Our Eternal Dwelling
(Romans 8:18–27)

1For we know that if our earthly house, the tent, should be torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2For also in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling that is from heaven, 3if indeed also having been clothed, we will not be found naked. 4For indeed, being in the tent we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that the mortal should be swallowed up by life.

5Now the One having prepared us for this very thing is God, the One having given to us the pledge of the Spirit, 6being confident, then, always, and knowing that being at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8Now we are confident and we are well pleased rather to be away, out of the body, and to be at home with the Lord. 9Therefore also we strive earnestly, whether being at home or being away, to be well-pleasing to Him. 10For it is necessary for us all to appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive back the things done through the body according to what he did, whether good or evil.

Ambassadors for Christ

11Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men. And we have been made manifest to God, and I hope to have been made manifest in your⁺ consciences also. 12We do not commend† ourselves to you⁺ again, but are giving to you⁺ occasion of boasting on behalf of us, so that you⁺ may have something toward those boasting in appearance and not in heart.

13For if we were beside ourselves, it is to God; and if we are sound-minded, it is for you⁺. 14For the love of Christ compels us, having judged this, that† One died for all, therefore all died. 15And He died for all, that those living no longer should live to themselves, but to the One having died for them† and having been raised again.

16Therefore, from now, we know no one according to the flesh. Even if we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.† The old things passed away; behold, the new things have come into being!†

18Now all things are of God, the One having reconciled us to Himself through Christ,† and having given 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 into us the word of reconciliation.

20Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God is appealing through us. We implore on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God. 21He made† the One not having known sin to be sin† for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Footnotes:

12 BYZ and TR For we do not commend
14 BYZ and TR include if.
15 F35 for all
17 Or a new creature
17 BYZ and TR Behold, all things have become new
18 BYZ and TR through Jesus Christ
21 BYZ and TR For He made
21 Or a sin offering