Hope beyond the Grave Studies in 2 Corinthians
Hope beyond the Grave Studies in 2 Corinthians Series 2 Corinthians 5: 1 -10 © July 22, 2018 Pastor Paul K. Kim
COMMON MYTHS ABOUT LIFE AFTER DEATH AMONG CHRISTIANS • Myth #1: “Eternal life with God is a bodiless spiritual life in heaven. ” • Myth #2: “The Christian hope beyond the grave is that our spirit will be saved from death because our body is not important. ” • Myth #3: “After physical death, true Christians will not stand before the judgment seat of Christ. ” • Myth #4: “It doesn’t matter how you live as a Christ-follower because you will be saved only by grace because of Christ. ”
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4: 16 -18
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE HOPE BEYOND THE GRAVE IN CHRIST? 1) It means that our salvation in Christ is not yet fully completed without the resurrection of our body; hence, we groan until our physical death. 1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened— (vs. 1 -4 a) Ø Notice the unseen: our body now [“tent”] is transient/mortal but our resurrected body [“building”] will be eternal/immortal—this is our HOPE! Ø Our outer self [“earthly home”] is wasting away and longing to put on our heavenly dwelling [“house not made by hands”], so we groan for now. Ø Groaning implies two meanings: (1) hopeful longing for consummation of our salvation and (2) suffering of living in the in-between time until then.
22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8: 22 -23 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison… 2 Corinthians 4: 16 -17
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE HOPE BEYOND THE GRAVE IN CHRIST? 2) It means that we will receive an immortal resurrection body; until then, we walk by faith not by sight with the Spirit to guarantee it. . not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. (vs. 4 b-7) Ø If the resurrection body offers a far better hope, how do we know this hope is certain? The Spirit given indwelling in each believer is a guarantee! Ø This “guarantee” is God’s deposit/down-payment for what is to come in the consummation of our salvation in Christ—namely, our resurrection. Ø For this reason, all believers of this certain hope are to walk by faith [in the unseen eternal things] not by sight [in the seen transient things].
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 1: 1 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8: 24 -26
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE HOPE BEYOND THE GRAVE IN CHRIST? 3) It means that whether at home or away, we ought to make it our aim to please the Lord; in so doing, we are of good courage. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. (vs. 8 -9) Ø Here Paul intentionally reiterates his conviction/hope that provides him with confidence (4: 16) and courage (5: 6)—for all believers including us. Ø In so doing, the certainty of his hope beyond the grave led him to desire to be away from the body [death] to be home with the Lord [life after death]. Ø The life Paul lives now has a single-minded aim: to please the Lord in all that he does, where he is and in whatever he does.
20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1: 20 -21 10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1: 10
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE HOPE BEYOND THE GRAVE IN CHRIST? 4) It means that each of us will be judged by Christ according to our deeds in the body; hence, how we live until then matters. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (v. 10) Ø This is the climax of Paul’s hope beyond the grave: for all human beings, death is not the ultimate end but the judgment of Christ is. Ø Remember: Not everyone aims to please the Lord but everyone must stand before the judgement seat of Christ—including Christians. Ø Notice also that each of us will give an account for our deeds in the body. This has two meanings: (1) “according to” works (“not based on” works) our faith is proven true or false; (2) each believer is rewarded by the Lord.
32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Matthew 25: 32 10 …For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. ” 12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14: 10 b-12
How We Will Be Judged by Christ Before the judgment seat of Christ my service will not be judged by how much I have done but by how much of me there is in it. — A. W. Tozer You remember the old legend, which contains a great truth. There was a brother who preached very mightily, and who had won many souls to Christ, and it was revealed to him one night in a dream, that in heaven he would have no reward for all he had done. He asked to whom the reward would go, and the angel told him it would go to an old man who used to sit on the pulpit stairs and pray for him. Well, it may be so, but both would most likely share their Master's praise. We shall not be rewarded, however, simply according to our apparent success. ― Charles H. Spurgeon
THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1. In what ways do you see your need for finding hope and courage in your current “groanings” from your future resurrection? 2. What would it mean for you to walk by faith not by sight this week in light of this message? 3. What is your first step toward making it your aim to please the Lord in your body, knowing that you will stand before the judgment seat of Christ someday?
- Slides: 15