Our Eternal Dwelling (Romans 8:18–27)
1 UDB We know that these bodies are only temporary dwelling places, like tents that do not last very long. But we know that when we die, God gives us a permanent place in which we will live, a body that lasts forever, a body that God has made. BSB BSB: For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
2 UDB While we live in our physical bodies, we groan with longing for God to put our new bodies on us BSB BSB: For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,
3 UDB because when he puts them on us, we will not be without our bodies. BSB BSB: because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.
4 UDB For we live in these bodies that one day will die, and we long for the day when we lay aside these bodies. Not that we are eager to die, but we are eager to be clothed with our eternal bodies because we want to leave these bodies that will die and exchange them for bodies that will never die. BSB BSB: For while we are in this tent, we groan under our burdens, because we do not wish to be unclothed but clothed, so that our mortality may be swallowed up by life.
5 UDB God himself prepares our new bodies for us, and he guarantees that we will receive them by giving us his Spirit. BSB BSB: And it is God who has prepared us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a pledge of what is to come.
6 UDB So you should always be certain that as long as we live in our bodies on the earth, we are away from Lord, who is in heaven. BSB BSB: Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord.
7 UDB (We live our lives by trusting in him, and not by trusting in what we can see.) BSB BSB: For we walk by faith, not by sight.
9 UDB Therefore we make it our goal to obey him, whether we are here or in heaven. BSB BSB: So we aspire to please Him, whether we are at home in this body or away from it.
10 UDB For we will all stand before Christ when he sits as the judge of all. He will judge what we did when we were in this life. Christ will give us what we deserve, and he will judge what was good or bad. BSB BSB: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
Ambassadors for Christ 11 UDB Therefore we know what it is to honor the Lord, so we make sure to tell people what kind of God he is. God knows what kind of people we are, and I expect that you also understand whether we are doing good or evil. BSB BSB: Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well.
12 UDB We are not trying to prove again that we are genuine servants of God. We only want you to know what kind of people we are and to give you a reason to be proud of us. We do this so that you can answer those who praise their own actions but do not care about what they really are in their inner being. BSB BSB: We are not commending ourselves to you again. Instead, we are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you can answer those who take pride in appearances rather than in the heart.
13 UDB If people think we are crazy, well, we are serving God. But if we are in our right minds, it is to help you. BSB BSB: If we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
14 UDB Our love for Christ drives us on. We are sure of this: Christ died for all, and therefore we all have died with him. BSB BSB: For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died.
15 UDB Christ died for all, so that those who live should not live for themselves but should live for Christ who died for their sins, and he is the one whom God raised from the dead. BSB BSB: And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.
16 UDB Since we no longer live for ourselves, we judge no one according to the way the unbelievers judge. We once even viewed Christ by these human standards. But as Christians, now we judge no one like this. BSB BSB: So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
17 UDB When anyone is joined with Christ and trusts in him, he becomes a new person. Everything from the past is gone—See!—God makes everything in you new. BSB BSB: Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
20 UDB So God has appointed us to represent Christ. God pleads with you through us. So we plead with you on Christ's behalf: Through Christ, let him make peace with you and bring you to himself. BSB BSB: Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.