4:12 CSB

12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”

Jesus is the ONLY WAY!

Believers (“…we know”) understand the REALITY OF JUDGMENT on those who do not know Jesus Christ!

That is the “…fear of the Lord” (that He’s not going to change His mind)!

B. Our WORK - (v.11b) - “…we try to persuade people.”

We are to be in the business of convincing/persuading people that Jesus is the only way to heaven!

CEV – “We know what it means to respect the Lord, and we encourage everyone to turn to turn to him.”

MESSAGE – “That’s why we work urgently with everyone we meet to get them ready to face God.”

C. Our METHODOLOGY – (v.11c-13)

1. INTEGRITY – (v.11c) - “…What we are is plain to God”

2. TRANSPARENCY – (v.11d) - “…and I hope it is also plain to your consciences.”

3. HUMILITY – (vv.12-13)

4. COMPASSIONATELY – (v.14a) – “For the love of Christ compels us…”

5. DECISIVELY – (vv.14b-15)

There is a single-mindedness to our ministry!

One pastor I knew called this the monomaniacal nature of ministry—we are monomaniacs when it comes to the substitutionary death of Jesus!

The focus is on CHRIST ALONE—HE PAID MY SIN DEBT, QUALIFYING ME TO LIVE FOR HIM!