What does 2 Corinthians 5:9 mean by "pleasing to Him" in a practical sense? Full Text and Immediate Context “So we aspire to please Him, whether we are here in this body or away from it.” (2 Corinthians 5:9) Paul is summarizing verses 1–10, a passage that contrasts our “earthly tent” with the eternal dwelling prepared by God, culminating in the believer’s future appearance “before the judgment seat of Christ” (v. 10). The motivating center is therefore eschatological: because resurrection and evaluation are certain, the believer’s present ambition is single-minded—being “pleasing to Him.” Theological Foundation 1. Creator–Creature Design: Humanity was fashioned “in His image” (Genesis 1:27). Pleasing God is thus fulfilling the design blueprint—a principle also observable in intelligent-design studies where function follows design specification. 2. Covenant Loyalty: Throughout Scripture, from Enoch who “pleased God” (Hebrews 11:5) to Jesus who always did “what pleases Him” (John 8:29), divine pleasure is tied to covenant fidelity. 3. Christocentric Enablement: Because “the love of Christ compels us” (2 Corinthians 5:14), pleasing God is rooted in union with the risen Christ and empowered by the Spirit (Romans 8:8–9). Eschatological Motivation Verse 10 links pleasure to evaluation: “each one may receive his due for the things done in the body.” The future “Bema” judgment for believers is not punitive but reward-oriented (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). Awareness of this accountability activates present diligence, a principle echoed in behavioral science: future-oriented incentives significantly shape present behavior when perceived as credible and consequential. Practical Expressions of “Pleasing to Him” 1. Personal Holiness • Moral Purity: Abstain from immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:1–3). • Integrity of Speech: “Let no unwholesome word proceed” (Ephesians 4:29). • Thought Life: “Take every thought captive” (2 Corinthians 10:5). 2. Obedient Faith • Daily submission to Scriptural commands; manuscript evidence (e.g., P46, dated A.D. 175–225, containing 2 Corinthians) confirms the stability of these imperatives. • Immediate, trust-filled response as displayed by Abraham (Hebrews 11:8). 3. Stewardship of Calling and Gifts • Work ethic: the same philotimeomai appears in 1 Thessalonians 4:11 regarding diligent labor. • Financial generosity: “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). 4. Evangelistic Witness • Pleasing God, not people, guides proclamation (1 Thessalonians 2:4). • Testimony: Empirical studies on post-conversion behavioral transformation (e.g., longitudinal data cited by the American Psychological Association’s religion division) show statistically significant reductions in risk behaviors—an external confirmation of inward change that pleases God. 5. Corporate Worship and Fellowship • “Sacrifice of praise” (Hebrews 13:15). • Mutual edification: exercising gifts for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7). Discernment Principles: How to Know What Pleases Him • Conformity to Scripture (Psalm 119:105). • Prayerful dependence on the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26–27). • Counsel of mature believers (Proverbs 15:22). • Providence: open and closed doors consistent with character and mission of God (Acts 16:6–10). Contrasts: Pleasing God vs. Pleasing Men Paul previously wrote, “If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10). Social-psychology research shows stronger resilience when motivation is value-driven rather than approval-driven. Scripture anticipates this: divine pleasure provides a more stable reference point than fluctuating human opinions. Role of the Holy Spirit “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God… you, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit” (Romans 8:8–9). Practical implication: cultivate Spirit-filled habits—Scripture meditation, prayer, confession, worship—which enable obedience from transformed desires rather than mere duty. Scriptural Illustrations of Lives That Pleased God • Enoch (Genesis 5:24) – walked with God. • Noah (Genesis 6:9) – faithful in a corrupt generation; ark remains corroborated by geological evidence of a massive flood layer (e.g., sediment-megasequences documented by Whitcomb & Morris). • Mary of Bethany (Luke 10:42) – prioritized intimacy with Christ over busyness. Historical and Contemporary Examples • Early-Church Martyrs: Accounts preserved in second-century manuscripts show unwavering allegiance despite persecution, a living illustration of 2 Corinthians 5:9. • Modern-Day Miracles: Documented healings investigated by credentialed physicians (e.g., peer-reviewed cases compiled in Craig Keener’s Miracles) reflect God’s ongoing pleasure in faith-filled prayer (James 5:15). Pastoral Counsel and Personal Checklist 1. Begin each day asking: “Father, how may I please You today?” 2. Examine motives nightly (Psalm 139:23–24). 3. Memorize key “pleasing” verses: Romans 12:1–2; Colossians 1:10; Hebrews 13:16. 4. Engage in accountable community. 5. Keep the Bema Seat in view; journal anticipated commendations. Conclusion To be “pleasing to Him” in 2 Corinthians 5:9 is to cultivate an ongoing, Spirit-empowered, Christ-centered ambition that expresses itself in holiness, obedience, stewardship, witness, and worship, fueled by the certain hope of resurrection and the joyful anticipation of hearing, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” |
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