1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened-not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

2 Corinthians 5:1-5

My wife and children think I speak too much about dying! I know this to be true as on occasions I have very much annoyed my wife when raising the subject, so let’s hope she or they don’t read this blog!

Over 100,000 deaths during this pandemic is a devastating loss to so many. We all know someone who has lost a friend or family member describing that death as having been “too soon!” I have lost dear friends and family to such things as cancer and heart disease and I have led funeral services for babies. Yet scripture tells us we are all dying are we not?

With each passing moment, no matter how much we exercise and how well we eat, we are deteriorating physically. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:16 “our outer nature is wasting away.” Nevertheless, and for this we praise God, “our inner nature is being renewed day by day”

The closest to me in regard to family deaths has been my father, mother and brother. My brother left behind a wife, children and grandchildren. If a funeral service can be said to be ‘good’ then his was. Much was said about, “where he is now and what he is experiencing now”, so where is my brother? There are many opinions and theological views on this. What happens when a Christian dies? I too, even though a pastor, want rock solid faith encouraging reassurance.

Twice in these verses Paul says “we know”. There is a confidence here. It’s s important to set the scene, so,

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 Corinthians 5:1

Our body is described as a tent, an earthly home. In 4:18 the body is described as transient, one of things that are seen. The words used by Paul that seem to be a little harsh are, that there is only one inevitable outcome “destruction”.

What then is this “building from God” that is ours following physical death? Many theologians disagree on this. Now that’s where it gets complex. Bear with me for a moment.

Some say it is a reference to heaven itself, or an abode in heaven (John 14:2), the New Jerusalem. Others say it may be a reference to an intermediate body, i.e., a bodily form of some sort suitable for the intermediary state but different from, and only preparatory to, the final glorified, resurrected body ( Matthew 17:3).

Let me nail my colours to the mast. I believe it is a reference to the glorified, resurrection body, that final, complete embodiment in which we will live for eternity.

So where did I get that from. Paul uses the same language elsewhere.

who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Philippians 3:21

Also Paul’s use of the word building compared with home, since the later refers to earthly, and the former to heavenly there is a distinct difference in quality. Also,

42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44

Paul’s point would be that our heavenly body is indestructible, not susceptible to decay or corruption. It is the language of hope, yet even though Paul appears to envision the possibility of his own physical death, he still has hope that he will remain alive until Christ returns (See verses 2-5).

In these verses Paul speaks of his desire to be alive when Christ returns, for then he would not have to die physically and experience the separation of body and spirit, a condition he refers to as being “naked” (vs 3) or “unclothed” (vs 4). Paul’s perspective on life and death may therefore be put in this way:

It is good to remain alive on this earth to serve Christ (see Philippians 1:21-26), on the other hand, it is better to die physically and enter into the presence of Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 and Philippians 1:21&23).

Paul seems to suggest it is by far and away best to be alive when Christ returns, for then we avoid death altogether and are immediately joined with the Lord in our resurrected and glorified bodies. Wow, this is technical stuff!

In verse 2 which is repeated in and expanded in verse 4 Paul mixes metaphors by speaking about putting on and being clothed with a building. This is more than putting on a piece of clothing, it is the putting on of a garment over another.

The heavenly body, like a coat or overcoat, is being put on over the earthly body with which the apostle is, as it were, presently clad in. In this way the heavenly, glorified body not only covers but also absorbs and transforms the earthly one (see Philippians 3:20-21, 1 Corinthians 15:53).

But what assurances do we have from God that he will in fact supply us with a glorified and eternal body that is no longer subject to the deterioration and disease we now experience in this fallen earth?

The simple answer is, the Holy Spirit! Paul’s statement in verse 5 is a reminder that the work of the Spirit is not a mere static deposit, but the active operation of the Holy within the believer, assuring him that the same principle of power which effected the resurrection of Christ Jesus from the dead is also present and at work within him, preparing his mortal body for the consummation of his redemption in the glorification of his body. In short the giving of the Holy Spirit is a preparation for heaven.

For the Christian, death is not to be feared. For we know that whatever illness or debilitation we experience now, whatever degree of suffering or hardship we must face, there is promised to us by the Spirit a glorified, Christ-like, transformed and utterly eternal indestructible dwelling, a body in which there is no disease, no pain, no deprivation, and no decay.

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words 

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.