2 Corinthians 5:1-9 - Homilies By E. Hurndall

I. THE BODY THAT NOW IS .

1 . Frail.

2 . Perishing.

3 . Often a burden.

4 . Frequently a temptation.

5 . Not helpful to spiritual life.

6 . Subject to many pains.

7 . Debased.

II. THE BODY THAT SHALL BE .

1 . Eternal . ( 2 Corinthians 5:1 .) Having no tendencies towards decay, no marks of coming death. A body of life . Stamped with the eternalness of God.

2 . Heavenly . ( 2 Corinthians 5:1 .) The first body is of the earth, earthy; the second body is spiritual and heavenly in origin and character. Capable of heavenly joys. Fitted for heavenly service. Free from earthly weaknesses, pains, and soil.

3 . From God . ( 2 Corinthians 5:1 .) The present body is this in a certain sense, but it has passed through the hands of the devil. The resurrection body shall be of God and only of God, his unmarred workmanship. It shall be like the glorified body united to Deity in the person of Jesus Christ: "Who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of his glory" ( Philippians 3:21 ).

III. THE SAINT 'S CONDITION WHILST IN THE EARTHLY BODY . Frequently a condition of sorrow. "We that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened" ( 2 Corinthians 5:4 ). There are

IV. THE SAINT 'S ASSURANCE OF THE HEAVENLY BODY .

1 . Revelation .

2 . Preparation . "He that wrought us for this very thing" (verse 5).

3 . The Spirit ' s witness . We have the earnest of the Spirit, which is a pledge of the fulness of the Spirit (verse 5). In the next life we shall be dominated by the Spirit; shall have a spiritual body—one pervaded by the Spirit. The apostle's confidence is strong; he says, "We know; " there was no uncertainty about the matter.

V. THE SAINT 'S LONGING FOR THE HEAVENLY BODY . The desire is very intense especially when the lot is hard and the nature spiritual. "We groan, longing to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from heaven" (verse 2). The paramount attraction is, however, not in the body itself, but. in the fact that the union with Christ will be closer. We shall be present with the Lord— at home with the Lord (verse 8). Now we walk by faith; then we shall see him as he is, and be like him. The gaining of the heavenly body will be the gain of closer access to our Lord, and will be the entering into our heavenly home, out of which we shall go no more forever.

VI. THE SAINT 'S DESIRE FOR A SPEEDY CHANGE FROM ONE BODY TO THE OTHER . (Verse 4.)

1 . The intermediate state between death and the resurrection will probably not be so perfect as that which follows.

2 . There is a natural shrinking from death. "Not for that we would be unclothed, but that we would be clothed upon" (verse 4). The apostle seems to desire what is expressed in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 —a translation, not death and tarrying for the resurrection.

VII. THE SAINT 'S RESOLUTION WHETHER IN THE EARTHLY OR HEAVENLY BODY . To please Christ. This the apostle made his "aim" ( 1 Thessalonians 4:9 ). This was his supreme ambition. He resolved to live, not to himself, but to Christ and for Christ. Note, that the life for the heavenly and earthly body is to be the same. We must do now what we hope to do by and by. Heavenly life in the earthly body is the preparation for the heavenly life in the heavenly body.—H.

2 Corinthians 5:10 - The judgment.

I. THE JUDGMENT IS CERTAIN .

1 . It is a matter of most definite revelation.

2 . It is necessary for the vindication of Divine justice.

II. CHRIST WILL BE THE JUDGE . "The judgment seat of Christ."

1 . A very solemn fact

2 . A very joyous fact for those who have loved, confessed, and served him.

3 . A very impressive tact that the One who died for men will judge men.

III. ALL WILL STAND BEFORE CHRIST 'S JUDGMENT SEAT . Not one will be missing. How vast an assemblage! A great multitude, and yet no one test in the crowd! We shall be conscious of the great number which no man can number, and yet be impressed with our own individuality. " Each one " will receive ( 2 Corinthians 5:10 ) —one by one . Every day we are brought a day nearer to that dread convocation.

IV. AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST THERE WILL BE A GREAT REVELATION .

1 . Of character .

2 . Of condition .

3 . Of life.

We shall be "made manifest." Life secrets will cease. Successful deceptions will be successful no longer. All veils and disguises will be torn off. The world as well as God will see us as we are.

V. AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST WE SHALL RECEIVE OUR DOOM . This will be according to the deeds of our life. Will the faithful then be justified by faith? Yes; by faith which produces works . Profession will then go for very little. "Lord, Lord," will be but an empty cry. Ability to pray fluently or to preach eloquently will not come into the account. Nor the ability to look extremely pious. Nor facility of talk respecting "blessed seasons" enjoyed on earth, What faith has wrought in us will be the question . What our Christianity has amounted to really and practically. "A name to live" then will be nothing if we are found "dead." Upon the branch professedly united to the Vine fruit will then be sought. "Faith without works is dead." At the judgment it will seem very dead indeed. Yet not by the mere outward act shall we be judged. The motive will be considered as well as the actual deed. "Faith which worketh by love" ( Galatians 5:6 ) will be diligently sought for. Note:

1 . The distinction between good and evil will be strictly drawn at the judgment.

2 . There will be degrees of reward and punishment. Some "saved as by fire;" some having an "abundant entrance;" some beaten with few stripes, some with many. It will be " according to what he hath done."

3 . The dependence of the future upon the present. We shall receive the things done in the body . A remarkable expression. What we do now we shall receive then. We are now writing the sentence of the judgment! Time is sowing . Judgment is reaping . "What manner of persons ought we to be?"—H.

2 Corinthians 5:14 - The constraining influence of the love of Christ.

I. CONSIDER THE LOVE OF CHRIST . Shown in:

1 . Advent . Relinquishment of heavenly glory. The highest place above exchanged for one of the lowest on earth.

2 . Assumption of human nature . A vast condescension. A most striking proof of love.

3 . Life . Miracles, acts of kindness, words, spirit.

4 . Death . A transcendent proof.

(a) physically,

(b) mentally, and

(c) spiritually.

"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

5 . Intercession . "He ever liveth to make intercession" ( Hebrews 7:25 ).

II. CONSIDER THE EFFECT OF THE LOVE OF CHRIST . It constrained the apostle—"compressed with irresistible power all his energies into one channel." "Constraineth"—its influence was continuous . Its power was not soon spent; rather that power increased as the love of Christ was increasingly realized.

1 . Negatively . Not to live to himself ( 2 Corinthians 5:15 ). There was now a greater power operating upon him than the mighty power of self.

2 . Positively . To live to Christ ( 2 Corinthians 5:15 ). The love of Christ overmastered him. He felt that through it he had been purchased with a great price, and therefore sought to glorify Christ in his body and spirit which were peculiarly his.

2 Corinthians 5:17 - "A new creature."

I. How THE NEWNESS ORIGINATES .

1 . The believer has died with Christ . ( 2 Corinthians 5:14 .) Christ is his Substitute, has borne his sins, has made complete satisfaction for his guilt. By faith he is so united to Christ that what Christ has done is imputed to him. He is thus new in relation to God. He was condemned; now he is justified.

2 . The believer partakes of the life of Christ . He is "risen with Christ" ( Colossians 3:1 ). He has received the Spirit of Christ. Having been justified, he is now being sanctified. The likeness of the Redeemer is being wrought upon and in him by the Holy Ghost. There is thus a "new creation." The old life was a life of sin, but the new life to which he has risen is a life of righteousness. The love of Christ constrains him ( 2 Corinthians 5:14 ) to live, not to himself, but to Christ.

II. HOW THE NEWNESS IS MANIFESTED . In the believer's

" All things are become new" ( 2 Corinthians 5:17 ). There is no part of the believer's life from which the newness should be absent. Whilst not yet perfect, manifestly a great change has taken place: "Old things are passed away" ( 2 Corinthians 5:17 ).

III. THIS NEWNESS FURNISHES A TEST . What have we more than our profession of Christianity? Have we been transformed; made new creatures? "Ye must be born again" ( John 3:7 ). Can faith save a man—faith which has a name to live, but is dead; faith which we only know a man possesses because he tells us so? We are not in Christ at all unless thereby we have become new creatures. The test is beyond appeal. The sentence of the judgment will proceed upon the assumption of its infallibility ( 2 Corinthians 5:10 ). All men in Christ become new creatures. "If any man," etc. A decided change takes place in the best as well as in the worst. All men may become new creatures in Christ. The vilest can be recreated equally with the most moral. This newness is not to be waited for till we enter another world. It belongs to this sphere in which we now are. Unless we are new creatures in this world we shall not be new creatures in another. It is on earth that "new creatures" are specially needed.—H.

2 Corinthians 5:20 - "Ambassadors of Christ."

I. THE DUTIES OF AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST .

1 . Negative .

2 . Positive .

II. THE MESSAGE OF THE AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST .

1 . That God loves men.

2 . That he has given Christ for men. A vast proof of love! The first step was on God's side. Whilst we were enemies Christ died for us.

3 . That Christ willingly gave himself for men. The death of Christ was perfectly voluntary.

4 . That by the death of Christ God has provided the means for the perfect reconciliation of the world to himself. In the death of Christ God does reconcile; i.e. he removes every obstacle to reconciliation. Justification is fully prepared for the sinner. Christ was made sin for us ( 2 Corinthians 5:21 ). He bore our sins. Our sins were imputed to him. God's justice was satisfied. Christ is made our Substitute, and this so perfectly that what we are is imputed to him, and what he is is imputed to us. He takes our sins; we take his righteousness. No hindrance to complete restoration thus remains, except hindrance which may lie in the human heart itself.

5 . That God earnestly invites men to be reconciled to him. Amazing condescension! The climax of Divine love! "As though God were entreating" ( 2 Corinthians 5:20 ).

III. HOW THE MESSAGE IS TO BE CONVEYED .

1 . With courtesy .

2 . With intense earnestness . It is momentous. What issues depend upon its acceptance or rejection!

3 . With zealous pleading .

IV. HOW AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST ARE TO BE REGARDED .

1 . As speaking on behalf of Christ.
2 . As declaring the mind of God.—H.