Paul discusses two main points in this week’s passage from his Second Letter to the Corinthians. The first is the believer’s hope of an everlasting Heavenly dwelling (contrasted with earthly homes). The second is reconciliation through Christ.
Let’s look at the first part.
Therefore, although we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord—for we live by faith, not by sight— so we are confident and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore indeed we have as our ambition, whether at home in the body or absent from the body, to be acceptable to him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, in order that each one may receive back the things through the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad. — 2 Cor 5:6–10 (LEB)
The idea Paul describes in verse 6 of being at home in the body and absent from the Lord, has the obvious aspect of being “away from”; but the Greek word he uses that we translate as “absent” also can mean “exile.” So, Paul may
also be alluding to Yahweh’s promise in Isaiah (chapters 40-55) to restore his exiled people—as sinners are also restored to relationship with God through Jesus.
In living by faith and not by sight, believers are understood not to have seen Jesus’ resurrection and ascension with their own eyes, but rather are encouraged to live their lives confident in God’s fulfillment of his promises through Christ.
Paul’s comment in verse 8 about being absent from the body and at home with the Lord seems to allude to the time between a believer’s death and the ultimate resurrection and judgment of everyone. Believers, it would seem, are in the presence of Christ when they’ve died, but not yet in resurrected bodies.
The phrase “we must all appear” emphasizes the understanding that believers are included in the judgment, and that it is not simply a pass/fail (Heaven or Hell) grading system. Jesus describes levels of eternal reward based
on deeds done here on earth during a believer’s lifetime (Rom 2:6-10; 1 Cor 4:5; and 2 Cor 11:15).
Paul then leads into God’s intent for reconciliation and salvation for humanity.
Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we are attempting to persuade people, but we are revealed to God, and I hope to be revealed in your consciences.
We are not commending ourselves to you again but are giving you an opportunity to boast about us, in order that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. For if we are out of our senses, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one died for all; as a result all died. And he died for all, in order that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised. So then, from now on we know no one from a human point of view, if indeed we have known Christ from a human point of view, but now we know him this way no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. — 2 Cor 5:11–17
“Knowing the fear of the Lord” in verse 11 means having reverence for Christ; it does not mean being afraid of him. Showing appropriate respect for God because he is God is what the concept entails. There is a scene in C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, in which the children first hear about Aslan the lion from Mr. and Mrs. Beaver. The children ask if he’s safe, to which the beavers reply, “Of course he’s not safe! He’s a lion! But he’s a good lion.” Therein lies the notion behind fear of God. He is all powerful, but he is also good.
In verse 15, we see that Jesus “died for all.” But that does not mean that all are saved. It means salvation is available to all through Jesus. We must accept salvation on Christ’s terms, not our own. By doing this we develop a spiritual worldview that lets us see others through God’s eyes, as part of his creation that he loves. The God who was willing to sacrifice himself in an agonizing death as the means of salvation for everyone willing to accept it expects us to love one another with that same intensity.
Looking at others “from a human point of view” (verse 16) means assessing others through the superficial qualities we use to determine other people’s value. When we realize the depth of Christ’s love for us, we cannot hold others in disdain. And if previously we judged Jesus according to that mindset, we lose that perspective and view him through a spiritual lens by which we recognize him as our Lord and Savior—because being in Christ changes us (verse 17). We have become new creations.
If you have a car that has developed problems, (such as the steering feeling a little loose, some internal parts rattling, a damaged frame from an accident…), you can get it repaired and some of those problems will be gone forever, some may recur, and some (like the damaged frame) really can’t be fully repaired. If instead of repairing it, however, you trade it in for a new car, none of those issues are there anymore. They all went away with the old car, and the new one has none of the defects or damage the other had. It’s the same with us. Jesus doesn’t
patch us up with spiritual Bondo; he makes us new.
Reconciliation is re-creation—rebirth. Being born again means new life in Christ. It is the start of a new journey as a disciple.
Bon voyage!
Grace and Peace,
Fr. Austin