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2 Coríntios 5

Matthew Henry · Citado em PreceptAustin

2 Coríntios 5:4-5

Henry comments that we groan signifies… (1) A groaning of sorrow under a heavy load; so believers groan under the burden of life: In this we groan earnestly, 2Co 5:2. We that are in this tabernacle groan, being burdened, 2Cor 5:4. The body of flesh is a heavy burden, the calamities of life are a heavy load. But believers groan because burdened with a body of sin, and the many corruptions that are still remaining and raging in them. This makes them complain, O wretched man that I am! Ro 7:24. (2.) There is a groaning of desire after the happiness of another life; and thus believers groan: Earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven (2Co 5:2), to obtain a blessed immortality, that mortality might be swallowed up of life (2Co 5:4), that being found clothed, we may not be naked (2Co 5:3), that, if it were the will of God, we might not sleep, but be changed; for it is not desirable in itself to be unclothed. Death considered merely as a separation of soul and body is not to be desired, but rather dreaded; but, considered as a passage to glory, the believer is willing rather to die than live, to be absent from the body, that he may be present with the Lord (2Co 5:1), to leave this body that he may go to Christ, and to put off these rags of mortality that he may put on the robes of glory. being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life Because we do not want to be unclothed - A T Robertson rephrases it as "“For that we do not wish to put off the clothing, but to put it on”… Paul does not wish to be a mere disembodied spirit without his spiritual garment. Being burdened (916) (bareo from baros = weight, heaviness, figuratively a burden as in Gal 6:2) means to lay on a heavy load; to encumber with weight, to weigh down, to burden. Figuratively, to oppress with any thing grievous; as, to burden a nation with taxes. The effect of drowsiness = "Heavy eyes" (Mt 26:43, Mk 14:40) "Overcome (heavy) with sleep" (Lk 9:32). Bareo - 6x in the NT: Mt 26:43 Mk 14:40 Lk 9:32 Lk 21:34 2Co1:8 2Co 5:4 1Ti 5:16. NAS = burdened(3), heavy(1), overcome(1), weighted down(1). The only Septuagint (LXX) use of bareo is Ex 7:14 describing Pharaoh's heart as "stubborn" (English translation of Septuagint = "made hard") Here in 2Co 5:4 bareo describes the present state of the regenerate soul confined in “the earthly house of this tabernacle." Paul used bareo figuratively to describe afflictions earlier in this letter " For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life. (2Cor 1:8cp 2Co 11:16-33). Giving instructions to Timothy Paul writes " If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, let her assist them, and let not the church be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed."

2 Coríntios 5:4-5

Henry: "He has stripped me of my glory, my wealth, honor, power, and all the opportunity I had of doing good. My children were my glory, but I have lost them; and whatever was a crown to my head he has taken it from me, and has laid all my honor in the dust." See the vanity of worldly glory: it is what we may be soon stripped of; and, whatever strips us, we must see and own God's hand in it and comply with his design. But (alla) is a strong adversative (contrast) - not unclothed but clothed. The first edition of the New Living Translation paraphrases the passage "We want to slip into our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by everlasting life." Amplified Version = For while we are still in this tent, we groan under the burden and sigh deeply (weighed down, depressed, oppressed)—not that we want to put off the body (the clothing of the spirit), but rather that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal (our dying body) may be swallowed up by life [after the resurrection]. (Lockman) Keep in mind that when you are "stuck" on the meaning of a particular verse, first pray and examine the context, but if you are still "stuck", consider looking at another Bible translation (see chart comparing Bible Versions). The two I have found most helpful are the Amplified (which is more literal to the original language) and the New Living Translation (NLT), which is a paraphrase but one which tends to be a relatively accurate interpretation of the original Greek text. The discerning Berean (Acts 17:11-+) should be cautious with some of the "loose" paraphrases such as The Message (a version from which I do not often quote), which in my humble opinion can stray quite far away from the meaning intended by the original Greek text and from God's intended meaning! And remember if you are "off" on the interpretation, you are at risk of inappropriate application which can have significant spiritual consequences. Harry Ironside associates the phrase we do not want to be unclothed with the Second Coming of Christ noting first that "we are not earnestly desiring to die, for that would not be a natural thing for any Christian. The Christian should not earnestly desire to die, and yet should be prepared for it, but he should also be prepared to live for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul says, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Php 1:21-+). And then he says that he would rather live to be a help and blessing to other people. And so we hope "not for that we would be unclothed," but we do long to be "clothed upon." That is, we would like to live to the second coming of our Lord Jesus to get our resurrection body in that wonderful hour of His triumph, "that mortality might be swallowed up of life." And whether we live or die this is the final goal. John MacArthur discusses the Greco-Roman dualistic philosophy (matter is evil and spirit is good - see MacArthur's sermon for more discussion of "dualism") that was prevalent in Paul's day and writes that… even after addressing it (dualism) in that letter (First Corinthians), it is still a problem. It was still a present issue so here he points out, "We are waiting to put on our resurrection body not to be found naked." He points to the truth that when his earthly tent is dismantled and he dies, God's plan is not for him to exist as some disembodied spirit, floating around in infinity somewhere as the Greek pagans taught. Their dualism, their hatred of the physical, their miscomprehension of creation, their seeing matter as evil led to the idea that death released the immortal soul into the nebulous freedom of the spiritual world. And they would be freed from the bondage of their body to float throughout eternity freely. For example, a Roman thinker said the body is a tomb, we need to escape from it. Platonus could say that he was ashamed that he had a body. Another writer, Epictetus, said of himself, "Thou art a poor soul burdened with a corpse." No less than Seneca wrote, "I am a higher being and born for higher things than to be the slave of my body which I look upon as only a shackle put upon my freedom and so detestable a habitation dwells the free soul." Paul wasn't looking for the release from his body, he was looking for the next body, one that was perfect in the perfections of immortality. Paul isn't looking for nirvana, some kind of unconscious extinction. He's not looking for freedom as a disembodied spirit. He's not waiting for the day when he's going to get absorbed into the infinite. He wants a body. He is a person. He was designed by God and promised by God he would have a body and he wants a body in which he can be like Jesus Christ. Jesus had a resurrection body and he wants one because he wants to be like Christ and he wants to serve God and glorify God and honor God and praise God through the means of that glorified body… Paul just throws it in to make it clear, we long to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven inasmuch as we having put it on shall not be found naked. We're not looking to be floating spirits. The ancient philosophers may have longed for the nakedness of the soul, but Paul didn't. The ancients may have felt that the soul needed to be stripped of the body to enter its highest bliss, but Paul didn't. The highest expression that we will ever know in the glory of God's eternal heaven will be when we receive our bodies, our new resurrection bodies. And body-lessness to Paul and to any thinking Christian is a repulsive thought. We are to be a person, not a floating spirit lost in infinity. In fact, Paul was so passionate about this, follow this, that he didn't even want to experience the period of time in which he would have to wait for his body. And I find that fascinating. He so longed to be like Christ, he so longed to have the perfect vehicle for expression of praise and service to God in eternity that he didn't even like the idea of having to wait around to get his body. You say, "Well now wait a minute, did he have to wait around?" Yes, that's, you see, why I told you if he had his choice he would prefer to be raptured, right? Remember we went into that last week. If he had his choice he'd like to be raptured because at the Rapture there's a transformation of the body, right? And he would rather, just like you would, live until Jesus comes for His own. He comes and changes us and we don't experience death, we just get our new body right like that, in a twinkling of an eye (1Co 15:52). On the other hand, if he were to die, he would have to wait till the Rapture to get his body because the bodies aren't raised until the Rapture… Well He hasn't come yet. So the saints that have died, their spirits are in heaven, but they haven't received their resurrection bodies yet. Their spirits are there. You say, "Well what are they like?" I don't know, their spirits are there but they don't have a form. Their presence is there without that resurrection body. You say, "Do they have their earthly body?" No, you can check anybody's grave, the earthly body is there, whatever is left of it. They don't have that. They're in a spirit form. And Hebrews 12:23 says, "They are the spirits of just men made perfect." Their spirits have been made perfect, they're perfectly holy and righteous and virtuous, they just have not yet received their resurrection bodies. That awaits the Rapture of Jesus Christ. So there is a waiting period for those who have died and who will die before the Rapture. If you live till the Rapture, you won't have that. If you die before the Lord Jesus comes, there will be a period of waiting. Though the sting of sin is removed, there is still a period of waiting. You say, "Will we have the sense of "Boy, this is taking a long time?" Paul's saying to himself, "I've been counting the days and do you realize I've been here for two thousand years? Is it like that?" No, it's not like that because you can't read time into eternity and a day with the Lord is as a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day (2Pe 3:8, cp Ps 90:4). And when you get into that dimension you're not talking about time as we know time, but you are talking about the realization that something has not yet occurred… But he said, "Look, we want to… we want to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, we want to put it on so we're not found naked." He wanted that glorified body which would bring him to the perfection that was like his Lord, his risen Lord. He didn't want the period of nakedness if he could avoid it. Though death and being with Christ even in that condition was better than life here, he was groaning for the perfection that his glorified body would bring. (Facing Death Confidently, Part 2) Clothed (1902) (ependuomai from epí = upon or intensifier of + enduo = to clothe, English - endue, literally to enter into, as clothes) is a stronger form of enduo and means to put on in addition, to put on one's self as putting on a garment over existing clothing. "To be fully clothed" (UBS). Here Paul is using the verb figuratively in reference to being clothed with our resurrection body. Barnett remarks that “The ‘clothed upon’ and ‘swallowed up by life’ imagery (2Co 5:2 3 4), when read alongside 1Co 15:53 54, leaves little doubt that this ‘house’ (in 2Co 5:1) is the individual’s resurrection body.”

2 Coríntios 5:9

Henry: The practical belief of the existence of God, as revealed in the word, would be a powerful awe-band upon our souls, a bridle of restraint to keep us from sin, and a spur of constraint to put us upon all manner of gospel obedience. William Newell: These two elements seem most simple, but, alas, how many professing Christians act as if God were not living; and how many others, though seeking after Him, are not expecting from Him as Rewarder! (4) We are pleasing to the Lord when we are doing good and sharing with others. Hebrews 13:16-+ And do not neglect (present imperative with a negative = a command to stop neglecting implying some were already neglecting it) doing good and sharing (koinonia); for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (Cp Gal 6:7-+, Gal 6:8-+, Gal 6:9,10-+, contrast Ps 51:16-+, Ps 51:17-+). (5) We are pleasing to the Lord when we speak forth a message that is not man-pleasing but God-pleasing. 1Thessalonians 2:4-+ For we (Paul, Silas, Timothy, 1Th 1:1 - +) speak as messengers who have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He is the one who examines the motives of our hearts. (5) We are pleasing to the Lord when we abstain from immorality. 1Thessalonians 4:1-+ Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. 2 For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; Octavius Winslow has the following devotional on this passage - What are some of the footprints of this walk (1Th 4:1)? How may we trace it? Unreserved obedience is an undoubted mark of pleasing God. An obedience that asks no abatement of the precept, but that follows the Lord fully in its observance, not from an enlightened judgment, but from a love-constrained heart- walking, as did the primitive saints, in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly- is indeed well-pleasing to God. Oh! let there be no reserves in our obedience! Let us withhold from Christ no part of His purchased inheritance, but surrender all at His feet, whose heart's blood was the purchase price of all. "Lord, however strait be the path, painful the cross, and self-denying the precept, sincerely would I walk uprightly in all Your ways, and fully follow You in all Your commands, leaving the consequences of my simple and implicit obedience to Your control. I can endure the repulsion of the world, the alienation of friends, the coldness of relatives, and can take the spoiling of my earthly goods joyfully, if You, my Lord, sustain me with Your grace, cheer me with Your presence, and solace me with Your love." Another footprint may be described in the walk of faith by which the Christian journeys to His heavenly home. As unbelief is most dishonoring, so faith is most honoring to the Lord Jesus. What a revenue of praise accrues from it to His name! To repair to His sufficiency- with our anxiety, the moment it occurs; with our corruptions, the moment they are discovered; to His grace- with our sorrow, the moment it is felt; to His sympathy- with our wound, the moment it is inflicted; to His love- with our guilt, the moment it is detected; to His blood- oh! do you do not think that this walk of faith is most pleasing to the Lord? Let us beware of that which impairs the simplicity of this our walk, and causes us to stumble or turn aside. We must be cautious, in the varied circumstances of our history, of applying first to a human arm for support, or to a human bosom for sympathy. With this the Lord cannot be well pleased. But let us not hesitate to bear them at once to the one-appointed source of all our supply; disclosing our needs to the full Savior; our wanderings to our heavenly Father; our griefs and burdens to our elder Brother and Friend; and in thus walking by faith, we shall have the divine assurance in our souls, our rejoicing this- the testimony of our conscience that we please the Lord. Oh, let us seek closely to resemble the two illustrious examples set before us in the word, of this high and holy walk. The minor one- because purely human- of Enoch, who "before he was taken up had this testimony, that he pleased God." The higher one- because the human was blended with the Divine- of Jesus, who could say, "I always do those things which please Him." (6) We are pleasing to the Lord when we preach His message which to the world is foolish. 1Corinthians 1:21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. (7) We are pleasing to the Lord when we we offer Him broken and contrite hearts. Psalm 51:16 For Thou dost not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; Thou art not pleased with burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. (8) We are pleasing to the Lord when we are declaring praise to His Name. Psalm 69:30 I will praise the name of God with song, and shall magnify Him with thanksgiving. 31 And it will please the LORD better than an ox or a young bull with horns and hoofs. (9) We are pleasing to the Lord when we are discerning His will, walking worthy and bearing fruit (cp Jn 15:8). Colossians 1:9-+ For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; (10) We are pleasing to the Lord when we petition Him for a heart that hears and obeys. 1Kings 3:9 "So give Thy servant an understanding (shama' = hear with reverence and obedience; give undivided attention in listening) heart to judge Thy people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Thine?" 10 And it was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. (11) We are pleasing to the Lord when we have a reverential awe (fear) of Him and depend on His mercy. Psalm 147:11 The LORD favors (Hebrew = ratsah = is pleased with) those who fear Him, Those who wait for His lovingkindness. (12) We are pleasing to the Lord when we experience answers to our prayers. 1John 3:22 and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. (13) When we are pleasing to the Lord he may bring peace with our enemies. Proverbs 16:7 When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. (14) We are pleasing to the Lord when we present our whole heart to Him. Romans 12:1-+ I urge you therefore by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable (euarestos - well pleasing) to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. (15) We are pleasing to the Lord when we do His will Romans 12:2-+ And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (16) We are pleasing to the Lord when Romans 14:18-+ For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. 20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. (17) We are pleasing to the Lord when we do not participate in but even expose the unfruitful deeds of darkness Ephesians 5:10-+ trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 (+) Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; (18) We are pleasing to the Lord when we bring our offerings to Him Philippians 4:18-+ But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. (19) Children are pleasing to the Lord when they submit to their parents Colossians 3:20-+ Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. (20) We are pleasing to the Lord when we surrender to Jesus Christ that He might work out His perfect will in our lives Hebrews 13:20-+ Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, 21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Pondering these preceding passages pointing out how to please our Lord will help us to live with one eye on eternity, so that we "may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming." (1Jn 2:28). Rod Mattoon - Paul's love for the Lord motivated him to labor for Christ. This word "labor" is from the Greek word philotimeomai {fil-ot-im-eh'-om-ahee} which means "to be motivated and fond of honor; to be ambitious; to strive earnestly; to make something your goal." Paul is not expressing the ambition to be somebody who is great or famous. He esteemed it an honor and made it the goal of his life to be well-pleasing or accepted of the Lord. He was not seeking ambition to glorify himself. Jeremiah warned us about doing this. Jeremiah 45:5a—And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: Romans 12:16—Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. We are to live in harmony with others and are not to be so proud that we cannot enjoy the fellowship of ordinary, simple people. We are not to think we know it all and have an inflated opinion about ourselves. God wants us to have the attitude of glorifying and pleasing Him. It should be our desire to hear His "Well Done!" He has not called us to be successful or number one, He has called us to be faithful servants to Him. The desire to please the Lord Jesus Christ will help you to live with one eye one eternity for you know that one day you will see Him. This brings us to an important question, "How do you please the Lord? What is involved in pleasing the Lord Jesus Christ?" Pleasing the Lord with Your Life 1. DO not entangle yourself in worldly affairs. 2 Timothy 2:3, 4—Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 2. It DEMANDS we have faith in the Lord. Hebrews 11:6—But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 3. It involves DOING what is good & DISTRIBUTING or sharing with others. Hebrews 13:16—But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. The word "communicate" means "to share." 4. A DAILY walk with the Lord is very important. Hebrews 11:5—By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Genesis 5:24—And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. 5. It's the DUTY of all Christians. 1 Thessalonians 4:1—Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 6. It should be the DESIRE of all servants of God. 1 Thessalonians 2:4—But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 7. DEFERENCE & DOCILITY to parents pleases the Lord. Colossians 3:20—Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. 8. The DUMBNESS of preaching pleases God. (Dumbness to the world) 1 Corinthians 1:21—For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 9. The DEVELOPMENT of a broken, contrite heart pleases Him. Psalm 51:17—The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 10. DECLARING praise to the Lord pleases our king. Psalm 69:30, 31—I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs. 11. DISCERNING & DOING the will of God & DEEDS that are fruitful please God. (THOUGHT: PRAY THIS PRAYER FOR YOURSELF AND ALL BELIEVERS YOU USUALLY PRAY FOR -- GOD WILL ANSWER THIS EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY, BUT NOT DOWN HERE! UP THERE!) Colossians 1:9-10—.... For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; [10] That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 12. DECENCY or purity in our lives pleases God. Malachi 3:3-4—... And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. [4] Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years. 13. The DESIRE for God's Wisdom pleases Him. 1 Kings 3:9-10—... Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? [10] And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. God is willing and ready to give us His wisdom if we will seek it from Him. James 1:5a—If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God,..... 14. The DELIGHT, DISPASSION, & prosperity of those that serve the Lord delights Him. Psalm 35:27—Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. 15. DEVOTION to the Lord & DEPENDENCY upon His mercy brings pleasure to Him. Psalm 147:11—The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. 16. DIVINE answers to prayer are the result. 1 John 3:22—And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 17. It DEVELOPS peace with enemies. Proverbs 16:7—When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him Do you please the Lord with your life? I hope so. The goal and passion for pleasing Him will help you to live with one eye on eternity. You will look forward and not dread the day when you meet Him face to face. Dear Master for this coming year Just one request I bring: I do not pray for happiness Or any earthly thing -- I do not ask to understand The way Thou leadest me, But this I ask: Teach me to do the thing that pleaseth Thee. I want to know Thy guiding voice, To walk with thee each day. Dear Master make me swift to hear And ready to obey. And thus the year I now begin A happy year will be -- If I am seeking just to do the thing that pleaseth Thee. THE POWER OF PLEASING GOD! Richard Baxter writes on the importance of pleasing God in our daily battle with our fallen flesh "But, indeed, nothing but the love of pleasing God, can truly cure the love of flesh-pleasing: and such a cure is the cure of every sin. (Read the full article by Baxter entitled The Sinfulness of Flesh-Pleasing) Smith writes that "We must seek to please Him." Everything we do, either pleases, or displeases, the Lord. Man by nature never troubles himself about pleasing God (Ro 3:9)—but if the Spirit of God dwells in us, the grand end of life, and the principal aim in every action will be, to please God. The highest eulogy that could be passed on Enoch was, that before his translation, he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Let us please God— and then it is of little consequence whom we displease! (The Way to Be Wealthy and Happy) Remembering our former state of powerlessness to please God should stimulate us to make it our present ambition to please Him. In Romans 8 Paul writes that… the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does (absolutely) not subject itself to the law of God, for it is (absolutely) not even able (no inherent power/ability because there is no indwelling Spirit) to do so; 8 and those who are in the flesh (in the sphere of the fallen flesh) cannot (continually have absolutely no inherent power or ability to) please God. (Ro 8:6, 7, 8-+) Plumer comments: So far from pleasing God, all the unregenerate are continually offending him. Their very best works are but splendid sins! They do some things which God requires, and abstain from some things which God forbids--not because they love God or His law, but because it promotes their health, or wealth, or honor to do so. See detailed discussion by James Smith - The Way to Please God —below are the 11 "bullet points" that Smith addresses (click link for full discussion of each point)… 1. If we would please God—we must receive right views of him into our minds. 2. If we would please God—we must first be reconciled to him, and live at peace with him. 3. If we would please the Lord—we must exercise filial confidence in him. 4. If we would please the Lord—we must keep the eye directed to him in all things. 5. If we would please God—we must endeavor cheerfully to acquiesce in his will. 6. If we would please God—we must be clothed with humility. 7. If we would please God—we must honor his beloved Son. 8. If we would please God—we must watch and strive against inward sin. 9. If we would please God—we must be zealous in his cause. 10. If we would please the Lord—we must carefully avoid what displeases him; especially, loving the present world. 11. Finally, if we would please the Lord—we must in all things aim at his glory. (Reference ) F B Meyer in his book Five Musts of the Christian Life describes the 4th "must" as THE "MUST" OF SERVICE - "And He must needs go through Samaria" (John 4:4). GOD is prepared to undertake the direction of every human life which is placed at His disposal. The question of guidance is therefore of imperative importance for each living soul, as it passes out into this mortal life. Since God says, "All souls are mine," (Ezek 18:4) He must have, therefore, a distinct purpose for each, and sends each out with resources within reach sufficient to supply all its need (1Pe 4:10, 11-+), according to His riches in Christ Jesus (Php 4:19-+). It may even be that before the soul joins the body, it stands before its Maker to receive its directory or charge. Our Lord at least said: "To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world" (Jn 18:37). At the close of our earth-life we shall again stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account of the things done in the body, whether good or bad (2Co 5:10). The Greek word in Ephesians 2:10-+, translated workmanship, might be transferred bodily into our language as poem. We might therefore read the verse thus, We are His poem, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before prepared that we should walk in them. Nothing can give us more confidence as we look out on our life than that God is not only prepared to unfold His program for us, but is also prepared "to make all grace abound towards us, that we, having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" (2Co 9:8). He will not only supply seed to the sower, but will also be responsible for his food! Thus our lives will become enriched to all liberality, which shall elicit from many hearts, thanksgiving to God. One Saturday afternoon, Dr. Gunsaulus of Chicago was preparing for his sermon on the following day. While thus engaged, his nephew, a flippant, careless fellow, rather lightly asked him the topic on which he was preparing to preach. He learned that it was on those words of our Lord: 'To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world.' Rather jauntily he said: "What do you think I was born for?" His uncle replied: "I don't know," and his nephew answered, "Neither do I." As he went along the street, he came to a theatre which had caught fire, while crowded with people, and many were being crushed and trampled to death by the mad rush for the door. The young fellow at once threw off his coat, and began dragging out body after body of these people, some dead and others dying, till he was stricken by a burning timber, knocked almost senseless, and carried to the nearest hospital. Dr. Gunsaulus reached his bedside just in time to hear him say: "Uncle, for this cause I was born, and for this I was sent into the world, that I might save those ten people." (Ed: I cannot help but think of Jude's command [present imperative] to continually be about the business of saving others, snatching them out of the fire! [Jude 1:23]) There was a tragedy there, that none of us ever wish to meet. But, what a comfort it will be at last, to feel that we have glorified Christ's name and have finished the work which He gave us to do. (F. B. Meyer. Five Musts of the Christian Life) LIVE A LIFE OF "HOLY AMBITION"! F B Meyer (Our Daily Walk) Devotional on 2Co 5:9... THERE IS scope for ambition within the sphere of the Christian Faith, and to be without it is to miss an influential incentive to high and holy endeavour. Our Lord does not destroy any natural faculty, but directs it to a worthy object. Instead of living for material good, or the applause of the world, we must stir ourselves to seek those things which are the legitimate objects of holy ambition. In two other passages the Apostle Paul uses this same word (philotimeomai). 1Th 4:11-+; Ro 15:20-+ There is the ambition of daily toil- "Be ambitious to be quiet, to do your own business, to work with your own hands." (1Th 4:11-+) In the age in which the Apostles lived there was much unrest, and in the case of the Christian Church this was still further increased by the expectation of the approaching end of the world; many were inclined to surrender their ordinary occupations, and give themselves up to restlessness and excitement, all of which was prejudicial to the regular ordering of their homes and individual lives, But the injunction is that we are not to yield to the ferment of restlessness; we are not to be disturbed by the feverishness around us, whether of social upheavals or for pleasure or gain. The ambition to be well-pleasing to Christ. At His judgment-seat (2Co 5:10) He will weigh up the worth of our individual mortal life, and He is doing so day by day. Not only when we pass the threshold of death, but on this side, our Lord is judging our character and adjudicating our reward. Let us strive to be as well-pleasing to Him in this life, as we hope to be in the next. The ambition of Christian work-- "Being ambitious to preach the Gospel." - (Ro 15:20-+) The great world lies open to us, many parts of it still unevangelized; and all around us in our own country are thousands, among the rich and poor, who have no knowledge of Christ. Let us make it our ambition to bring them to Him, always remembering that the things we do for Christ must be that which He works through us in the power of the Holy Spirit (Ro 15:18-+, Ro 15:19-+). PRAYER -Give us grace, O Lord, to work while it is day, fulfilling diligently and patiently whatever duty Thou appointest us; doing small things in the day of small things, and great labours if Thou summon us to any; rising and working, sitting still and suffering, according to Thy word. AMEN. Ray Pritchard in his comments on 1Peter 1:17-+ (Living in the Fear of God) has some interesting thoughts that should motivate us to align our present earthly ambitions with those of Paul here in 2Co 5:9… 1Pet 1:17 (+) reminds us that we call on a Father who judges impartially. To call God our Father is a comfort. To say that He is our judge isn’t quite so comforting. Note the present tense. God is judging you and me at this very moment. And because He is God, He judges impartially. The word means without a mask (aprosopoleptos [word study]). When God judges, He sees right through the little masks we put on to make ourselves look better to others. God isn’t fooled. And He judges us according to our works. That concept troubles some people. “Aren’t we saved by faith?” Yes, we are. We are saved by faith, but we are judged by our works. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that since you are saved by faith, your life doesn’t matter. During the last presidential debates, one of the candidates reminded us that faith without works is dead. He was quoting Jas 2:26-+. It was a good quote, and rightly used. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6-+), and the faith that pleases God will always produce a life of good works. As Christians, our works will be judged, not to determine our eternal destiny, but to determine our rewards in heaven. The sad part about that is that some people will discover in that day that they wasted their life on earth. Because they built with “wood, hay and stubble,” they will see their life burn up before them. Others will discover that because they built with “gold, silver and precious stones,” their life will stand the test of God’s fiery gaze at the Judgment Seat of Christ (see 1Co 3:11, 12, 13, 14, 15). No Christian will escape the searching gaze of the Lord Jesus Christ. All roads lead to the Judgment Seat of Christ. What should we fear? We should fear living as though we don’t believe in God at all. When we give in to anger, rage, malice, greed or lust, we are living as if we don’t believe in God. When we turn to pornography to satisfy our lust, when we let hurtful words fly out of our mouth, when we defraud each other, when we seek revenge, when we lie about one another, when we forget the hurting people around us while hoarding up treasure for ourselves, when we have to be Number One and win every argument, every game, every competition, when we cannot lose gracefully and with dignity, we are living as if we don’t believe in God. When we complain about how persecuted we are, when we moan about how hard we have it, when we gossip about how easy someone else has it, we are living as if we don’t believe in God. At that moment, we are practical atheists even though we may go to church every Sunday. In thinking about this principle, the words of a children’s song came to mind: Oh, be careful little hands what you do. Oh, be careful little hands what you do. For the Father up above is looking down in love. (Living in the Fear of God - Bolding and notes added)

2 Coríntios 5:10

Henry: Defenders Study Bible. World Publishing) Luke 6:22 "Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man (Be sure you observe this important "qualifying" condition - this has nothing to do with suffering as a result of our own sins but for the Name of Christ). 23 "Be glad (aorist imperative) in that day and leap (aorist imperative) for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets. Luke 6:35 (For context read Lk 6:32, 33, 34) "But love (present imperative = command emphasizing continual need for Spirit enabled agape love of see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Luke 19:17 (For context read Lk 19:12, 13, 14, 15, 16) "And he said to him, 'Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, be in authority over ten cities.' 18 "And the second came, saying, 'Your mina, master, has made five minas.' 19 "And he said to him also, 'And you are to be over five cities.'

2 Coríntios 5:14-16

Henry says Paul's testimony that the love of Christ compelled his ministry indicates that he was under the sweetest and strongest constraints to do what (he) did. Love has a constraining virtue to excite ministers and private Christians in their duty… Christ's love to us, which was manifested in this great instance of his dying for us, will have this effect upon us, if it be duly considered and rightly judged of. Norman Geisler writes that… Salvation… is an act of God's grace, and grace, by its very nature, tends to soften the heart and change the actions of the one receiving it. This softening change causes us to be more favorably disposed—grateful and responsive—to the Gracious One. "The goodness of God leads you to repentance" (Ro. 2:4NKJV), and "the love of Christ controls us" (2Co 5:14); our Lord said that those who are forgiven much will love much, "but to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little" (Luke 7:47NKJV). It follows, then, that the intrinsic nature of salvation as a gracious and loving act of God tends naturally to produce (Ed: cp compel, impel) good works in the lives of those who receive it (cf. Titus 1:11, 12, 13)… In recognizing God's grace, which declares one righteous apart from any merit, a believer is most highly energized for service. The love of Christ "controls us" (2 Cor. 5:14 NASB), and "we love him because [we realize that] He first loved us" (1 John 4:19 NKJV); the grace of God not only brings us salvation (Titus 2:11) but also "teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions (Titus 2:12). Keeping laws to obtain grace only brings one into further bondage (cf. Col. 2:22; Ro 8:2, 3; Gal. 4:3, 4, [Ed: cp Ro 7:5 for effect of the law on the flesh]). In the words of the chorus, those who recognize they are saved only by grace can sing How can I do less than give Him my best and live for Him completely after all He's done for me. "After All He's Done for Me," Betsy Daasvand and Wendell P. Loveless. Paul alludes to the love of Christ constraining the brethren in the area of giving of their finances… I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also. (NLT = I am not saying you must do it, even though the other churches are eager to do it. This is one way to prove your love is real.) For (term of explanation = explaining why a disciple of Christ would be motivated to give sacrificially) you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (NLT = You know how full of love and kindness our Lord Jesus Christ was.), that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. (2Cor 8:8, 9) Comment: Fools twist God's grace to live as they please. The wise trust God's grace and live as He pleases. His love has no limit, His grace has no measure, His power has no boundary known unto men; For out of His infinite riches in Jesus He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again. -Flint 2Corinthians 5:10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 For the love of Christ constrains us (2Corinthians 5:14). O let Thy love my heart constrain! Thy love for every sinner free, That every fallen soul of man May taste the grace that found out me; That all mankind with me may prove Thy sovereign everlasting love, Thy sovereign everlasting love. (Would Jesus Have the Sinner Die) CONSTRAINING LOVE - The Lord loves us first, and we in turn love Him. Because we do, we should serve Him out of devotion—not duty. This is the law of love. A husband and wife didn't really love each other. The man was very demanding, so much so that he prepared a list of rules and regulations for his wife to follow. He insisted that she read them every day and obey them to the letter. Among other things, his "do's and don'ts" indicated such details as what time she had to get up in the morning, when his breakfast should be served, and how the housework should be done. A few years after the husband died, the woman fell in love with another man, one who dearly loved her, and they were married. This husband did everything he could to make his new wife happy, con­tinually showering her with tokens of his appreciation. One day as she was cleaning house, she found tucked away in a drawer the list of commands her first husband had written for her. As she looked it over, she realized that even though her new husband hadn't given her any kind of list, she was doing everything her first husband's list required. She was so devoted to this man that her deepest desire was to please him out of love, not obligation. Doing things for him was her greatest joy. Serving Christ under law is duty. Under love it's delight THE CONSTRAINING POWER OF CHRIST'S LOVE - WHEN asked to tell an incident that showed he was different because of his faith in Jesus, a recently converted truck driver replied, "Well, when somebody tailgates my truck, I no longer drive on the shoulder of the road to kick gravel on him." That driver's experience illustrates an important truth: Those who are in Christ are indeed new creations. They do things dif­ferently because they are not the same as before they trusted Jesus. This doesn't mean they will not fall into sin nor that they become mature overnight. But a miraculous transformation has taken place. Theologian Lewis Sperry Chafer pointed out several changes that happen at conversion. We are joined with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Ro 6:3-+, Ro 6:4, 5-+, Ro 6:6-+); made alive (Ep 2:1-+, Ep 2:5-+); made children of God (1Jn 3:1-+, 1Jn 3:2-+, 1Jn 3:3-+); justified before God (Ro 5:1-+); forgiven (Col 1:14-+); delivered from the powers of darkness (Col 1:13-+); loved by God (Eph 2:4-+); indwelt by the Holy Spirit (1Co 6:19-+); and made the objects of Christ's intercession (Heb 7:25-+). John Owen's discourse on the Love of Christ - YOU have been minded of, and instructed in, the nature and benefit of our love to God; and I shall take occasion thence a little to mind you of the love of Christ unto us, the love, in an especial manner, which he showed in dying for us; which is that we are here gathered together to remember and celebrate; not barely the death of Christ, but that which is the life of that death,—the love of Christ in his death. And I would ground it on that which the apostle speaks in Ro 5:5,—“The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us.” This is that which I know you all long for, and prize above life: “The loving-kindness of God is better than life.” Why so? “For,” says he, “when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” An apprehension of the love of Christ, as dying for us ungodly creatures, is that which is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. Do not let your minds go upon uncertainties. When the Holy Ghost gives you a due apprehension of Christ’s love in dying for ungodly sinners, as we are, then is this love shed abroad in our hearts. The apostle there proceeds to show how great this love was, in that Christ died. He died, not for good men, and righteous men, and for friends; but he died for the ungodly, for sinners, and for enemies. This was great love, indeed. We are here to remember that love of Christ wherewith he gave himself to death for us when we were enemies, and would have continued so to eternity, had he not loved us, and given himself for us. Brethren, if we barely remember the love of Christ in the way of an ordinance, and our hearts be not powerfully affected with it, we are in danger of being disadvantaged by our attendance. Pray remember it; you know how plainly I use to speak on these occasions: I say, we have frequent opportunities of remembering the love of Christ in dying for us, in this ordinance representing of it; but if our hearts be not powerfully influenced and affected by it, we shall be losers by the frequency of ordinances. I will add one word more. According as our hearts are affected with the love of Christ, so will be our love to Christ, and no otherwise. And truly, even that faith which discovers too much selfishness is very dangerous. If we come here to act faith, to look for no other effect of it but what evidence and sense we have of the pardon of our own sins,—how our consciences may be quieted and cleared,—faith ends in self; it is dangerous, lest it should be only a branch from, and commensurate with, convictions. True faith, acting itself on Christ in this ordinance, will work by love unto Christ: I would not say, principally, or in the first place,—I know poor creatures are apt to look after themselves, and their own relief; but it will so work also. And truly, brethren, this it will not do, we shall not have faith working by love towards him, unless we have some sense of the love of Christ on our hearts. How shall we know whether our hearts are under the powerful influence of the love of Christ in dying for us? Why, the love of Christ in dying for us has three properties with it, which will have an influence on our souls, if we are affected with it:— 1. It has a transforming power, property, and efficacy with it. They are plain truths I am speaking, but of great concern to our souls, to know whether we are affected with the love of Christ or not. If we are rightly affected with it, I say, it will transform and change our whole souls in some measure into the likeness of Christ. How so? I will tell you in the most familiar manner I am able:—If you are affected with the love of Christ, it lays hold upon and possesses your affections; the affections being possessed, stir up many thoughts; thoughts are the very image of the soul, represent it, to show you what the soul is: and those things concerning which your thoughts do most abound, they carry the frame of the soul. Let a man profess what he will, if his thoughts are generally conversant about earthly and worldly things, he has an earthly and worldly mind; and if [his] thoughts are conversant about sensual things, he has a sensual and carnal mind: for, whatever he may outwardly say, as he thinks, so is he;—there is the image and likeness of the soul. Now, if we are affected with the love of Christ, it will beget in our souls many thoughts of Christ,—in our lying down and in our rising up, in our beds, in our ways, on our occasions, as well as in ordinances. If, indeed, our hearts are affected with the love of Christ, our thoughts of Christ will abound; and those thoughts will work again on our affections, and conform our souls more and more unto the image of Jesus Christ. That man who thinks much of the earth, because affected with it, his soul is like the earth; and that man who thinks much on the love of Christ, because he is affected with it, Ins soul is like Christ. If it has been thus with us, brethren, in our preparation for this ordinance, or at any time, that thoughts of Christ have not abounded, verily there has been a failing in us. Let us strive for the future to amend it, that we may find the love of Christ begetting in us many thoughts of him, working upon our affections, and, with a transforming power, changing the frame of our souls into his own likeness. Again: 2. The love of Christ, if we are affected with it, has an attractive power: John 12:32, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” I cannot stay to show you the drawing power and efficacy there is in the love of Christ, when dying on the cross; but this I will say, it is that which converted the world of all that did believe. It was the love of Christ, set forth in his death as one crucified for them, that drew all men unto him. “When I am lifted up,—when I have accomplished, manifested, and evidenced the unspeakable love which I have for the sinful sons of men, in being lifted up for them,—I will draw them unto me.” If you have a true sense, brethren, of the love of Christ in dying for you, it will draw your souls unto him. Song 1:4, “Draw me, we will run after thee.” I do not now speak to you about the first drawing of Christ, which is as unto believing (I hope Christ has so drawn all our souls); but the following efficacy of the love of Christ to draw souls that do believe nearer unto him. Whoever is sensible of this attractive power of the death of Christ, it will have this efficacy upon him,—it will have adherence and delight,—it will cause him more to cleave to Christ. The soul will cleave to Christ with delight, that is affected with the attractive, drawing power of his loving-kindness in his death. There is a great deal in that word, “Cleave unto Christ with love and delight,” with the best of our affections and dearest of our valuations; to cleave to him with trust, and to him alone. I do but remind you of what you know, that you may reduce it into practice. Pray, in this ordinance, labour to have such a sense of the drawing power of the love of Christ in his death, that you may resolve to cleave unto him with full purpose of heart, to cleave unto this Christ who has thus loved us. 3. Whenever we are affected with the love of Christ, it is accompanied with a constraining power, 2 Cor. 5:14, “The love of Christ constrains us;” and that constraint is unto obedience: it constrains us to judge that we ought to live to him who died for us. It is a blessed thing, brethren, to walk in our obedience under a sense of the constraining efficacy of the love of Christ. Take but this one word, to discover to you whether you walk in your obedience under a sense of the constraining power of Christ, it comprehends all others, 1 John 5:3, “His commandments are not grievous.” When a soul works out of love, what it doth is “not grievous.” And the inward and outward commands of Christ will be grievous to all that are not under the constraining power and efficacy of his love. I have no more to say, but only to tell you that we should labour to have our hearts affected with the love of Christ in this ordinance. I have showed you the danger if it be otherwise; and given you some ways to examine your hearts, whether they are so affected or not. The Lord grant that where they are, it may be increased; and where they are not, that God would renew it by his Spirit in us. F B Meyer's devotional in Our Daily Walk entitled LOVE'S CONSTRAINT "For the love of Christ constrains us… We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us." - 2Cor 5:14-20. AN AMBASSADOR may live in a foreign country, but he does not belong to it. He is there to represent his own country, and no opportunity of helping forward her interests is allowed to pass. We have to represent Christ to the world. The word "constrain" suggests a constant pressure, an urge, as when water is forced down a certain channel. Paul says I act as I do because I am under the spell of a mighty constraint; I can do no other; I am not master of myself. Do not wonder at what may seem to be unusual and extravagant. Attribute my eccentricity to Christ--His love actuates me, and bears me along. What is meant by "the love of Christ?" Is it His to us, or ours to Him? It is impossible to divide them thus, for they are one (Ed: This is true, but the cause must ever be Christ's love, for otherwise we would not love Him). As the sunlight strikes the moon, and is reflected from her to the earth, so the love we have to Christ, or to man, is the reflection of His love to us. All love in our cold and loveless hearts is the emanation and reflection of the Love which began in Him, was mediated to us in Calvary, and is reflected from us, as sunlight from a mirror. (Ed: So Meyer seems to agree that the first interpretation of love of Christ is His love for us, because without His love, we would be unable to love!) The love of Christ does not constrain all Christian people, because they do not understand the profound significance of the Cross; but when the soul once appreciates that, and passes through the gate of death into the life of God, then it begins to feel the constraining love of Christ. The pivot of our life must be the Risen Christ: "We no longer live unto ourselves, but unto Him who rose again." We sometimes hear people described as eccentric---out of the centre. A man is ex-centric to the world when he is concentric with Christ. It is thus that we become a new creation (2Co 5:17-+). When by faith we are united to Jesus Christ in His Cross and Grave (Ro 6:5-+), the transition is made. We pass over into the Easter life ("resurrection" life). He has reconciled us unto Himself, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation--therefore we are ambassadors. We have to proclaim forgiveness to the sinful, the loosening of their chains to those who sit in prison-houses, and the near approach of salvation to all (Isaiah 52:7, 8, 9, 10). This empty cup for Thee to fill; This trembling heart for Thee to still; This yielded life to do Thy will, O Lord of Love, I bring Thee. AMEN HAVING CONCLUDED THIS, THAT ONE DIED FOR ALL, THEREFORE ALL DIED: krinantas (AAPMPA) touto, hoti eis huper panton apethanen; (3SAAI) ara oi pantes apethanon; (3PAAI): Having concluded: Ro 2:2 1Co 2:14 one: Isa 53:6 Mt 20:28 Jn 1:29 11:50-52 1Ti 2:6 Heb 2:9 1Jn 2:1,2 Therefore: 2Co 3:7,9 Lk 15:24,32 Jn 5:25 11:25 Ro 5:15 14:7-9 Eph 2:1-5 Col 2:13 1Ti 5:6 Titus 3:3 1Jn 5:19 2 Corinthians 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries See also "shorter version" of commentary on 2 Corinthians 5:14 Having concluded (2919) (krino) primarily means to distinguish, separate or discriminate and then, to distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong, without necessarily passing an adverse sentence, though this is usually involved. Krino pictures one sifting out and analyzing of evidence and then passing judgment or in the present context coming to a conclusion after examining the evidence. One died for all - Christ died on the Cross for those who believe in Him. He is not speaking of Christ's death for all humanity in this context. While there is not total agreement on this interpretation, I feel that the "all" that have died is those who have died with Christ vicariously as explained more fully below. As noted the phrase "therefore all died" has received a variety of interpretations, but I feel Dr. John MacArthur's has the best interpretation… Christ’s love controlled Paul because he had concluded in a deep and profound way the reality of his identification with Christ. His confidence was that one died for all, therefore all died. Under the old covenant the deaths of countless thousands of sacrificial animals could not provide full and complete pardon for sin, “for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Heb. 10:4). There never was any efficacy in the death of an animal. All such deaths incessantly testified to the old covenant’s futility as a means of salvation. But in sharp contrast Jesus Christ, “by one offering … has perfected for all time those who are sanctified” (He 10:14; cf. He 9:14, He 9:28; He 10:10, 12, He 10:19; He 13:12; Ro 3:24, 25; Ro 5:9; Ep 1:7; 1Pe 1:18,19; 1Jn 1:7; Rev 1:5). The preposition huper (for) could be translated “in behalf of,” or “for the benefit of,” but the best rendering seems to be “in the place of.” It introduces the essential and irreplaceable truth of the substitutionary atonement; that is, that Christ died in the place of all who put their faith in Him. By His death He “redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us” (Gal. 3:13) because God “made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2Cor 5:21). It is crucial to understand the identity of the all for whom Christ died. The phrase one died for all, if it stood alone, could imply that Christ died for every person who ever lived. But Paul clarified his meaning by adding the phrase therefore all died. He did not say, “all were dead,” which would have described every sinner who ever lived, since all are dead in sin (Ep 2:1-+). He was not talking about a condition, however, but an event—believers’ union with Christ in His death. Together, the two phrases define the all for whom Christ died as the all who died in Him (cf. Ro 6:1, 2, 3-+, Ro 6:4-+) through faith in Him (Ro 3:24-+, Ro 3:25, 26-+). Just as all who are in Adam (the whole race) became sinners because of his sin, so also all who are in Christ (those who believe savingly) become righteous because of His death (Ro 5:19-+; 1Cor 15:21, 22). Died (599)(apothnesko from apo = marker of dissociation implying a rupture from a former association, separation, departure, cessation + thnesko = die) literally means to die off and can speak of literal physical death (Ro 6:9-+) but in this context speaks figuratively (metaphorically) of a believer's death with Christ, a death to Sin (power of sin) (Ro 6:2-+, Ro 6:7-+, Ro 6:8-+, Col 3:3-+), self, devil, the law (Ro 7:6-+, Gal 2:19) and the world (Col 2:20-+, cp Gal 6:14-+ - crucified used instead of died) which was effected when Christ was crucified and when by faith we believed in Him and in God's reckoning (albeit a "mysterious" teaching) were crucified with Christ (Ro 6:6-+). It is notable that as life was never meant to be merely existence, death which is the antonym of life does not mean non–existence. The important point is that to die does not mean one is annihilated as some would falsely teach. Everyone who has every been born will continue to exist, either in the presence of God or to experience conscious existence in separation from God (see 2Th 1:9). Apothnesko - 10x - 1Cor 8:11; 9:15; 15:3, 22, 31, 32, 36; 2Cor 5:14, 15; 6:9 2 Corinthians 5:15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. (NASB: Lockman) Greek: kai huper panton apethanen (3SAAI) hina oi zontes (PAPMPN) meketi heautois zosin (3PPAS) alla to huper auton apothanonti (AAPMSD) kai egerthenti. (APPMSD) Amplified: And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake. (Lockman)