1We know that if our earthly body, which is like a tent, is destroyed, we have a permanent building from God in heaven. It is a house not made by human hands, and it will last forever.
2In this earthly body, we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling.
3If we are clothed with that heavenly dwelling, we will not be found naked or defenceless.
4For while we are in this tent, we groan under our burden. This is not because we want to be unclothed, but because we want to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
5Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a down payment.
6Therefore we are always confident, and we know that as long as we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord.
7For we live by faith, not by sight.
8Yes, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
9So whether we are at home or away, our goal is to please him.
10For we must all appear before Christ’s judgment seat, so that each of us may receive what is due to us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
11Since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade people. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.
12We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who boast about outward appearances rather than about what is in the heart.
13If we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.
14The love of Christ controls us, because we have decided that one person died for everyone, which means that everyone died.
15He died for all, so that those who are alive should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died and rose again for their sake.
16So from now on, we do not evaluate anyone by human standards. Even though we once evaluated Christ by human standards, we no longer do so.
17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has gone; behold, the new has come!
18All these new things are from God, who brought us back to himself through Jesus Christ and gave us the work of bringing others back to him.
19This means that God was in Christ, making the world right with himself by not counting people's sins against them, and he has entrusted us with the message of making people right with him.
20So we are Christ's representatives; God is appealing through us. We beg you on Christ's behalf: be reconciled to God.
21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.