Good morning, everyone. Good to see you.
Let's turn to our Bibles, to our studies in 2 Corinthians.
We're going to read chapter 5, verses 1 through to 10.
2 Corinthians 5, verses 1 to 10.
Let's hear God's word.
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed,
we have a building from God,
an eternal house in heaven,
not built by human hands.
Meanwhile, we groan,
longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling.
Because when we are clothed,
we will not be found naked.
For while we are in this tent,
we groan and are burdened,
because we do not wish to be unclothed,
but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,
so that what is mortal
may be swallowed up by life.
Now, the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose
is God,
who has given us the Spirit as a deposit,
guaranteeing what is to come.
Therefore,
we are always confident
and know that as long as we are at home in the body,
we are away from the Lord.
For we live by faith,
not by sight.
We are confident, I say,
and would prefer to be away from the body
and at home with the Lord.
So we make it our goal to please him,
whether we are at home in the body
or away from it.
For we must all appear
before the judgment seat of Christ,
so that each of us may receive
what is due to us,
for the same is done while in the body,
whether good or bad.
Well, let's pray together.
Our Father God,
may you,
by and through the power
of your Holy Spirit,
drive the truths of your Word
deep into our hearts
so that they change us
not just for today,
but ready and prepared
for the future that is to come.
Bless us,
encourage us,
and build us up as a church, we ask.
And it's in Jesus' name we all pray.
Amen.
Well, on Tuesday past,
Catherine Connolly was inaugurated
as the new President of Ireland.
In her speech,
she set out her vision
for our country.
She promises to be
a catalyst for change,
a symbol of a new movement,
hopes to make Ireland
a place of equality
and neutrality,
a republic
that we can be proud of.
Can you get behind that vision?
Well, I hope that some of these things
will be achieved.
But the problem I have
with that speech is,
it's not that this is too big a vision,
it is far too small a vision.
I'm all for hopes and dreams
and a catalyst for change
and a symbol for the new
and making things better.
But what we really
and truly need today
is not a vision
from a president
who is here
but for a few years.
But we need a vision of God,
the creator,
the eternal God.
A vision
where God guarantees
and secures our future
and changes and shapes
our present.
In chapter 5,
Paul is setting out
such a vision
for the church.
A vision so great
and big and glorious
that it affects the future
and changes
our present.
Leading up to chapter 5,
we've seen that
the Christian life
and ministry
is one that it is hard.
It's a difficult path.
It's a journey
which will involve
weakness and suffering
and death itself.
And we can easily
lose heart
and give up.
So in chapter 5,
we are given this
glorious vision
of God
who guarantees
our future
and changes
our present.
It's a vision
that we desperately
need to recover.
So let's look together
at this vision
that comes in
two parts.
First,
a God vision
for the future.
Look at verse 1.
for we know
that if the
earthly tent
we live in
is destroyed,
we have a building
from God,
an eternal house
in heaven,
not built
by human hands.
That's the vision
for the future.
A future
where we will receive
resurrection bodies
all ready
for a new creation
to come.
Let me unpack
that for us.
Look at how our life
is described
in verse 1.
Did you catch it
at the very beginning?
For we know
that if the
earthly tent
we live in
is destroyed.
Or verse 4,
while we are in
this tent,
it's a strange
way to describe
us that we're
like a tent,
a camping tent.
Well, our lives
and body
are just like that.
We are temporary
dwellings.
We're not made,
the physical body
isn't made
to last.
One day
death will come
and we'll end
the tent
of our physical
bodies.
They will be,
as verse 1 says,
be destroyed.
But if we are
Christians,
if our hope
is in Christ
today,
well, look at
the rest of verse 1.
We have a
building from God,
an eternal
house in heaven,
not built
by human hands.
At the end
of verse 2,
it is our
heavenly dwelling.
It's the promise
of a future
where this
very earthly
body will be
changed into
a glorious
heavenly body.
It is nothing
less than a
resurrection
body prepared
and ready
for a new
creation to
come,
where the
temporary
becomes eternal,
where the
broken is
made right,
and the
sinful self
is made
brand new.
You see,
our new bodies
that we are
going to
receive,
well,
we're not
going to be
floating about
on clouds,
in our
white dresses,
playing harps.
no offence
to any harp
players.
No,
they will be
new physical
bodies
without sinful
corruption.
It will be
a new
life
in a
physical
new creation,
this world,
this universe
made gloriously
new.
A world
where there
will be no
more decay
or disease
or death,
no more
sin or
suffering
or Satan.
It will
be gloriously
new.
Not long
after Kirstie
and I were
married,
we went to
Wales for
a cousin's
reunion.
Ethan,
our son,
was just a
few months
old,
and being
the adventurous
husband,
I thought
it would
be good
to go
camping.
And with
great enthusiasm,
I set up
our tent,
ready and
settled in
for the
night.
Kirstie
and me
and Ethan
snuggled up
in the
middle.
Well,
then it
began to
rain.
And when
I say
rain,
I mean
that it
poured.
Could you
turn off
the phone,
please?
It's very
disturbing.
We vote
to find
a river
that was
literally
coming in
one end
of the
tent
and going
out of
the
other.
Ethan
was roaring,
crying,
and of
course,
Kirstie
was crying.
Thankfully,
a kind
cousin came
along,
saw the
predicament
that we
were in,
went over
to the
owner of
the campsite,
ordered a
mobile home
for us to
stay in
for the
night,
and paid
for it
all.
There we
were,
safe and
warm,
dry and
content.
Well,
isn't that
just a
picture,
a glimpse
of what the
risen Lord
Jesus is
going to
do one
day?
He is
going to
come again,
and we
will leave
the tent
of this
body,
in all
its
brokenness
behind,
and we
will be
made
new
for a
glorious
new
creation
where we
will rest
and enjoy
God's
provision
for us
forever.
Now,
before we
move on
to the
vision for
the present,
there are
two things
we need
to be
clear on.
first of
all,
grace,
not
works.
This
vision is
only made
possible by
God's
grace,
and not
by our
efforts.
We don't
get to
experience
this new
creation with
our brand
new bodies
by our
performance.
Look again
at verse
one.
We have
a building
from God,
an eternal
house in
heaven,
not built
by human
hands.
Our
resurrection
bodies,
this new
creation,
is all
God's
work.
It's a
building
from
God.
Just as
God spoke
the first
creation into
existence,
God will
speak the
new creation
into existence.
But more
than that,
look at
verse five.
Now the
one who
has fashioned
us for
this very
purpose
is God.
You see,
this is all
God's
doing,
God's
work.
He has
saved us,
He has
changed us,
so that we
might be able
to enjoy
what is to
come.
And God
prepared it
all.
He fashioned
us for
all of
this by
sending
His Son,
the Lord
Jesus Christ,
to die
for our
sins,
my sin
and your
sin,
to raise
us again
from the
grave.
All of
this is
God's
work,
all by
His
grace.
It's like
my cousin
who came
to the
rescue
when we
were in
that tent.
He saw
our
predicament.
He came
and He
intervened.
He provided
us with a
new home
and He
paid for
it all.
It is
all
wonderfully
by God's
grace.
But there's
another thing
we need
to see.
That right
now that
life is
partial
and not
fulfilled.
Because when
we trust
in Christ
we receive
all of
God's
good and
wonderful
promises.
However,
all of
those promises
are partial.
They are
not yet
fulfilled.
So look
again at
verse 1.
We have
a building
from God,
an eternal
house in
heaven,
not built
by human
hands.
Meanwhile,
we groan,
longing to
be clothed
instead with
our heavenly
dwelling.
We have
the promise
of new
resurrected
bodies and
a new
creation.
that's
secure,
that's
locked
in,
that won't
change.
However,
as we
wait for
what is
to come,
we are
going to
pass through
seasons of
suffering and
struggles.
Just because
we're Christians,
it doesn't mean
to say we get
a pass on
that.
Healing
this side
of eternity
is not
guaranteed.
Look at
verse 4.
This is
what life
is like.
For while
we are in
this tent,
we groan
and are
burdened
because we
do not
wish to
be unclosed,
but to be
clothed
instead with
our heavenly
dwelling,
so that
what is
mortal
may be
swallowed
up by
life.
Think of
it like
this,
that you've
been invited
to a
wonderful
grand
banquet.
You have
the invite
which
guarantees
your seat
at the
table,
but there's
a dress
code for
you to
enter,
formal
dress for
the women,
black tie
for the
men.
You wait
until those
new clothes
arrive so
that you
can go to
the banquet
prepared
and ready.
Well,
verse 4
is saying
if we
are
Christians,
we are
waiting
for our
new
clothes.
We're
waiting to
be clothed
with our
resurrection
bodies so
that we
can take
our place
in the
new
creation.
And it's
all
guaranteed.
Verse 5,
second part
of verse 5,
God who
has given
us the
spirit
as a
deposit
guaranteeing
what is
to come.
I'm
sure you've
experienced
what it is
to groan
in our
aching
bodies.
Those
groans,
those
longings
that come
from deep
within
are all
evidence
of God's
spirit at
work within
us.
The spirit
of God
which causes
us to
cry out
to our
father
as we
wait
for what
is
guaranteed.
So
first we
have a
vision
for the
future,
resurrection
bodies
for a
new
creation,
all
delivered
not by
our
works
but by
God's
grace
which we
have
received
now,
but we
await
its
fulfilment.
Second,
we have
a God
vision for
the
present.
Look at
verse 6.
Therefore,
so in
light of
what is
to come,
in light
of the
future
vision
to come,
therefore
we are
always
confident
and know
that as
long as
we are
at home
in the
body,
we are
away
from the
Lord.
So
again,
here's
our
vision
for the
present,
for our
lives
today.
Confident
hope
with a
new
purpose.
Let me
unpack that
for us.
If you
look
carefully
at verse
6,
there's
this
little
phrase
which
says
home
in the
body
and
away
from
the
Lord.
That
describes
our
current
status,
doesn't
it?
We're
at home
in the
body,
in the
tent
of our
body,
in this
life,
in this
world,
and we
long to
be with
the
Lord.
Verse
8 has
the same
phrase,
but it's
reversed.
He
says,
I would
prefer to
be away
from
the
body
and
at
home
with
the
Lord.
Isn't
that how
we feel
today?
That's
our
hope.
We
long to
be away
from
this
life
for
the
life
to
come.
But
as
we
wait
for
all
of
that
to
happen,
go
back
to
verse
6,
it
says
we
are
always
confident.
So
whatever
our
circumstances
in
life,
whatever
our
struggles
that
come,
we
know,
we
are
sure,
we
are
confident
that
one
day
we
will
be
truly
at
home.
This
is
the
confidence
and
assurance
we
have.
And
it
isn't
just
worked
up
by
effort
from
inside
of
us.
No,
it's
a
confidence
that
is
based
on
the
historical
fact
of
the
resurrection.
Go
back
to
chapter
4,
verse
14.
Do you
see it
there?
This is
where our
confidence
comes from.
Verse 14,
because we
know that
the one who
raised the
Lord Jesus
from the
dead
will also
raise us
with Jesus
and present
us with
you
to
himself.
Because
God
raised
Christ
from the
dead,
all
who
are
in
Christ
will
also
be
raised
just
as
Christ
was
raised.
Our
future
is
secure,
therefore
our
present
is
secure.
Now
this
confidence
that we
have
today
gives
us a
new
purpose,
a new
way
to
live.
We
see it
there
in
verse
9.
So
we
make it
our
goal
to
please
him
whether
we
are
at
home
in
the
body
or
away
for
it.
Well
how do
I
please
the
Lord?
As
we
wake
up
every
morning
what
does
it
mean
to
please
him?
Well
go
back
to
chapter
2
verse
14.
I
think
here
it
describes
well
what
it
means
for
us
to
please
him.
We'll
pick it
up at
the
middle
of
verse
14.
God
uses
us
to
spread
the
aroma
of
the
knowledge
of
him
everywhere.
For
we are
to
God
the
pleasing
aroma
of
Christ
among
those who
are being
saved and
among
those
who are
perishing.
do
you see
it
there
verse
15
we
are
to
God
the
pleasing
aroma
of
Christ.
The
way in
which we
please
the
Lord
as we
are
waiting
for
glory
is to
spread
the
aroma
of
Christ
wherever
we
go.
That
is
we
are
to
share
this
wonderful
gospel
story
of the
one
who
died
for
our
sins
who
was
raised
to life
securing
our
future
as we
speak
of
Jesus
we
are
spreading
an
aroma
that
pleases
the
Lord.
That's
our
purpose.
That's
our
vision
for the
present.
When we
go to
college,
when we
go to
work,
when we
socialise
with
friends,
all the
things
that we
do
every
day,
our
prayerful
goal
is that
they
would
know
Jesus
and
share
in
the
resurrection
life
to
come.
Now,
as we
live out
this
glorious
vision,
there are
two
things we
need to
keep in
mind.
First,
face,
not
sight.
We
live out
this
vision,
verse
seven,
we
live by
face
and
not
by
sight.
Face
in this
context
doesn't
mean
saving
faith
like
trusting
in
Jesus.
It's
a
persevering
faith.
Hebrews
11
puts it
like
this.
Now,
face
is
confidence
in what
we hope
for
and
assurance
about
what we
do
not
see.
We
are
waiting
for
something
to come
and
that
waiting,
that
trusting
is
active,
not
passive.
We
saw
that
last
week.
If you
go back
to
chapter
4,
verse
18,
what it
means
to live
by
faith
and
not
by
sight.
Chapter
4,
verse
18.
So,
we
fix
our
eyes
not
on
what
is
seen
but
on
what
is
unseen.
Since
what
is
seen
is
temporary
but
what
is
unseen
is
eternal.
What
we
see
right
now,
what
we
can
feel,
what
we
can
touch,
what
we
hold
on
to
is
all
temporary.
None
of
this
is
going
to
last.
So,
we
live
by
trusting
in
God's
sure
and
certain
promises.
We
live
each
day
knowing
that
this
world
is
not
our
home.
We
live
knowing
that
our
groanings
will
one
day
give
way
to
glory.
We
live
knowing
that
all
our
efforts
to
reach
the
lost
will
count.
We
are
people
who
live
by
faith
and
not
by
sight.
But
the
other
thing
we
also
need
to
know
is
that
it's
about
reward
not
wages.
Look
at
verse
9
with
me
again.
We
make
it
our
goal
to
please
him
whether
we're
at
home
in
the
body
or
away
from
it
for
we
must
all
appear
before
the
judgment
of
seat
of
Christ
so
that
each
of
us
may
receive
what
is
due
to
us
for
the
things
done
while
in
the
body
whether
good
or
bad
one
day
this
is
the
reality
the
tent
of
my
body
is
going
to
be
destroyed
I'm
going
to
die
and
I'm
going
to
stand
before
Christ
and
that
is
true
of
every
single
person
in
this
room
we
will
stand
before
Christ
and
verse
10
I
think
in
particular
is
speaking
about
Christians
on
that
day
our
lives
are
going
to
be
assessed
how
did
I
live
how
did
I
use
my
resources
what
did
I
do
with
my
money
what
did
I
do
with
my
time
everything
is
going
to
be
uncovered
and
laid
before
Christ
and
then
when
that
has
taken
place
look
at
the
end
of
verse
10
we
will
receive
what
is
due
to
us
for
the
things
done
while
in
the
body
whether
good
or
bad
so
what
are we
going
to
receive
when
we
stand
before
Christ
well
if
we're
Christians
we
won't
receive
judgment
because
Christ
has
already
been
judged
for
us
if
we
are
not
Christians
we
will
be
judged
and
we
will
fail
and
we
will
be
separated
from
God
for
all
eternity
but
for
the
Christian
here
in
verse
10
it's
not
talking
about
condemnation
but
about
an
evaluation
of
how
we
have
lived
our
lives
for
Christ
so
what
are we
going
to
receive
for
the
things
we
did
good
and
the
things
that
we
did
bad
well
we
will
receive
rewards
and
not
wages
one
writer
put it
like
this
the
inheritance
the
reward
which
is
then
kept
in
heaven
for
us
is
not
a
wage
paid
out
to
employees
in
proportion
to
what
they
have
earned
but
a
reward
that
the
father
in
heaven
grants
to
his
children
out
of
sheer
grace
it's
like
this
as I
was
reflecting
on
this
verse
as I
think
of
standing
before
Christ
and
my
life
being
evaluated
I
don't
know
about
you
but
I
want
to
run
and
hide
I
don't
want
my
life
evaluated
but
when I
think
of
God
who
would
evaluate
my
life
and
all
that
I
have
done
and
him
still
giving
me
the
reward
of
new
life
new
resurrected
body
and
the
new
creation
well
then
I
am
utterly
stunned
and
amazed
at
what
he
will
do
for
me
and
it's
because
of
this
gracious
undeserved
reward
that I
am
motivated
today
in
this
life
to
please
the
Lord
for
I
want
to
do
what
will
count
I
want
all
that
I
do
to
count
for
eternity
sake
and
the
more
that
I
see
my
father
God
who
will
give
to
me
a
reward
that
I
do
not
deserve
I
am
so
utterly
amazed
and
I
can
wake
afresh
each
and
every
new
day
and
say
how
can
I
live
for
my
God
so
here
we
have
a
vision
of
the
future
resurrected
bodies
in a
new
creation
all
of
God's
wonderful
free
grace
and
as we
consider
what we
are
heading
towards
so
it
changes
and
shapes
our
present
today
a
life
whereby
we
live
to
please
him
and
serve
him
because
one
day
we
will
receive
our
reward
not
because
we
earn
it
or
deserve
it
because
we
have
a
father
who
is
generous
and
good
and
kind
and
by
sheer
grace
will
welcome
us
into
the
new
creation
where
we
will
serve
him
and
enjoy
him
forever
this
is a
vision
that
we
can
live
by
a
vision
that
shapes
the
future
and
secures
our
future
and
gives
us
hope
and
reason
to
live
tomorrow
let's
pray
our
father
god
we
confess
that
our
vision
for
our
lives
is
so
often
so
small
it
is
not
big
enough
help
us
that
our
lives
would
be
changed
and
shaped
by the
vision
we have
just
seen
in
your
word
a
vision
that
shapes
our
future
and
changes
our
present
father
by the
power
of
your
holy
spirit
help
us
to
keep
our
eyes
fixed
on
this
vision
help
us
to
encourage
one
another
to
stick
to
it
and
to
walk
by
it
knowing
that
this
world
we
live
in
is
only
preparation
for
a
glorious
new
home
to
come
thank
you
father
god
in
jesus
name
amen
well
we're
going
to
sing
in
response
a
well
known
hymn
in
christ