Part Vi A Confident Ministry

A CONFIDENT MINISTRY 2 CORINTHIANS 5: 1-7 WHAT ARE WE CONFIDENT OF: 1. WHEN WE DIE WE WILL HAVE A NEW BODY – 5:1 2.

IN FACT WE GROAN TO BE CLOTHED UPON WITH IMMORTALITY AS IN Romans 8:22 - We know that the whole creation [of irrational creatures] has been moaning together in the pains of labor until now.(E)

3.

WE HAVE RECEIVED THE EARNEST OF GOD’S SPIRIT – 5:5 (which is a pledge, like a part of the purchase-money or property given in advance as security for the rest) THIS ALSO IS SUPPORTED BY Romans 8:23 - And not only the creation, but we ourselves too, who have and enjoy the firstfruits of the [Holy] Spirit [a foretaste of the blissful things to come] groan inwardly as we wait for the redemption of our bodies [from sensuality and the grave, which will reveal] our adoption (our manifestation as God's sons).

4. SO GOD WHO SAYS MY WORD WIL NOT RETURN TO ME VOID WANTS TO CONVINCE US SO BADLY OF WHAT A GLORIOUS FUTURE WE ARE PROMISED GIVES US A SECURITY DEPOSIT ON IT. 5. DOESN’T TAKE MUCH TO CONVINCE US THAT VERSE 6 IS TRUE 6.

BUT THIS ONE SOMETIMES TAKES A LOT TO CONVINCE US – 5:7 IT CONNECTS WITH VERSE 8 IN THAT IN WHILE ABSENT FROM THE LORD WE MUST WALK BY FAITH. IT ALSO CONNECTS WITH VERSE 5 IN THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US HIS SPIRIT SO THAT WE MAY WALK WITH HIM EVEN WHEN WE ARE PHYSICALLY ABSENT FROM HIM.