2 Corinthians 5:1-8 Study
"In order to get the picture clearly in mind, let us review the verses point by point.- Vs. 1
- Paul introduces an earthly house and a heavenly house, and says:
- “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
- Vs. 2
- He states our condition while in the earthly house.
- “In this we groan” and “being burdened.”
- Vs. 2,3
- He tells us what we desire in that state.
- “Earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.”
- Vs. 4
- Paul repeats these facts once again.
- “For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon.”
- Vs. 4
- He then states the result of being clothed with the house from heaven that he so greatly desired.
- “But clothed upon, that MORTALITY might be SWALLOWED UP OF LIFE.”
- Vs. 5
- The Spirit is a pledge that mortality shall eventually be swallowed up of life.
- “Who also hath given unto us the earnest (assurance, pledge) of the Spirit.”
- Vs. 6
- Paul states the grounds of his confidence.
- “Therefore we are always confident, knowing that whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.”
- Vs. 7
- A parenthetical comment on successful Christian living.
- “(We walk by faith, not by sight.)”
- Vs. 8
- He repeats a willingness to be absent from the body and to be with the Lord.
- “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body and present with the Lord.”
The apostle answers all of these questions for us. In verse 6, he defines “our earthly house” as being “at home in the body.” The chief characteristic of this house is that it may be “dissolved.” In other words, it is mortal. This earthly house is, therefore, our mortal body or our present mortal condition.
The house from heaven is “eternal” or immortal and represents the state of immortality that awaits the redeemed beyond the resurrection. Here is where the greatest misunderstanding enters the picture. Some have thought that the “house from heaven” is put on at the moment of death. But the apostle clearly spells out the TIME when he will put on immortality." JoeCrews
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound,
and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Corinthians 15:52,53
To be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord simply means that when one dies-their next conscious thought is at the resurrection to be with the Lord.