(2 Corinthians 5:1-5)[Honoring God in Times of Trouble] How Glorification Should Zap Our Fears

INTRODUCTION:

We in America have an idiom,

The only two guarantees in life are death and taxes.

But for being so sure that all of us will one day die,

we have an amazing ability to pretend we will never die.

Said the Greek philosopher Epicurus,

“While I am, death is not; and when death is, I am not. Therefore, death is no concern to me.”

Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc., 1996), 309.

Often, people live that way, pretending we will never die.

And we could go on like that - except for one big reminder.

When we suffer.

We all suffer because we all live in a fallen world.

Suffering reminds us that this life is short.

Suffering reminds us that indeed we can die.

And suffering reminds us that we can’t take anything with us when we die.

This is why many of us struggle when we suffer?

Far from rejoicing in season and out of season,

we live in -

despair

feeling crushed

alone

cast down

and we just want to give up.

But the Christian doesn’t have to live that way.

Paul offers us a better life and a better way.

He reminds us that the promise that God will glorify us one day - should zap our fears.

And Remember what Glorification is

Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms Glorification

glorification. The last stage in the process of salvation, namely, the resurrection of the body at the second coming of Jesus Christ and the entrance into the eternal kingdom of God. In glorification believers attain complete conformity to the image and likeness of the glorified Christ and are freed from both physical and spiritual defect. Glorification ensures that believers will never again experience bodily decay, death or illness, and will never again struggle with sin.

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Last week we began a new series, titled - Honoring God in Times of Trouble.

And we asked the question - How do we honor God in troublesome times?

First, we said -

We live in the immovable, empowering faith of the Gospel. We have immovable faith in Christ. (2 Cor 4:7-12)

Secondly,

We said we need to live for Spiritual matters rather than material matters. (2 Cor 4:13-18)

Today,

We look at 2 Cor 5:1-5,

And how glorification should zap away our fears of pain and death.

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Observe how glorification should zap our fears.

2 Corinthians 5:1–5 ESV

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

Paul teaches us -

Glorification should remove our fear of pain and death.

Why should glorification remove our fears of pain and death?

Our passage gives us 3 reasons glorification should remove our fears.

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First,

1) The glorification of our bodies voids pain and death. (2 Cor 5:1)

When you buy an expensive item,

that has a warranty,

we are careful not void the warranty.

A computer

cell phone

power tool

We may know exactly how to fix something wrong with it,

but we won’t touch it.

Because I know if I remove those screws and something breaks latter on.

I will void, or cancel the warranty.

Paul reminds us that the Christian has something that voids death.

We have a promise that removes the sting of death.

“O death, where is your sting?” (1 Cor 15:55)

Look at your text - and consider how glorification voids death.

2 Corinthians 5:1 ESV

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

Think about it this way.

What is the worst case scenario of suffering?

There are really only two options -

I suffer in pain until I die.

Or I simply die.

So the -

a) Worst Case Scenario: Pain and death destroy our bodies.

This might be a natural part of aging.

It might an unexpected illness,

Or terrific accident.

>>>> Or maybe, it is outright persecution.

But nevertheless, the worst case scenario is that pain and death destroy our bodies.

We die.

Paul is leading us - towards the worst case scenario.

And as an unbeliever - that can be a horrifying thought.

Maybe you don’t know what happens if you die.

Or maybe you know exactly what happens after you die.

Rev 20:11-15 reminds us that all those who refuse to trust Christ to wash away their sins,

will ultimately cast in hell - a place of torment.

That is what death means to an unbeliever.

But what happens in the worst case scenario to a believer …

It,

b) Leads to the Best Case Scenario: Our eternal, heavenly bodies.

Paul says,

If a believer’s body is destroyed.

Then what happens?

Then he receives his eternal, heavenly body.

“Eternal” has the idea of immortality - and thus free from sickness, pain, and death.

Imagine no longer having those aches and pains.

No risk of cancer returning.

“In the Heavens” has the idea of a heavenly body - and carries the idea that we have Spiritual body, that is prepared to dwell with God.

Imagine that. To dwell with God, all sin removed, all guilt washed away.

So - if you are unbeliever - you have everything to fear in death.

But if you are a believer

- then the worst case scenario, death,

- is the greatest blessing you could have, eternal, heavenly life.

Or to say it this way - Glorification voids the sting of death.

Just like a warranty can be voided.

Glorification voids death.

So first,

Glorification should zap our fears,

because it voids the sting of death.

But secondly,

2) Our bodies long for our eternal heavenly bodies. (2 Cor 5:2-4)

Have you ever faced a frustration in your life, a thorn in the flesh, that you just wanted to end?

A trial that just seems to go on forever.

A pain that just leaves knots in your stomach

A frustration that leaves you holding on to every breath.

There are so many afflictions we face -

In our marriages

Our parenting

Our families

Our Work

That this list could go on forever.

But what they all have in common is they leave us longing for our new bodies.

2 Corinthians 5:2–4 ESV

For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

Paul reminds us -

that our present, fallen, corrupt bodies,

whose desires can lead us into the most destructive of sins.

Longs for what comes after death.

Glorification.

***** REPEAT FOR EMPHASIS*****

Our present, fallen, corrupt bodies,

whose desires can lead us into the most destructive of sins.

Longs for what comes after death.

Glorification.

Pain leads us to long for God’s promise of redemption.

(a) We groan for this new body. (v. 2,3)

(b) We hope for this new body. (longing) (v. 2)

(c) We are burdened in this old body. (v. 4)

When we ache, we should realize what that pain is telling us.

When we ache, it should remind us that we are longing for something better.

And if we are at the door steps of death - then praise God.

Because we are about to receive what our bodies are longing for - new eternal, heavenly bodies.

I realize that sounds crazy -

to rejoice at the doorsteps of death.

It sounds narcissistic.

It sounds crazy.

Because it so counter-intuitive to what we normally think.

And especially as Americans who have been so sheltered from pain and death.

Jim Elliot, a missionary who died in the Amazon, in the 1950s, said this -

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

That sounds crazy doesn’t it -

but there is a man who figured out that his body longed for something better.

He is no fool who gives his broken down body to gain an eternal, heavenly body.

So first, Glorification should zap our fears away - because it voids death.

And Secondly, because it is exactly what our bodies long for.

And Thirdly, because

3) The Holy Spirit Guarantees Our Future Glorification. (2 Cor 5:5)

Giving your whole life to Christ.

Passing up hopes, dreams, and comforts - to live foremost for Jesus.

Be willing to loose friends and make enemies - because love them enough to tell them about Christ.

Trusting that death only brings greater, better things.

That is a lot to ask.

To honestly believe,

that death means I loose what I cannot keep, to gain what I cannot loose.

That takes tremendous faith.

ILLUSTRATION:

I remember one day at work, I was waiting with the guys, to start our task for that day.

And one of the guys asked me this -

How can you be so sure that you are right?

I at the time had only been saved for two years,

and honestly can’t remember what my answer was.

In hind sight, I am probably thankful I don’t remember what my answer was.

What would you say?

- My thought naturally goes to the resurrection - Christ rose from the dead.

- But the second reason I might give - because God promises my glorification is guaranteed by the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:5 ESV

He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

- Why should we have hope and joy -

through pain and suffering.

- Why should the Christian rejoice - at the footsteps of death.

In the midst of persecution.

Because the Holy Spirit is the seal - that guarantees we will be glorified.

Perhaps, at times, you wonder - is God really going to do these incredible things he has promised.

The Holy Spirit says yes.

The Holy Spirit guarantees we will receive new eternal, heavenly bodies.

EXHORTATION:

The Word Guarantee has lost it’s value in some ways.

There was a day when we valued guaranteed promises.

But we live in such a mass marketed world -

and some companies have claimed guaranteed - and then failed to honor them.

That we tend be skeptical to those who offer guarantee’s.

But this guarantee is not like those guarantee’s.

Hebrews 6:17–18 ESV

So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

God does not lie,

and he has sent the Holy Spirit to guarantee that we will be glorified.

(Charles Spurgeon).

Upon a life I did not live, upon a death I did not die, I risk my whole eternity on the resurrection.

CONCLUSION:

After a passage like this,

I must ask -

How is death and suffering different for the Christian than an unbeliever?

> Death and suffering for an unbeliever means everything is lost.

Death means a departure from the things of this world.

And our Bibles teach us that they go ultimately to hell.

And they intuitively know it.

They know they loose everything - and face judgement.

In other words, an unbeliever has everything to loose and nothing to gain.

This world is everything they have to live for,

and to loose it, even just a little bit, is to loose big time.

Suffering and death keeps them from enjoying the only thing they have.

It is not a wonder they fear pain, suffering, and death.

On the other hand,

> Death and suffering for the Saved in Christ means everything gained.

Death for the Saved means we get glorified.

Suffering, is a temporary frustration, until we receive glory.

CAVEAT:

I am not suggesting we stick our head in the sand, or

that we should never be frustrated or wish to avoid pain and death.

If wisdom, and God’s providence, allows you to pass on suffering.

Then do it.

God allows suffering, but he doesn’t tell us to choose suffering.

But I am suggesting - the Christian should not have overwhelming fear and despair at pain and death.

Why?

Because

1) The glorification of our bodies voids pain and death. (2 Cor 5:1)

2) Our bodies long for our eternal heavenly bodies. (2 Cor 5:2-4)

3) The Holy Spirit Guarantees Our Future Glorification. (2 Cor 5:5)

In other words,

Glorification should remove our fear of pain and death.

It should zap our fears.

Glorification is a doctrine that should give us joy, hope, and purpose - even when face trials that exhaust us and overcome us.

Response:

a) Why should the promise of glorification remove our fears of suffering and death? What does Paul communicate by the word “if”?

b) How do our bodies face present burdens? How does our bodies groan and hope for glorification?

c) What does our bodies longing teach us about the role of pain and suffering in our lives?

d) Why do we need to remember that the Holy Spirit is our guarantee? What heart struggle is Paul addressing?

f) How does the Holy Spirit’s guarantee give us hope during trials?