For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 5:1-5

If you live long enough, you know life is painful. Life is full of trials and suffering, life is full of medical issues and struggles, sometimes it makes us wonder what is the point of life, right? This is why the gospel is called the Good News, all your pain and suffering will be gone! All your physical and mental health issues will be gone! All your family who loves The Lord will be seen again! This is described as the New Heavens and Earth in the Bible (Revelation 21)

Because Jesus Christ physically died for our sins and physically rose from the dead, defeating sin and death, we will someday physically rise again with glorified bodies, this is the final resurrection (1 Cor. 15) The Apostle Paul describes this in more detail “our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” Many of us have a “thorn in the flesh” that haunts us everyday, however one day that thorn will be removed in our glorified bodies. One day the battle with sin will be over, as our earthly house will be dissolved and we are given a temple of God, a glorified, sin free body

Paul describes our current state best here “ For this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven” As Born Again Christians we groan daily, striving to be conformed in the image of Christ, while stuck in a sin-filled body. We groan at the current state of the world, while we strive for daily sanctification of the Holy Spirit, the world strives for the flesh and becomes more depraved. We groan for the day we are physically united with our Lord Jesus Christ, and reign with him in God’s Kingdom!

As Paul continues “For we that are in this tabernacle, do groan, being burdened” Take comfort and peace knowing that God understands your burdens and groans in your current state. While you struggle daily to understand how you are blessed or Born Again, but reminded of the promise, that one day we will be Rise with Christ in glorified bodies. While the current struggle of life seems long, Gods eternal kingdom is forever, take heart Christ has overcome the world (John 16:33) Amen!

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Jesus said “Unless you are Born Again, you can’t see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3) I believe this is a foundational teaching of Christianity that is often neglected by the Church. Most Churches will affirm the cross and the resurrection of Christ, how many Churches are teaching you must be Born Again? You must be regenerated by the Holy Spirit to see the Kingdom? When you ask most “Christians” are you Born Again, then look at you like you have three heads

It’s a foundational teaching because Jesus said “You can’t” be saved without the Holy Spirit. Looking at Paul’s teaching here, without the concept of regeneration, it wouldn’t make any sense. Paul says “Our outward man perishes, yet the inward man is renewed daily” Most would say Paul is talking about the resurrection of the body, well no because are you being resurrected on a daily basis? No, but we as Christians should be renewed daily, how? By the sanctification of the Holy Spirit

Anytime we start talking about sanctification and holiness, everyone runs for the door. But if you’re truly a Christian, then you must be Born Again, and if you are truly Born Again, then the Holy Spirit lives inside of you. And if the Holy Spirit lives inside of you, you are going to be sanctified. Your going to be renewed daily, growing in Christ, moving farther away from your sins, gaining deeper knowledge in The Lord, yes this is a lifetime process

I love the next piece of wisdom Paul reveals here “For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” We could write a whole sermon about this, having an eternal perspective. The world only has a temporal perspective, they are living for the flesh, they are living just for today. We as Born Again Christians are living for the eternal Kingdom of God. Everything we do is for the Kingdom, everything we do has eternal consequences and the fruit will last forever

The unregenerated person doesn’t understand the spiritual warfare that they are in. They don’t understand there is a war for their soul, that their sin has eternal damning consequences. Jesus Christ came to set us free, our inner man is being renewed and sanctified on a daily basis, Amen!

For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you. We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.2 Corinthians 4:11-14

What hope does this world have? If you said Jesus Christ, then you are correct, but what about those without Christ? What hope does the world have without Christ? Nothing, there is no hope outside of Jesus, why? Because regardless of your beliefs or religion, we are all under the curse of death. We are all dying on a daily basis!

But as the Apostle Paul reminds us “So then death works in us, but life in You” As Born Again Christians we are not yet in our glorified bodies, therefore our physical bodies are dying everyday, just like the world. However our “inner man, our soul is being sanctified daily! As Paul says later in this chapter “Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed daily” (v16)

Those who reject the soul, this concept would make no sense, how can the Holy Spirit be sanctifying our physical bodies everyday? It wouldn’t make sense because our physical bodies are wasting away on a daily basis until our glorification in Christ. 

How do we know its the Holy Spirit renewing us daily? Notice what Paul says here “Knowing that He (Holy Spirit) which raised up the Lord Jesus , shall raise up us also by Jesus” Wow, consider what Paul said in Romans “The same power that rose Jesus from the dead is living inside of you” (Romans 8:11) The Holy Spirit shall raise us up also like Christ! Do we ever acknowledge the Holy Spirit enough?

For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 4:15

How much does God love you? Christ died for you, the Holy Spirit lives inside of you, and notice what Paul says “For all things are for your sakes” If you feel unloved or unimportant, remember you are made in the image of God and all of this was done for your grace, to give God the glory in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen!

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.  2 Corinthians 4:7-10

Jesus said “They will hate you because they hated me first” (John 15:18) This idea of “prosperity gospel” that we Christians are going to live our “best life now” is not only not Biblical, but it’s absolutely blasphemous and disgusting. Did Jesus Christ live his best life now, when the world crucified him to a cross? Did the Apostles live their best life after they murdered every one of them, except John? Anyone with little Bible knowledge knows this is a lie straight from Satan

The Apostle Paul describes what life was like for the early Church, “We are troubled on every side, we are perplexed, we are persecuted, and cast down” Does that sound like the “American Gospel”? It’s absolutely nauseating to think someone could stand up on a stage, hold up a Bible, and proclaim prosperity in Jesus name. Where is the Fear of God? This is why James warned “not many of you should be teachers, because you will be held under a stricter judgment” (James 3:1)

Now going back to what Paul said, even though we are to expect persecution and suffering as Christians, “We are not distressed, we are not in despair, we are not forsaken, we are not destroyed” You might ask “How is that possible”? Because it depends of your perspective and your faith in Jesus Christ. If you have a temporary, worldly perspective, then your life is going to be miserable. However if you have an eternal perspective, understand Christ defeated sin and death forever, and God’s Kingdom is eternal

Not only that, Jesus promised to give us the greatest gift, the Holy Spirit, that is living inside of You! (Luke 11:13) You are not alone or forsaken, God is with us! You are the temple of the living God, the same power that rose Jesus Christ from the dead, this is all you need! Money or possessions will not save your soul as Jesus said “What does it profit you to gain the whole world and lose your soul” (Mark 8:36) 

Your best life now? What does Paul continue to say here “always bearing about in the body the dying of our Lord Jesus” As the body of Christ you will suffer the same as Christ! Many Christians don’t want to hear that but that is your calling! You were bought with a price, your life belongs to Jesus Christ! Amen!

whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:4-6

Many people are asking these days “What is wrong with the world”? Well if they read their Bible, you would know exactly what is wrong with the world and people. For Born Again Christians, the state of this world and humanity should not be a surprise to you. Notice what Paul says here “Whose minds the god of this age has blinded”

Did you know Satan is called the god of this age or world? It’s no surprise the world is insane because it’s under the influence of the evil one (1 John 5:19) This is why as Christians we are not to conform to the ways of the world, but transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2) A Church that is conforming to the world, is a Church that worships the god of this world, Satan, think about that!

Yet how many “Churches” today do we see conforming to this world? Today we see rainbow flags hung at the majority of Churches, only a few years ago this would be considered an abomination. What happened? They are blinded by Satan! What happens when you shine the light on the darkness? What happens when you flip over a rock, the bugs scatter, this is what happens when you share the real gospel of Jesus Christ with the uncoverted world

As Paul says here “who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them” Jesus said “The world will hate you because it hated me first” (John 15:18) Again can you put two and two together? Why does the world hate the real Jesus, they hate the real gospel, they hate the real Church? Because the god of this world is Satan

If your Church is more like the world then it is Christ, then you know who their real god is. Jesus said “Narrow is the gate of life and very few will find it” (Matthew 7:14) A mega Church is not a sign of a Born Again Church, attendance numbers are not the true sign of a healthy Church, the fruits of the Holy Spirit are. If Christ said very few will find salvation, then you wouldn’t expect packed arenas in air conditioned buildings, you would expect an Upper Room with an inner circle of disciples

What is our motto, Paul sums it up best here “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus The Lord, and we are servants for Jesus sake” We preach the true gospel because Jesus Christ is our Lord, we dont conform to the ways of this world because we are servants of Jesus Christ, who has already defeated the fake god of this worldy, Amen!