MORTAL SWALLOWED UP OF LIFE
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. The Scriptures plainly reveal that the faithful will inherit a
heavenly home.
1. The Bible gives us several beautiful descriptions of that
eternal home.
2. One such description is found in 2 Cor. 5:1-10, and in this
lesson we want to study this passage, verse by verse.
a. It will give us instructions and exhortation concerning
the life beyond.
3. As we examine this text, we see that they pertain to strong,
faithful Christians.
I. 2 Cor. 5:1
A. The first part of verse 1 indicates the certainty of the
fulfillment of the promises; that is, the certainty in the
heart of the strong Christian.
1. All Christians should have an unshaken faith that the
promises of God will be fulfilled.
a. Peter said that God has given us exceedingly great and
precious promises.
b. There is an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and
reserved in heaven which is ready to be revealed in the
last time. 1 Pet. 1:3-5
2. Paul emphatically confirmed that the promises of God will be
fulfilled. 2 Cor. 1:20
a. Thus, we know and are assured that the promises of
God will be fulfilled.
b. As a matter of fact, with every passing moment of time
we draw closer to God's fulfillment. Rom. 13:11
B. The last part of verse 1 gives us an idea of what we will
receive.
1. "Our earthly house, this tent" - Of course, this is talking
about our physical bodies.
a. Peter spoke of putting off his "tent" in death. 2 Pet.
1:13-14
b. When he was old and asked about his health, John
Quincy Adams, speaking of his body, said, "Mr Adams
is all right, but the house he lives in is dilapidated,
and it looks as if he will have to move out."
2. "We have a building from God, a house not made with
hands, eternal in the heavens."
a. This shows what we will have.
b. "A building from God" - God, Himself, is the architect
of this new building.
c. "Not made with hands" - It is not something feeble and
flimsy like that made by human efforts.
d. "Eternal" - It will not be like our present bodies which
are subject to decay and death.
e. "In the heavens" - It will not be on earth. All things
will be made new. The old will pass away. Rev. 21:1-5
(1) In that heavenly home we will have a pure,
celestial, immortal body, skillfully and wonderfully
made by God Himself. 1 Cor. 15:49-57
II. 2 Cor. 5:2-4
A. Christians are longing and earnestly looking for the habitation
which is from above. Verses 2-4
1. Thus, the Christian groans and longs that his mortal body
may be swallowed up of life.
a. He is eagerly seeking the redemption of his body. Rom.
8:19-23
(1) Rom. 8:19-21 - From the very beginning, sinful
man was given hope that God would provide
deliverance from the bondage of corruption
(mortality) to a glorious liberty (immortality).
(2) Rom. 8:22-23 - No only does man in general seek
deliverance from the bondage of corruption, but
Christians especially are groaning within, eagerly
waiting for the redemption of their bodies.
(3) In view of these things, let us continue to be
faithful to God regardless of whatever hardships,
adversities, troubles, difficulties, or persecutions
we might face.
(4) We know there is something far greater which will
more than compensate for any afflictions faced on
earth. Rom. 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:16
III. 2 Cor. 5:5
A. God made us for this purpose, that is, to obtain the salvation
of our souls.
1. God has set before us the goal of obtaining salvation. 2
Thess. 2:14; 1 Thess. 5:9-10
2. The whole duty of man is to make preparation for the next
life. This is man's purpose on earth. Eccl. 12:13-14
3. Only those prepared will enter the heavenly city. Rev. 22:14
B. God gave the Christian the Holy Spirit as an earnest or down
payment of the inheritance.
1. See also 2 Cor. 1:20-22; Eph. 1:13-14.
2. The Holy Spirit assures us of salvation in two ways.
a. He does so through the word; e.g., the word teaches us
that God's promises are certain. We have faith and
rejoice in them.
b. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our hearts assures
us of the inheritance.
(1) How do we know that we have the Spirit?
(2) It is not by physical perception, feelings,
experiences, but by revelation and belief in the
revelation.
(3) How do we know we have a soul that lives
eternity? Again, it is by God's revelation and our
belief in it. And, so it is with the indwelling of
the Holy Spirit.
IV. 2 Cor. 5:6-8
A. Verses 6-8 express the Christian's confidence in receiving the
promises.
1. Even though we are in the body now we can be of good
courage, because we know as soon as we are absent from the
body, we will be with the Lord.
B. Our faith in someday being with the Lord becomes our motivator.
Verse 7
1. All things which are seen are temporal. 2 Cor. 4:18
2. Our eyes are on the things which we cannot see, and this
causes us to faithfully live the Christian life.
3. In Africa there is a small deer named "impala" which can
jump to a height of over 10 feet and cover a distance of
more than 30 feet. However, these magnificent creatures can
be kept in any enclosure with a wall only 3 feet high.
Impalas will not jump when they cannot see where their feet
will land. Thus, in order to contain them the enclosure must
be a wall and not a see-through fence.
4. Through faith we are able to see that which is not seen, and
this becomes the motivating factor that drives us.
C. Verse 8 - The Christian desires to depart and be with Christ.
1. Consider Paul's words in Phil. 1:23-25
2. Let us not love this life, but reach beyond to the next
life. John 12:25
3. Let us not love this world, but reach beyond to the next
world. 1 John 2:15-17
4. Someday, the faithful will be with Christ forever. 1 Thess
4:17
a. They shall be like Him, for they will see Him as He is. 1
John 3:2
b. They shall reign with Him forever and ever. Rev. 22:5
V. 2 Cor. 5:9-10
A. The word "therefore" is a conjunctive adverb and means, "for
that reason, on that basis, on account of that."
1. Thus, on account of our anticipation of future glory, since
we have assurance of it, we continually strive to be well
pleasing to the Lord. 2 Cor. 7:1
B. Furthermore, we should make it our aim to be well-pleasing to
Him because someday we all will stand before Him to be judged.
1. At the judgment we will be reminded of the things done
while we lived in our bodies whether they be good or bad.
Matt. 25:34-40
2. God will bring every work into judgment. Eccl. 12:14
a. The sins that have been forgiven will be forgotten. Heb
8:12
Concl.
A. Let's make a summary of what we have studied.
1. Verse 1a shows the certainty of the fulfillment of the
promises of God.
2. Verse 1b gives a glimpse of what we will receive - a house
not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
3. Verses 2-4 reveal the Christian's earnest longing for
immortality.
4. Verse 5 mentions that God has given us the Holy Spirit as a
down payment to assure us that we will receive immortality.
5. Verses 6-8 indicate the confidence or good courage the
Christian has because he knows that when he is absent from
the body, he will be present with the Lord.
6. Verses 9-10 show that on the basis of these things, the
Christian seeks to be well-pleasing to the Lord at all
times, knowing that He will stand before Christ to give
account.
B. We ask, "How do we stand in relation to these things?
1. Are we earnestly longing to go to heaven?
2. Do we groan in the body that the mortal may be swallowed
up of life?
3. Do we have an intense desire to depart and be with Christ?
C. Hopefully, studying these things will help us build and
increase our desire.
1. Let us make it our aim to be well pleasing to the our Lord.