Most Bibles render 2Co 5:1 as saying we have a "house FROM God" when we die and go to Heaven. Teachings on this have always seemed vague to me. Recently I saw it in a new light and wrote the following Bible Study for my church's newsletter. I would like to get some feedback from people on CF and see if you agree or disagree on how I have written this.
HOW IS OUR SPIRIT CLOTHED AFTER DEATH?
How is our spirit clothed after death? 2 Corinthians 5:1 gives us the answer in the phrase "a building of God." This is not a building made or given to us by God. This house is God Himself. God is not going to give us a house or a mansion or a similar "dwelling place" to live in. He is going to have us live inside Himself. This is not a house made up of wood or stucco. It is made up of God. The building is God Himself. We will be housed in God. Let's look at the verse and then the words that make up the verse.
"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."
"Earthly" means it is located on earth, not that it is made 'of' earth. This earthly "house," is a physical place of abode, a place we live in and have our home.
Before it speaks of our future house after our death, it speaks of our earthly house, our human, physical body.
"Of," of this tabernacle, made up of, what it is made of; blood, bones, muscles, etc., etc. Some houses are made of wood, stone, or some other material things.
"This tabernacle" (body) is like a tent, a temporary abode of our spirit. People usually camp in tents, but don't permanently live in them. This tabernacle is the corruptible, mortal human body we live in temporarily until our spirit leaves it at death.
"Dissolved" speaks of the processes our dead bodies go through at cremation, or under the sea, or in a casket over time.
"Building of" what the building is made of; not wood or stone, but God Himself. It is not a building made of wood, but a building "of God," not made by God, but the building is God.
"An house" refers to God Himself. It (He) is "not made." Isaiah 43:10b tells us that "God" was not made.
"With hands" Earthly, physical, human homes, are made by human hands, but not God.
"Eternal in the heavens." This is not referring to empty houses having existed forever in the past, or houses that Jesus has been working on, preparing for saints since his resurrection and ascension. These are not houses waiting for people on earth to die and have their spirits come and live in them. No! It is referring to God Himself, eternal in past and future.
Verse 2 speaks of desiring to be clothed with our "house from heaven." Clothed with God. Will we be in a heavenly mansion distinct from God, and not God himself? No. We will be in a "house" that is God? Do other verses speak about being "in God"? See Jn 6:56; 14:20; 15:5; 1Th 1:1; 2Th 1:1; Eph 1:1,4-7; Phi 1:1; Col 1:2; 2:7,10. When Jesus says "In my Father's house are many 'dwelling places/Mansions', He is not speaking specifically of Heaven being our house, but of God Himself (in Heaven) being our house, Jn 14:2. In the same verse Jesus says He is going to prepare a place for us. He doesn't say He is going to Heaven and preparing a mansion, a place with walls and furniture. No. He is going to the cross to prepare the way by dying and providing the payment for our sins. He is not preparing the place we will live in, which is God Himself, but preparing the way for us to be accepted by God through our sins being paid for. There are "many dwelling places" (Jesus says), for there is space for many people to live, all in God. God wants to be so close to us that He ordained that He would be in us and we in Him. This is how Jn 14:10,11 can say that God the Father and God the Son live in each other.
There are a number of verses that may not be teaching this EXACT idea of literally living in God once we no longer are living in our physical body, but give us an idea that we live and will live IN God 1 Co 1:30. "But of him are ye in (inside) Christ Jesus. Ro 13:14, "but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ." Now having looked at 2Co 5:1 in this way, look at Psalms 91:1-2 and see if it seems more meaningful. Read your Bible again and see if other verses don't start to jump out at you.
HOW IS OUR SPIRIT CLOTHED AFTER DEATH?
How is our spirit clothed after death? 2 Corinthians 5:1 gives us the answer in the phrase "a building of God." This is not a building made or given to us by God. This house is God Himself. God is not going to give us a house or a mansion or a similar "dwelling place" to live in. He is going to have us live inside Himself. This is not a house made up of wood or stucco. It is made up of God. The building is God Himself. We will be housed in God. Let's look at the verse and then the words that make up the verse.
"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."
"Earthly" means it is located on earth, not that it is made 'of' earth. This earthly "house," is a physical place of abode, a place we live in and have our home.
Before it speaks of our future house after our death, it speaks of our earthly house, our human, physical body.
"Of," of this tabernacle, made up of, what it is made of; blood, bones, muscles, etc., etc. Some houses are made of wood, stone, or some other material things.
"This tabernacle" (body) is like a tent, a temporary abode of our spirit. People usually camp in tents, but don't permanently live in them. This tabernacle is the corruptible, mortal human body we live in temporarily until our spirit leaves it at death.
"Dissolved" speaks of the processes our dead bodies go through at cremation, or under the sea, or in a casket over time.
"Building of" what the building is made of; not wood or stone, but God Himself. It is not a building made of wood, but a building "of God," not made by God, but the building is God.
"An house" refers to God Himself. It (He) is "not made." Isaiah 43:10b tells us that "God" was not made.
"With hands" Earthly, physical, human homes, are made by human hands, but not God.
"Eternal in the heavens." This is not referring to empty houses having existed forever in the past, or houses that Jesus has been working on, preparing for saints since his resurrection and ascension. These are not houses waiting for people on earth to die and have their spirits come and live in them. No! It is referring to God Himself, eternal in past and future.
Verse 2 speaks of desiring to be clothed with our "house from heaven." Clothed with God. Will we be in a heavenly mansion distinct from God, and not God himself? No. We will be in a "house" that is God? Do other verses speak about being "in God"? See Jn 6:56; 14:20; 15:5; 1Th 1:1; 2Th 1:1; Eph 1:1,4-7; Phi 1:1; Col 1:2; 2:7,10. When Jesus says "In my Father's house are many 'dwelling places/Mansions', He is not speaking specifically of Heaven being our house, but of God Himself (in Heaven) being our house, Jn 14:2. In the same verse Jesus says He is going to prepare a place for us. He doesn't say He is going to Heaven and preparing a mansion, a place with walls and furniture. No. He is going to the cross to prepare the way by dying and providing the payment for our sins. He is not preparing the place we will live in, which is God Himself, but preparing the way for us to be accepted by God through our sins being paid for. There are "many dwelling places" (Jesus says), for there is space for many people to live, all in God. God wants to be so close to us that He ordained that He would be in us and we in Him. This is how Jn 14:10,11 can say that God the Father and God the Son live in each other.
There are a number of verses that may not be teaching this EXACT idea of literally living in God once we no longer are living in our physical body, but give us an idea that we live and will live IN God 1 Co 1:30. "But of him are ye in (inside) Christ Jesus. Ro 13:14, "but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ." Now having looked at 2Co 5:1 in this way, look at Psalms 91:1-2 and see if it seems more meaningful. Read your Bible again and see if other verses don't start to jump out at you.
