2 Corinthians 5: Ambassadors of Reconciliation
Longing for our heavenly home and compelled by Christ's love, Paul proclaims the new creation and pleads with all to be reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 5 (WEB)
1 For we know that if the earthly house of our tent is dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.
2 For most certainly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven;
3 if so be that being clothed we will not be found naked.
4 For indeed we who are in this tent do groan, being burdened; not that we desire to be unclothed, but that we desire to be clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
5 Now he who made us for this very thing is God, who also gave to us the down payment of the Spirit.
6 Therefore we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord;
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.
8 We are courageous, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.
9 Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing to him.
10 For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
11 Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are revealed to God; and I hope that we are revealed also in your consciences.
12 For we are not commending ourselves to you again, but speak as giving you occasion of boasting on our behalf, that you may have something to answer those who boast in appearance, and not in heart.
13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God. Or if we are of sober mind, it is for you.
14 For the love of Christ constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all, therefore all died.
15 He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again.
16 Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
18 But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
21 For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5 (KJV)
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.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 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.
5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
10 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.
11 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.
12 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.
13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
15 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.
16 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.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 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.
20 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.
21 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.
2 Corinthians 5 (ASV)
1 For we know that if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.
2 For verily in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from heaven:
3 if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 For indeed we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened; not for that we would be unclothed, but that we would be clothed upon, that what is mortal may be swallowed up of life.
5 Now he that wrought us for this very thing is God, who gave unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6 Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord
7 (for we walk by faith, not by sight);
8 we are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.
9 Wherefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing unto him.
10 For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
11 Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest unto God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.
12 We are not again commending ourselves unto you, but speak as giving you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have wherewith to answer them that glory in appearance, and not in heart.
13 For whether we are beside ourselves, it is unto God; or whether we are of sober mind, it is unto you.
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died;
15 and he died for all, that they that live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who for their sakes died and rose again.
16 Wherefore we henceforth know no man after the flesh: even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.
17 Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new.
18 But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God.
21 Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
Summary
Paul knows that if his earthly tent of a body is destroyed, he has an eternal building from God, a dwelling not made with hands in the heavens. He groans in this present body, longing to be clothed with that heavenly habitation so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life, and he is confident because God has given the Spirit as a guarantee. Therefore he is always courageous, knowing that to be at home in the body is to be away from the Lord, for he walks by faith and not by sight, and he would even prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. Whether at home or away, his aim is to please the Lord, for all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive what is due for what they have done. Knowing the fear of the Lord, Paul persuades people, while his life lies open before God. The love of Christ compels him, for he is convinced that one died for all, so that all died; and Christ died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for the one who died and rose for them. From now on, then, Paul regards no one merely from a worldly point of view: if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old having passed away and everything having become new. All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation—that is, God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So Paul and his fellow workers are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through them, begging people to be reconciled to God, for God made the sinless Christ to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Main Characters
- Paul — The apostle who longs for his heavenly home, lives to please Christ, and serves as an ambassador pleading with people to be reconciled to God.
- Christ Jesus — The one who died and rose for all, who knew no sin yet was made sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
- God the Father — The one who prepares our eternal dwelling, gives the Spirit as a guarantee, and reconciles the world to himself through Christ.
- The reconciled (ambassadors) — Believers made new creations and entrusted with the ministry and message of reconciliation as Christ's representatives in the world.
Key Verse
2 Corinthians 5:17 (WEB)
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
Lessons Learned
- Our present bodies are temporary tents; God has prepared an eternal dwelling for us.
- The love of Christ, who died and rose for us, compels us to live for him and not ourselves.
- To be in Christ is to be a new creation, with the old gone and everything made new.
- God reconciles us to himself and sends us as ambassadors to call others home to him.
- We walk by faith, not by sight. “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7, WEB). The unseen realities of God shape how we live now.
- Christ's love compels a new direction. “The love of Christ constrains us… that those who live should no longer live to themselves” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15, WEB). His death redirects our lives toward him.
- In Christ we are new creations. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away” (2 Corinthians 5:17, WEB). The gospel makes us new, not merely better.
- The great exchange of the cross. God made the sinless Christ “to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21, WEB). He took our sin and gave us his righteousness.
- How does Paul's confidence about his heavenly dwelling shape the way he faces death (5:1-8)?
- What does Paul mean that “the love of Christ constrains us” (5:14), and how does it change how we live?
- What is new about being a “new creation” in Christ (5:17)?
- What does it mean to be an “ambassador” for Christ, and what is the message we carry (5:18-20)?
- If God truly does not count your trespasses against you in Christ, how might that free you to live and serve differently?
- Paul views his body as a temporary “tent” and knows he has “a building from God… eternal, in the heavens” (5:1). Because the Spirit guarantees this, he can be “courageous” and even prefer to “be at home with the Lord” (5:8). His confident hope drains death of its terror and frees him to live for Christ rather than self-preservation.
- Christ's love “constrains” or compels Paul because he is convinced “one died for all” (5:14). The proper response to such love is to “no longer live to themselves, but to him who… died and rose again” (5:15). The cross reorients the whole direction of life from self-centeredness to Christ-centeredness, motivated by love rather than fear.
- To be in Christ is to be “a new creation,” where “the old things have passed away” and “all things have become new” (5:17). It is not self-improvement but a fresh act of God's creating power. Our identity, status, and destiny are remade; we are not merely forgiven but recreated as people who belong wholly to Christ.
- An ambassador represents another and speaks on his behalf; God makes his appeal through us as we beg people to “be reconciled to God” (5:20). The message is reconciliation: God in Christ was “not reckoning to them their trespasses” (5:19). We carry the news that peace with God is offered freely through the cross.
- This is a personal-application question. Since God “was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses” (5:19), believers are free from condemnation. Invite members to consider how living as forgiven, righteous-in-Christ people might loosen guilt and fear. As leader, point to the exchange of 5:21 and encourage grateful, unafraid service.