Our Eternal Dwelling
(Romans 8:18–27)

1For we know that, if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens. 2For verily, in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from Heaven; 3if, indeed, being also clothed, we will not be found naked. 4For, indeed, we who are in the tabernacle groan, being weighed down; not that we wish to be unclothed, but be clothed upon, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5Now He Who wrought us for this very thing is God, Who gave to us the earnest of the Spirit.

6Being, therefore, always of good courage, and knowing that, while dwelling in the body, we are absent from the Lord 7(for we walk by faith and not by sight); 8we are of good courage, I say, and are well pleased to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord. 9Wherefore, we also make it our aim?whether being at home or being from home?to be well-pleasing to Him. 10For we must all be manifested before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done through the body, according to the things which he practiced, whether good or evil.

Ambassadors for Christ

11Knowing, therefore, the fear of the Lord, we persuade men; but to God we have been made manifest, and I hope that we have been made manifest also in your consciences. 12We are not again commending ourselves to you, but giving you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have something suited to those who glory in appearance, and not in heart. 13For whether we were beside ourselves, it was to God; or whether we are of sober mind, it is for you. 14For the love of Christ is constraining us; having judged this, that One died for all; consequently, they all died: 15and He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to Him Who died for them, and rose again.

16Wherefore, we henceforth know no one according to the flesh; even if we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now no longer do we know Him thus. 17Wherefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, they have become new. 18But all things are of God, Who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19how that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having put in us the word of reconciliation.

20On behalf of Christ, therefore, we are ambassadors, as though God were beseeching through us, we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God 21Him Who knew no sin He made to be sin on our behalf, that we may become God's righteousness in Him.