Read 2 Corinthians 5 at Bible Gateway.
2 corinthians 5:1
The opening passage of this chapter forms a chiastic structure:
2 Cor 5:1-5
1a) 2 Cor 5:1a, For we know;
1b) 2 Cor 5:1b, If our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God;
1c) 2 Cor 5:1c, A house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens;
1d) 2 Cor 5:2, In this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation from heaven;
central axis) 2 Cor 5:3, If indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked;
2d) 2 Cor 5:4a, For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened because we want to be further clothed;
2c) 2 Cor 5:4b, That mortality may be swallowed up by life;
2b) 2 Cor 5:5a, He who has prepared us is God, who has also given us the Spirit;
2a) 2 Cor 5:5b, As a guarantee.
If we have been clothed, we shall not be found naked when our earthly house, our natural body, dies or is destroyed. The real us is not found in flesh and blood. The flesh and blood part of us that the natural man focuses his attention on, is not the real us (1 Sam 16:7). The real us is an eternal spirit who happens to dwell in a flesh and blood body like a house. Our natural body is the “interface” if you will, that allows an eternal spiritual being – me and you – to live and interact in a natural physical universe.
When this natural house dies or is destroyed, then what will we be clothed with? If we have received a white garment from the Master of the Wedding Feast (Mat 22:1-13, Rev 3:18), we will not be found naked; instead we will be further clothed with an eternal, spiritual house in the heavens. But if we have not received a white garment from the Master of the Wedding Feast … we will be found naked before the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do (Heb 4:13). Fortunately for mankind, all are invited … yes, even (especially) those whom others outcast, to come to the Wedding Feast and receive a white garment without cost and without price! ♥
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