1. What’s the Purpose that Drives Your Life? 2 Corinthians 5:1-11

2. What’s the Point in Life?  Nihilism dominates the views of Hollywood and academia today. We are being taught that life is meaningless and then you die.  Believers should not be nihilists. We have every reason to live meaningful lives.

3. Our Flawed Bodies Remind Us That Our Purpose Is Out of Sight (5:1-8)

4. Groaning Is Appropriate As We Long for Glorified Bodies & the Kingdom 2 Cor 5:2, 4  Romans 8:23 (G4ROB)  2 Cor 5:2 (G4NB)  2 Cor 5:4 (G4NB/L)

5. Assurance Is Implicit in What Paul Is Saying in 5:1-8  We only know we have glorified bodies awaiting us if we’re sure of our eternal destiny.  Assurance is by faith alone, apart from works.  Works are discussed here after assurance.

6. 2 Corinthians 5:9-10  “Therefore, we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

7. Trying to Escape Hell Is a Lousy Life’s Purpose for a Christian (5:9-10)  How can we have fear of hell if we know we aren’t going there? Believers can’t go to hell: John 3:16; 5:24; 6:47; 11:26. Once we believe in Jesus, escaping hell is a done deal.  Sadly most people in Christianity have this very purpose and motivation in life.

8. Aiming to Please Jesus Is a Great Life’s Purpose in Light of the Bema

9. If Eternal Life Is a Free Gift, Why Will Jesus Judge Us?  Because God guarantees that we reap what we sow (Gal 6:7-9).  Because this life is a test to see how much we want to glorify Jesus forever.

10. Christians Are Accountable!  Ready or not, all Christians will be judged by Jesus one day for what we did with our lives. This judgment is not optional. Knowing about the Bema is helpful for it reminds us that pleasing Jesus is good for us, now and forever (in terms of eternal rewards).

11. Bema-related Fear of the Lord Should Lead Us to Seek to Persuade Others to Please Jesus (2 Cor 5:11)

12. “Paul is not ‘afraid’ of the Lord, but he does have a ‘reverential awe’ of him and recognizes that his whole life and ministry will come under God’s scrutiny. It is with this awareness that he persuades men.” —Kruse, 2 Corinthians, p. 119.

13. The Grace of God Is Not a License to Sin  If a believer is not living consistently with God’s Word, then he will reap the consequences both in this life and at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  If a believer is not living for God, then those closest to him will also be negatively impacted.

14. Two Major Ramifications of the Grace and Justice of God  The only condition of everlasting life and a future glorified body is faith in Christ. Assurance is not dependent on our works.  All believers are accountable for what we do in these fallen bodies. How we live (the works we do) matters greatly to ourselves and to those around us.

15. Eternal Life Is Just the Beginning

16. Bema Persuasion  Paul was in the persuasion business. So should we. He persuaded believers to make their aim to please the Lord and to live in light of the Bema.

17. Make Your Purpose to Be WELL Pleasing to Him