1We know that our earthly house, this tent, may be taken down. If it is, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2In this tent we groan. We long to be clothed with our house which is from heaven,
3so that, being clothed, we will not be found naked.
4We who are in this tent groan under our burden. We do not want to be unclothed, but to be clothed over, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
5Now the one who has made us ready for this very thing is God. He has also given us the Spirit as the pledge.
6So we are always confident. We know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord.
7(For we walk by faith, not by sight.)
8We are confident, I say, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
9So we work hard, whether we are at home or away, to be pleasing to him.
10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Then each one will receive what is due for the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
11So, knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade people. What we are is clear to God, and I trust it is clear to your consciences too.
12We are not commending ourselves to you again. We are giving you reason to be proud of us, so that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.
13If we are out of our minds, it is for God. If we are in our right minds, it is for you.
14For the love of Christ controls us, because we have come to this judgment: that one died for all, and so all died.
15And he died for all, so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died for them and rose again.
16So from now on we regard no one from a human point of view. Even though we have known Christ that way, we know him that way no longer.
17So if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Look, all things have become new.
18And all these things are from God. He has reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
19That is, God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not counting their sins against them. And he has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation.
20So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were appealing to you through us. In Christ's place we beg you: be reconciled to God.
21For God made him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.