We live by faith

1Now then, we know that though our earthly, tent-like ‘house’ may be destroyed, we have a building from God (not a handmade house), eternal in the heavens.

2Further, in this one we do groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly habitation;

3since, obviously, once clothed we will not be found naked.

4Yes, being in this ‘tent’ is a burden, so we groan—not enough to want to strip, but to be really clothed; that what is mortal may be swallowed up by the Life. ⁶⁴

5Now it is God who has prepared us for this very purpose, who also has given us the down payment of the Spirit. ⁶⁵

6So we are always confident, even knowing that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord's home

7—we walk by faith, not by sight—

8indeed, we are confident in preferring to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁶⁶

9Yes, that is why we make it our aim (whether at home or away from it) to be well pleasing to Him.

10Because we must all be exposed before Christ's Judgment Seat, that each one may receive his due for the things he did while in the body, whether good or bad. ⁶⁷

11Therefore, since we know the Lord's intimidation, ⁶⁸we try to convince people. Why Christ died We are well known to God, and I hope in your consciences as well.

12We are not commending ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity of boasting on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. ⁶⁹

13If we are ‘out of our senses’, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

14For Christ's love impels us, having concluded this: if One died for all it follows that all died; ⁷⁰

15and He died for all so that those who now live should no longer live for themselves but for the One who died for all ⁷¹and was raised again. ⁷²

We are Christ's ambassadors

16So then, from now on we regard no one from a fleshly perspective—even if we have ‘known’ Christ in this way, we do so no longer ⁷³—

17so then, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old things have passed on; look, all has become new! ⁷⁴

18And that ‘all’ is from the God who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus ⁷⁵Christ and given us the ministry of the reconciliation, ⁷⁶

19namely that in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, ⁷⁷not imputing their trespasses to them, including committing to us the message of this reconciliation.

20So then, we are Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God!

21Because He made the One who did not know sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become God's righteousness. ⁷⁸