2 Corinthians 5

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

2For indeed in this we groan, longing to put on our dwelling from heaven,

3if indeed, when we have been clothed, we will not be found naked.

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

5The one who prepared us for this very thing is God, who gave us the down payment of the Spirit.

6Therefore, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord,

7For we walk by faith, not by sight—

8So we are confident and would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

9Therefore we also make it our ambition, whether at home or away, to be pleasing to him.

10For we all must be revealed before the judgment seat of Messiah, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or bad.

11Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade people; but we have been made known to God, and I hope that we also have been made known in your consciences.

12We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may have an answer for those who boast in outward appearance and not in heart.

13For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

14For the love of Messiah compels us, because we have concluded this: that one died on behalf of all; therefore all died.

15And he died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died and was raised for them.

16So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Even if we have known Messiah according to the flesh, yet now we no longer know him that way.

17So then, if anyone is in Messiah, there is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.

18All these things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Messiah and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,

19namely, that God was in Messiah reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

20Therefore, we are ambassadors for the Messiah, as though God were appealing through us. We beg you on behalf of the Messiah: be reconciled to God.

21He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.