2 Corinthians 5: We Know

Paul starts off Second Corinthians 5 with the phrase, “We know.” What is it that Paul knows, and what does it mean for us?

In Chapter 4, Paul has been discussing the hardships that he and the other apostles have been experiencing. In verse 1, Paul explains why they don’t lose heart from all of these hardships (4:16), because they look to the future eternal heavenly bodies that they will receive not in their current temporary earthly bodies. In fact they understand that there is something not quite right about the way things are now and thus they long or groan for their future with the Lord (v. 6-8).

But this knowledge does not stop there but proceeds to action. In verse 14, Paul states that the love that Christ has for us controls them. This control drives the apostles to serve others and “to no longer live for themselves.” Paul urges the Corinthians to be reconciled to God. So what is this reconciliation?

The reconciliation is where God through Christ set rebellious humanity right with himself. The blessings associated with being right with God are not just future but also current. Simply, Paul hopes today because Christ has reconciled humanity to the Father. This is what Paul knows, his future hope is also his current hope.

Like Paul, Christ’s love for us should drive us to seek to reconcile the world to God. The church succeeds in doing this through a variety of avenues. For one, we cannot live for ourselves but for Christ (v. 15); our witness in loving those around us depends upon it. Secondly, we work toward reconciling the world back to God especially in our communities and in our relationships. Thirdly, reconciliation entails restoring creation (v. 17); bringing aspects of our future hope into the present. For as God instructed the exiles of Judah to seek the welfare of the city—treacherous Babylon—and live (Jer 29:7), so we are to groan through our hardships and seek the welfare of all in this passing age.

Posted By Aaron