2 Corinthians 5:9 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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2 Corinthians 5:9

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The believer’s great longing should be for the future. ‘Wherefore we labour.’ A very interesting word used in the Greek, translated here labour, but it means actually something like this: Therefore we reach and long for the honour of something. There is an honour before us. The honour of being with Christ, the honour of seeing our Lord. Therefore we stretch after that honour. The word labour is not really enough. We stretch for this honour: that whether present in the body or present in heaven with the Lord, we may be accepted of him.To be presented with Christ one day, to enter into his paradise and then at the very end of time to receive a resurrection body and in the Day of Judgement, to be taken aside in the great company of the Redeemed and delivered from judgement and to reign with him – this is such an incredible, indescribable honour. This is such a privilege that I am going to strive on account of that honour. I can never deserve it; never be worthy of it. It is by grace alone. But how can I then live as a mediocre believer? How can I live lukewarm, when he has assigned to me the greatest imaginable honour in that last day? To be clothed with a resurrection body and to be part of his great victory.

Application

But we are already accepted of him, aren’t we? Have we not trusted in Christ and his shed blood, and repented of sin and yielded our lives to him? Are we not already saved? By grace and mercy alone, by the converting power of Christ, by his Spirit, we are accepted and received by him. So what does the apostle mean when he says, Wherefore we labour that whether still alive or with the Lord, we may be accepted? But this is the great thing. Yes, we are accepted, that is the reality, that is the truth, by God. But out of debt to him, should we not be living as though we are accepted? Should we not be striving to be worthy of that acceptance? That is ultimately being accepted means. We want to please him, whether here or in future in glory our great aim is to please him.

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2 Corinthians 5:9 Commentary and Bible Study