II Corinthians 5: 1-5 “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
5Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.”
Paul believed and taught about the future resurrection of the saints of God (I Thes.4:13-17; I Cor. 15:20-23,50-52). Jesus taught of the resurrection (John 5:28-29; Rev. 20:4). Yet some people believe II Cor. 5:1-5 says the dead go to heaven immediately upon death. This is not an accurate understanding as no one has gone to heaven except Jesus (John 3:13). See www.cscog7.org one-page Biblical study on “Heaven”. So, what was Paul telling us in II Cor 5:1-5?
Paul was anticipating his future death and how it would affect his relationship with God. Paul was very aware that death is like sleeping and the passage of time does not seem to happen for a deceased individual. After death, the very next moment one wakes up in the resurrection with Jesus as He returns to earth. This is what Paul was describing in II Cor. 5:1-5.
Paul is using beautiful poetry and an analogy to show the Corinthians their future in the Kingdom of God when they will have spiritual bodies and be with Jesus as a part of His eternal family. For a full explanation of the destiny of mankind see www.cscog7.org one-page Biblical study on “Our Destiny”.
The poetry of Paul starts in II Cor. 5:1 where he compares our physical body to our future spiritual body. If our current physical body were to die our salvation is waiting for us with Jesus in Heaven. In verse 2 Paul reminds the Corinthians what he told them in his previous letter (I Cor. 15:50-52) that our future is FROM heaven and will be where Jesus is. Paul is groaning with anticipation and anxiously waiting for the return of Jesus so he can put on the spiritual body of the family of God (Rom. 8:14-18). He is longing for that day to come, not just for himself but for all the saints (I Thes.4:14-17; I Cor. 15:50-52; I Thes.5:23; Phil. 1:10). In verse 4 Paul compares the future immortality of the saints to not being found naked in the physical world. We will be clothed with spiritual righteousness.
In the future, the adopted family of God will have put on immortality, death will be swallowed up in victory and Paul is anxiously waiting for it to happen (Rom. 2:7; Rom. 14:8; I Cor. 15:50-54; I Thes. 4:14; II Tim. 1:10). Paul tells us in verse 5 of the “earnest of the spirit”. God has given us a down payment of His spirit, like “earnest money” on a future home. The “earnest of the spirit” is the beginning of our future with him.
The masterful poetry of Paul in II Cor. 5:1-5 is comparing our current physical mortal bodies to our future spiritual bodies with Christ after the resurrection. Paul was longing for that day, as we should be too.
