I. Understanding Mortality Vs. 1-8
A. Mortality Is Passing Vs. 1-5
1. V. 1 – The ministry calling for Paul was a high and costly. Broken body; broken heart.
a. For we know – It required much from him. Paul needed to be able to say that he knew.
i. Paul was sure of his salvation, and of what lay ahead for him.
ii. This brought comfort, since his life was in constant danger.
b. that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed…
i. The human body is compared to a tent. Not meant for permanent residency.
ii. Destroyed– “striking down a tent”.
iii. It is easily taken down when moving from one place to the next.
c. we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal…
i. Notice the difference. Eternal vs. temporary. Heavenly vs. earthly.
2. V. 2 – Paul was honest about the hardships of life.
a. For in this we groan…we are subject to much pain and sorrow physically.
b. earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven…
i. A change of metaphors.
ii. Paul goes from calling the body a tent, into speaking of it as a change of clothes.
iii. Something that is easily put off and exchanged for something new.
iv. Paul earnestly desired to clothed with that which would not perish.
3. V. 3 – Upon leaving the tent of this body, the soul of man is further clothed with that garment, or body from heaven.
a. The Bible does not teach that the soul remains disembodied.
b. It leaves one body and goes to the next.
4. V. 4 – Not escapism from life’s difficulties, but unhindered existence with God.
a. He was very willing to endure the hardships of the ministry.
b. He wanted to experience the fullness of dwelling in the presence of God, unhindered by the pains of this life.
c. NOTICE – Paul says that dying is what brings us into life.
d. Mortality may be swallowed up by life.
i. Mortality- That which is still subject to death.
ii. Life- the absolute fullness of life; life real and genuine; a life active and vigorous
e. Spiritually speaking- We can experience more and more of that life here & now
i. In heaven, we will have that quality of life with bodies to match. ☺
5. V. 5- Prepared us for this very thing– to be further clothed.
a. To have our mortal lives swallowed up by immortality.
b. God has made us and prepares us for that which lies ahead.
c. who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee- that that is what will happen.
i. Romans 8:16-18 16The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17 and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
B. Being Confident About Mortality Vs. 6-8
1. V. 6a- confident- to be of good cheer, to be full of courage, to have hope.
a. Paul was not downcast about his trials, but full of hope and confident expectation.
b. He was able to be optimistic based upon these truths.
c. The inner witness of the H.S. gave Paul confidence about the unforeseeable future.
d. As his life was so often at risk, he saw danger only as temporary, and as something that would usher him into eternity, should he die.
2. V. 6b- knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.
a. Philippians 1:21-25 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith…
3. V. 7- walk- speaks of the course of our life. Day to day existence.
a. The Christian directs his life not according to what is seen, but what is unseen.
b. We would weep like those at a graveside if we saw things only as they see things.
i. Cancer destroying a person’s body. Hair loss through chemotherapy.
ii. Disfigurement through severe illness, and old age.
iii. If that was the only truth for us, we would weep as they do.
c. But the Christian does not walk by sight.
i. Faith according to what God says about life after death for His children.
ii. We see death as a release from this tent that is a burden.
iii. That we may be further clothed on high.
iv. NOTE- We also walk according to the internal witness of the Holy Spirit.
4. V. 8- confident- cheerful, courageous, optimistic.
a. Again, not escapism, but rather glory.
b. This text speaks to us the following:
i. The soul is not annihilated at death. There is life after death.
ii. There is no soul sleep or state of unconsciousness when a believer dies.
iii. There is no position or place of purgatory where one destined for heaven must pay for a few more sins before entering into glory.
iv. At death, the soul of the Christian is with the Lord.
II. We Make It Our Aim V. 9 – 11
A. Make It Your Aim To Please Jesus V. 9
1. V. 9-Therefore, since Paul knew that all of this was true, and that he would someday see Jesus face to face, he sought to live a life pleasing to God.
a. we make it our aim– literally, we are ambitious towards this end. .
b. To exert one’s self, to strive towards a designated goal..
c. Paul understood that his trials were small compared to the glory that was coming..
2. NOTE- when you are aiming at something, you are only aiming at one thing.
a. Everything else is not to be considered. You can’t aim well if you are looking around.
b. I used to shoot archery. I had good equipment and good technique, but I had to aim.
c. “If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time”.
3. Some of our opportunities to please God can only happen while we live in these bodies.
a. Living by faith. Telling others about Jesus. Using your money for God’s purposes.
b. When we are in Heaven, some of these opportunities will not exist. Do them now.
B. Why We Should Aim To Please Jesus Vs. 10, 11
1. V.10- We will give an accounting of our lives before Jesus
a. Not judgment for our sins, for Jesus died for our sins.
b. Rather, judgement for any good works we did by faith. Rewards for faithful service.
2. V.11- Our knowledge of that day should encourage us to persuade men to follow Jesus.