Why does Paul say we walk by faith, not by sight?

Paul says we walk by faith and not by sight because, in this life, we do not yet see the Lord face to face or enjoy our eternal home. Instead, we trust God’s promises about the future He has prepared. Faith looks beyond what we feel and see in our weak bodies and daily troubles. This way of walking gives courage. Even though we are now absent from the Lord in a full sense, we can be confident that to be absent from the body will be to be present with Him.

What is the judgment seat of Christ mentioned here?

The judgment seat of Christ is the place where every person must appear before the Lord Jesus. Paul says each one will “receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” This shows that our lives matter to God. For believers, this coming judgment leads them to aim to please the Lord in all things. Knowing the fear of the Lord, they take sin seriously and seek to persuade others to turn to God.

What does it mean that the love of Christ constraineth us?

When Paul says “the love of Christ constraineth us,” he means Christ’s love grips and moves him. He looks at Jesus dying for all and concludes that all were dead in sin. Since Christ died and rose again, those who now live through Him should no longer live for themselves. Instead, they live for the One who died and rose for them. Christ’s love is not just a feeling; it becomes the strong reason and power to live a changed life of service to Him and care for others.

What does it mean to be a new creature in Christ?

To be a “new creature” in Christ means that when someone is joined to Christ by faith, God truly changes that person. Paul says, “old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” The old way of living for self, in separation from God, begins to pass. A new life starts, shaped by Christ’s death and resurrection. This newness comes from God, not from self-improvement. It shows itself in new desires, a new view of Christ, and a new way of relating to other people.

What is the ministry of reconciliation in this passage?

The ministry of reconciliation is the work God gives to Paul and other believers to share what God has done in Christ. Paul says God has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus and has given us the word of reconciliation. This message is that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their sins against them. Believers, as Christ’s ambassadors, speak on His behalf, urging people, “Be reconciled to God.” It is both a gift received and a message passed on.

What does it mean that God made Christ to be sin for us?

The line “he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin” teaches that Jesus, who had no sin of His own, was treated as sin for our sake. He took our place under the burden of sin and its judgment. He did this so “that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” This means that, in Christ, God counts believers as right with Him. Our sin is put on Christ, and His righteousness is counted to us, so we stand accepted before God.

Why does Paul say we groan and long to be clothed upon?

Paul talks about groaning because life in our present bodies is burdensome. We feel weakness, sin, and suffering. Yet he is not wishing for some empty, bodiless state. He says he does not want to be naked, but “clothed upon,” so that what is mortal is swallowed up by life. He longs for the heavenly, God-given body and full life with the Lord. This longing is shaped by hope, not despair. God Himself has prepared believers for this and has given His Spirit as a down payment.

How does this passage apply to how believers live now?

This passage calls believers to live with eternity in view. Knowing there is a future home with God and a coming judgment seat, they aim to please the Lord in all they do. Knowing Christ died and rose for them, they no longer live for themselves, but for Him. Seeing themselves as new creations and ambassadors, they speak to others about being reconciled to God. Even in weakness and suffering, they can be confident, because the Spirit is given as a guarantee of the life to come.

2Cor.5.1

2 Corinthians 5:1

Q: What does Paul mean by our earthly house and building of God?

When Paul speaks of our “earthly house of this tabernacle,” he is talking about our present human body. He calls it a tent to show it is weak and temporary. When this is dissolved in death, believers “have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” That points to the future, solid, lasting life and body God gives His people. It is not something we build or earn, but something God prepares and gives, safe and eternal with Him.

KJV

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.

Our Eternal Dwelling

1 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.

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Ambassadors for Christ

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.

For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.