Cast Down But Unconquered

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, mthat the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are nhard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not oforsaken; pstruck down, but not destroyed—10 qalways carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, rthat the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live sare always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.

13 And since we have tthe same spirit of faith, according to what is written, u“I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that vHe who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 For wall things are for your sakes, that xgrace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

Seeing the Invisible

16 Therefore we ydo not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is zbeing renewed day by day. 17 For aour light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 bwhile we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Assurance of the Resurrection

5 For we know that if aour earthly 1house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house bnot made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this cwe groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our 2habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, dhaving been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, ebut further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also fhas given us the Spirit as 3a guarantee.

6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For gwe walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, hwell pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

The Judgment Seat of Christ

9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 iFor we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, jthat each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, kthe terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

Be Reconciled to God

12 For lwe do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity mto boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. 13 For nif we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that oif One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, pthat those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

16 qTherefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, ryet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone sis in Christ, he is ta new creation; uold things have passed away; behold, all things have become vnew. 18 Now all things are of God, wwho has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that xGod was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not 4imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then, we are yambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For zHe made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become athe righteousness of God in Him.