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We continue to be of good courage. We also think it better to become absent from the body and thus enter the Master’s presence.1
| 1 | Enter the Master’s presence: Or, TCN: make our home with the Master. [John 14:1-3] Compare notes on 1 John 2:28. |
Dear Friends of the Nazarene,
We choose 2 Corinthians 5:8 as the theme verse of the chapter – Home-sick Ambassadors. Paul comforts the Corinthians with the thought of “a new dwelling in heaven.” [1-5] This fleshly body will be “dissolved” or dismantled like a tent, and at the Return of Christ Christians will receive a new “building” of divine origin. This will exist “ageless in the Celestialum,” or, “eternal in the heavens.”
As long as Christians remain in their fleshly bodies they are “absent from the Master [Jesus].” This hope is most encouraging and while Christians are absent from the Master they must strive “to be acceptable to him.” All Christians will be resurrected to “appear in front of the judgment-seat of Christ.” [6-10] There they will be judged by Christ according to what they did while in their fleshly bodies – “whether these things be good or vile.” Paul borrows from both Daniel 12:2 and John 5:29. The beloved apostle is to write in a similar manner at 1 John 2:28. Not all will meet Christ’s approval and so some will hear, “Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness, for I never knew you.” [Matthew 7:21-23]
Christians should, Paul writes, have experienced [or, know] “the fear of the Master.” Indeed, Christ died for all [11-15] but true disciples must “not continue living for just themselves.” Sadly far too many Christians in modern times give only token service to Christ and “continue living for just themselves.” This is demonstrated in their materialistic way of life in the Western World.
All long as a disciple is united in Christ he or she is “a new creation.” [16-19] Old worldly things have passed and new things have replaced them. We have all been given “the ministry of reconciliation” with its Gospel message. Of this we must speak.
May Heaven bless those who no longer live for just themselves.
16 June 2002
