2 Corinthians 5

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in the heavens, not made by human hands. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our dwelling from heaven, if indeed, having put it on, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan under our burden. We do not wish to be unclothed, but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. It is God who has prepared us for this very thing and has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. Therefore we are always confident, knowing 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, and would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our aim to please him, whether at home or away. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive what is due for what he has done through the body, whether good or bad. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade people. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is also clear to your consciences. We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you a reason to boast about us, so that you may have an answer for those who boast in outward appearance rather than in the heart. For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are in our right minds, it is for you. For the love of Christ compels us, because we have reached this conclusion: one died for all; therefore all died. And he died for all so that those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died and was raised for them. So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Even if we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we no longer regard him that way. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; look, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he entrusted the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ's behalf: be reconciled to God. He made the one who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

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