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October 5/6, 2013
Jason Meyer | 2 Corinthians 5:1-5
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. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.—2 Corinthians 5:1–5
Introduction
Last week, Paul showed us that we are caught up in a tense two-fold process. On the one hand, Paul sees the process of death at work in him. We have a body that is passing away because it is part of the old creation that is passing away. The end result of that path is bodily death—the grave.
At the same time, Paul sees the process of life at work in him. This life is real but it is difficult to see. The Corinthians are failing to see it because it takes place on the inside. This is the inner renewal of the new creation. The new creation has dawned and it will not go down—it will not pass away. The grave means the end of life “in the flesh,” but not the end of life “in Christ.” The earthly body rots in the grave, but the spirit goes to paradise in the very presence of God.
But this text goes further. The hope of glory will give way to the home of glory. In fact, Paul says that we already have this home of glory. What do we have? How do we already have it? Paul answers these questions by showing us three things: God’s house (v. 1), our groaning (vv. 2–4), and God’s guarantee (v. 5). I love that this text is a God-centered sandwich. Our groanings are sandwiched in between God’s house and God’s guarantee. Let’s get started and taste and see how good this is.
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.
Let me make a few important observations. First, notice the link between “we know” and “we have.” “We have” is the language of hope that flows from knowing God’s promises. Hope is a present possession of what is still future because of the certainty of the promise (we know = we have). If he promised it, then we have it. Period. Remember the story of the little girl who told her friend that she had 10 pennies, even though her friend only saw five. She said, “No, I have 10. I have five in my hand, and my daddy promised to give me five tonight. That is 10.”
Second, the promise we have is much more valuable than ten pennies. It is a “building from God.” This is what I mean by God’s house. It is not the house that we built; it is the house that God built. Paul preached in Athens that God is not served by human hands as though he needed anything (Acts 17:25). This building proves that point because it is “not made with hands.”
This is a reference to the resurrection body. This resurrection body is better than our present bodies because it is “eternal in the heavens.” It will not fade or pass away—it is a heavenly dwelling that matches the eternal character of the rest of new heavens and new earth.
Third, it would be hard to believe if Paul did not intend some kind of allusion to Mark 14:58 (“We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’ ”) Jesus, of course, was talking about his resurrection after three days. This allusion connects the resurrection of the Christ with the resurrection of Christians.
Fourth, we will only have this resurrection body after our earthly tent has been destroyed through death. The word “tent” was an apt metaphor for our earthly body because it signifies a temporary dwelling. Paul was a tent maker. The Corinthians sold tents to sailors and used them for housing visitors during the Isthmian games (ESV Study Bible note on 2 Corinthians 5:1). Notice then that this is a contrast between the temporary earthly tent and the eternal resurrection body. It continues the contrast from 4:18—”the things that are transient and the things that are eternal.” We have a transient tent now, but a heavenly eternal body is coming.
How should we respond to the prospect of the death of one body and the gift of another? The body will die, and that leads to a certain kind of mourning and grieving for loved ones, but we do not grieve as those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Mourning is not the only response to the prospect of death, but groaning.
For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
In this temporary tent, we groan. But notice some incredibly important things about this groaning. First, groaning is not grumbling. Scripture is clear on that score: “do all things without grumbling or disputing” (Philippians 2:14). In other words, this groaning is not unbelief; is not admitting defeat. Christians are not belly-achers. What is groaning?
Second, the groaning in this text is defined as a “longing” and a “burden” for our heavenly dwelling (v. 2, 4). Christians are groaners because of a powerful longing. We cannot be home here because of the magnetic longing for our heavenly home. We are groaners because we are hopers. We say, “It won’t be like this there!”
Paul uses the word “weight” once again, but this time with respect to the weight we feel with regard to life swallowing up death (v. 4). The burden we feel is not to be unclothed, but to be more fully clothed. We do not mainly want to shed something like an old skin; we want to be over-clothed. In other words, we do not want to subtract—we want to add: the new life will swallow up death.
Third, here is where we see the links between the Old Testament and 1 Corinthians.
For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”—1 Corinthians 15:53–55
The groaning says, “It must, it must. Not if, but when.” Paul is quoting Isaiah:
He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”—Isaiah 25:8–9
It will happen—”for the LORD has spoken.” Why are these groanings so strong? What is their source? Do all Christians have them? Groanings are good news because they are given to all Christians as a gift of the Spirit.
He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
First, the word “prepared” is the same one used back in 2 Corinthians 4:17—”these light momentary afflictions are preparing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” What is he preparing?
Second, God is preparing a future weight of glory because he is preparing a moment when life will swallow up death: “what is mortal may be swallowed up by life (5:4). Notice the phrase: prepared us “for this very thing.” This very thing is the victory of life over mortality. Paul says that we see these two things at work but there is no question as to which one will win out in the end. And the victory will not be partial. It will be total.
Third, this is the second time that Paul has spoken of the Spirit as our “down-payment” or “guarantee.”
And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.—2 Corinthians 1:21–22
This idea of the Spirit as the guarantee of our inheritance occurs one more time in Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church.
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.—Ephesians 1:13–14.
In Paul’s mind, the Spirit is the down payment or deposit which guarantees their future. The Holy Spirit is the first installment of a total amount. God has given us his seal of ownership. The Holy Spirit is the first part that guarantees the rest—the redemption of our bodies. The hope of glory will lead to glorified bodies.
Fourth, don’t miss the fact that these groanings are gifts of the Spirit. When you think of gifts of the Spirit, do you ever think of groanings? You should. Paul makes the same point in Romans 8:
For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 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. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 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 8:22–26
And so there’s a groaning. These are not dying pains but birthing pains—pains that will lead to life, not death. Paul says that groaning pains are to be interpreted as the pain of childbirth. Jesus said in John 16 that the anguish of childbirth leads to joy.
When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.—John 16:21–22
You will not go through all the pain and then have the baby handed to you and say, “Well, that wasn’t worth it.” These burdens, this groaning will not lead to disappointment, but to an eternal weight of glory that exceedingly exceeds anything you can imagine.
Application
I believe that this text alludes to an intermediate state (vv. 2–3):
For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked.
The next passage probably refers to that same state in verse 8.
“We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord”—but he says, “we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
I believe that the Bible teaches an intermediate state. Look at the following texts:
And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”—Luke 23:42–43
And to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect.—Hebrews 12:23
It is important to see that Paul is not arguing for an intermediate state as that which is our end goal. Our full hope will only be realized when we are resurrected. I think this is what Paul means by being “naked.” Our goal is not disembodied existence. Paul probably had to fight against this idea in Gentile thinking because of the dualism many held to between the body and the spirit. People thought that the body was bad and the spirit was good. Therefore, what they longed for was a disembodied existence. All they wanted to do was shed the body as a bad thing that was dragging them down.
Paul’s hope was much more full-bodied than this paltry hope. The body in the grave could look like defeat. God will not hand over any part of the victory. That body in the grave will be raised incorruptible and immortal at the second coming of Christ. Paul exulted that the One "who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence” (2 Corinthians 4:14).
One of the reasons we paw at the door of future glory is our resurrection body. We will be at home in a new body. This new body is formed and fashioned by God. It is not going to be made of dust this time. He is going to make all things new—including his children. We will get a new body to match the new heavens and new earth.
I am burdened that many Christians do not share a burden for the new heavens and new earth. I wonder how many people are like I used to be. I used to be a little bit afraid of heaven. Now to be clear—I was more afraid of hell. But someone once said that heaven is like one eternal church service singing praises to God. That scared me because I took my church service on Sunday (that bored me to death) and I multiplied it by eternity. That thought was not good news to me.
But there is no disembodied existence of spirits playing a harp on a cloud. That is not what it will be. More on this in a few moments.
Let the groanings push you to remember God’s guarantee. Too often in this life “money-back” guarantees exist because earthly things are feeble. God’s guarantee is different. He has never given any money back because it was a flop or a failure.
Gazing at our grip makes us lose heart. It puts the burden upon us. Who among us feels that their grip is strong enough? Who feels like they can keep it up at all times? We persevere because God preserves us . . . period. That is our hope. For every one look at your grip, take five looks at his grip.
Faith looks at the mighty hand of Jesus:
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.—John 10:27–30
I still remember going to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. It is the longest cave system in the world. My daughter Gracie was a little toddler. It was dark. We were on a narrow path. The protective fence was made so that you could see through it. It had two wood beams. The top one was as high as my midsection. I felt safe because I knew that no one was going to try to jump over it. But the second one was at my knees. It would have been easy for my daughter to crawl underneath it in a foolish effort to peer over the edge and fall to her death. So I made her hold my hand. I was not worried about how strong her grip was on my hand. She made it through because of how strong my grip was on her hand.
God’s passion for your preservation comes from the fact that he is a perfect Father. How much stronger is he? How much more loving?
Conclusion
Part of the groaning we experience is expressed in our global focus. Global focus is like a Bethlehem holiday. We celebrate Christ’s birth at Christmas, his resurrection at Easter, and his Great Commission at Global Focus. We are groaning for the full display and vindication of his glory. We are groaning for the time when Jesus will gather his entire flock. This groaning has been a missionary groan. It is no accident that John 10:16 is written on David Livingstone’s gravestone:
And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
We want the entire flock to be gathered, so that people will see the full extent of this great victory of vindication. Listen to Martyn Lloyd-Jones on this groaning for vindication (Ephesians Two: God’s Way of Reconciliation, p. 110–111).
If I may so put it, God would never sent His Son from heaven to earth and to the cross of Calvary to solve a social problem. The problem to God was His own glory, His own majesty, His own everlasting greatness. This had been queried and questioned by the devil and all who belong to him. And what is salvation? Salvation, the whole purpose and object of salvation in the first instance, is to vindicate God, is for God again to manifest the truth concerning Himself. The devil is described in the Scripture as ‘a liar and the father of lies’; and the apostle John tells us in the third chapter of his first Epistle that God sent His Son into this world in order to destroy the works of the devil. That is the first object, that the whole character of God should be vindicated. Of course, the devil in an ultimate sense did not, and cannot and could not, affect the being and the nature and the character of God, but in the sight of created beings he could, and he most certainly did. He succeeded in the case of all the fallen angels; he succeeded in the case of Adam and Eve and the whole of their posterity. And the whole problem in the world today is the attitude of man towards God. So God has initiated this great movement of redemption and of salvation primarily in order to declare and to manifest and to vindicate again His own glory, His own greatness and the truth about Himself.
The devil blinds the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the gospel of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But God creates light out of darkness so that we see Jesus’ glory and come to him. A new creation that is drawn to Jesus like a moth to the light. And that is just the beginning. We will see so much more. Jesus prayed we would. We groan to be with Jesus in glory so we can see Jesus’ glory. We are groaning for glory. Jesus said better than anyone when he prayed for us in John 17:
Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.—John 17:24–26
Wonder of wonders, we are going to be caught up in the infinite love between the Father and the Son—and it will be in us. Back to my mammoth cave experience for a moment. While we were in the cave, we saw a mix between a spider and a cricket. It was the coolest bug I had ever seen. Then they told me that it lived in the dark but would go up to bask in the sun’s rays for a while. It could not take too much sun exposure or a chemical reaction would start and it would explode. The boy in me wanted to catch one and keep it in my pocket and hold it in the sun to see if that was true. Don’t worry, I didn’t. It would have been a little cool, but a lot more cruel.
I mention exploding bugs because I feel like I am going to need new resurrection body just so I don’t explode. Imagine the sheer intensity of perfect, infinite love. I have a hard time imagining how we are going to be able to take it. Needless to say, we will be bursting within too much to be bored.
Therefore, my question in closing is simple. Do you have this hope? Is it a present possession? Does it make its mark on you? It must! Tim Keller says, “The way you live now is completely controlled by what you believe about your future. I was reading a story some years ago about two men who were captured and thrown into a dungeon. Just before they went into prison, one man discovered that his wife and child were dead, and the other learned that his wife and child were alive and waiting for him. In the first couple of years of imprisonment the first man just wasted away, curled up, and died. But the other man endured and stayed strong and walked out a free man ten years later” (Keller, Walking With God Through Pain and Suffering, p. 314).
Not having the hope of glory is deadly. Notice that both men experienced the same suffering, but they responded differently based on different understandings of the future. Our future is something to celebrate as we think about death. Keller also referred to a story of how Donald Grey Barnhouse tried to explain death to his daughter. Barnhouse’s wife had died, and he had to help his daughter and himself process the pain of death. They were driving one day, and a large moving truck passed them. The dark shadow of the truck passed over them. Here is what Barnhouse said,
“Would you rather be run over by a truck, or by its shadow?” His daughter replied, “By the shadow of course. That can’t hurt us at all.” Dr. Barnhouse replied, “Right. If the truck doesn’t hit you, but only its shadow, then you are fine. Well, it was only the shadow of death that went over your mother. She’s actually alive—more alive than we are. And that’s because two thousand years ago, the real truck of death hit Jesus. And because death crushed Jesus, and we believe in him, now the only thing that can come over us is the shadow of death, and the shadow of death is but my entrance into glory.” (Keller, Walking With God Through Pain and Suffering, p. 317).
Yes, death crushed Jesus at the cross. We celebrate this in communion. The broken bread and the crushed grapes remind us that death crushed Christ. But we also celebrate that Christ crushed death at the resurrection. We are going to sing it at the end of the service. “My king has crushed the curse of death, and I am his forever.”
In communion we also groan for the gathering. We groan for the whole family to be gathered so that the Last Supper of this passing age will become the first supper of the Age to Come. We celebrate this coming every time we celebrate communion. In the words of 1 Corinthians 11:26, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
Closing Song: "Psalm 62"