Our Eternal Dwelling
(Romans 8:18–27)

1For we knowe, that yf our earthly house of this tabernacle were destroyed, we haue a building of God, an habitation not made with handes, but eternall in heauen. 2For therfore sygh we, desiryng to be clothed with our house whiche is from heauen: 3So yet, yf that we be founde clothed, and not naked. 4For we that are in this tabernacle sigh, & being burdened because we would not be vnclothed, but would be clothed vpo, that mortalitie might be swalowed vp of lyfe. 5He that hath ordeyned vs for this thyng is God, which hath also geuen vnto vs the earnest of the spirite.

6Therfore we are alway of good cheare, and knowe, that as long as we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lorde. 7(For we walke by fayth, not after outwarde appearaunce.) 8Neuerthelesse, we are of good comfort, and had rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lorde. 9Wherfore, whether we be at home, or from home, we endeuour our selues to be accepted vnto hym. 10For we must all appeare before the iudgement seate of Christe, that euery man may receaue the workes of his bodie according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Ambassadors for Christ

11Seing then that we knowe the feare of the Lorde, we fare fayre with men: For we are knowen well enough vnto God. I trust also that we are knowen in your consciences. 12For we prayse not our selues agayne vnto you, but geue you an occasion to reioyce of vs, that ye may haue somwhat agaynst them which reioyce in the face, and not in the heart. 13For yf we be to feruent, to God are we to feruent: Or yf we kepe measure, for your cause kepe we measure. 14For the loue of Christe constrayneth vs, because we thus iudge, that yf one dyed for all, then were all dead. 15And he dyed for all, that they which lyue, shoulde not hencefoorth lyue vnto them selues, but vnto hym which dyed for them, and rose agayne.

16Wherefore hencefoorth knowe we no man after the flesshe: Insomuche, though we haue knowen Christe after the flesshe, nowe yet hencefoorth knowe we hym so no more. 17Therfore yf any man be in Christe, he is a newe creature. Olde thynges are passed awaye, beholde all thynges are become newe. 18And all thynges are of God, whiche hath reconciled vs vnto hym selfe by Iesus Christe, and hath geuen to vs the ministerie of reconciliation. 19For God was in Christe, reconciling the worlde to hym selfe, not imputyng their sinnes vnto them, and hath committed to vs the preachyng of the atonement.

20Nowe then are we messengers in the rowme of Christe, euen as though God dyd beseche you through vs. So praye we you in Christes steade, that ye be reconciled vnto God. 21For he hath made him to be sinne for vs, whiche knewe no sinne, that we shoulde be made the ryghteousnesse of God in hym.