Hope and Assurance in the Face of Death

Summary

Death is a topic that often brings fear, confusion, or avoidance, but God’s Word offers clarity and hope. Life on earth is described as living in a temporary “tent”—our mortal bodies—while we long for the eternal “building” God has prepared for us in heaven. This longing is not just for escape from suffering, but a yearning to be clothed in the righteousness of Christ, to be made whole and at home with God. Our earthly existence is marked by groaning and burdens, but for those who trust in Jesus, there is a promise of something far greater: an eternal home, fashioned by God Himself, where we are fully known and fully loved.

Heaven is not merely a place of comfort or pleasure, but the fulfillment of God’s purpose for us. It is a home beyond anything we can imagine, where the deepest desires of our hearts are met in the presence of God. The Holy Spirit is given to us as a deposit, a guarantee of what is to come, so we can live with anticipation and confidence, not uncertainty. Our hope is not wishful thinking, but a sure and certain reality grounded in the finished work of Christ.

This assurance changes how we live now. Rather than chasing after fleeting happiness or the approval of others, we are called to live by faith, not by sight. Our goal is to please God, to glorify Him in all we do, knowing that one day we will stand before Christ. For those who belong to Jesus, judgment is not a moment of fear, but a moment of grace—our sins are covered, and our identity is found in Him. The dash between our birth and death is an opportunity: will we live for ourselves, or will we surrender to God’s greater purpose, sharing the hope of the gospel with a world in need?

Key Takeaways

- Earthly life is temporary, but God promises an eternal home. Our bodies are like tents—fragile and passing—while God prepares a permanent, glorious dwelling for us in heaven. This perspective frees us from the fear of death and anchors our hope in what is to come, not in what is fading away. [33:50]

- True righteousness is not achieved, but received. We long to be clothed in righteousness, and this is only possible through the sacrifice of Jesus. His blood covers our sin, and by faith, we are made right with God—not by our own efforts, but by His grace. [38:21]

- The Holy Spirit is our guarantee of future glory. God gives us His Spirit as a deposit, assuring us that what He has promised will come to pass. This presence within us is both comfort and confidence, enabling us to live with anticipation rather than anxiety about the future. [40:06]

- Living by faith means shifting our focus from the seen to the unseen. The world urges us to find meaning in circumstances, achievements, or approval, but faith calls us to trust in God’s promises. Our confidence is not in what we can control, but in the certainty of Christ’s finished work and the inheritance that awaits us. [41:30]

- Our purpose is to glorify God, not ourselves. The dash between our birth and death is not for self-indulgence, but for surrender to God’s will. At the judgment seat of Christ, what matters is not our record of good or bad, but whether we are found in Him—clothed in His righteousness, living for His glory, and sharing His hope with others. [50:58]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[31:00] - Introducing the Topic of Death
[32:39] - Misconceptions and Fears About Death
[33:50] - Earthly Tent vs. Heavenly Building
[35:53] - The True Nature of Heaven
[37:10] - Longing to Be Clothed in Righteousness
[38:21] - How We Are Clothed in Christ
[40:06] - The Holy Spirit as Our Guarantee
[41:30] - Living by Faith, Not by Sight
[46:03] - Common Myths About the Afterlife
[47:10] - Marriage, Relationships, and Eternity
[48:03] - The Reality of Judgment
[49:40] - Our Goal: To Please God
[50:58] - The Meaning of the Dash
[53:33] - Forgiveness and the Judgment Seat
[54:55] - The Great Reversal and the Offer of Grace
[58:19] - Prayer and Response
[01:02:09] - Living for God’s Glory
[01:03:23] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

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### Bible Reading

2 Corinthians 5:1-10 (NIV)
> For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
> Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

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### Observation Questions

1. What two images does Paul use to describe our earthly life and our future with God? ([33:50])
2. According to the passage, what is the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer? ([40:06])
3. What does Paul say is the goal of our lives, whether we are “at home in the body or away from it”? ([49:40])
4. How does Paul describe the confidence believers can have about their future? ([41:30])

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Paul compares our bodies to “tents” and our future with God to a “building”? What does this say about how we should view our time on earth? ([33:50])
2. The sermon says that longing for heaven is not just about escaping suffering, but about being “clothed in the righteousness of Christ.” What does it mean to be clothed in Christ’s righteousness, and why is this important? ([38:21])
3. The Holy Spirit is described as a “deposit” or “guarantee” of what is to come. How does this change the way a believer faces uncertainty or fear about the future? ([40:06])
4. The passage says we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. According to the sermon, how should this truth affect the way we live now? ([50:58])

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon talks about how people often fear death or avoid thinking about it. How do you personally respond to the topic of death? Has your perspective changed after hearing this message? ([32:39])
2. Paul says we “live by faith, not by sight.” What is one area of your life where you tend to rely on what you can see or control, rather than trusting God’s promises? What would it look like to shift your focus? ([41:30])
3. The message says our earthly life is like a “dash” between birth and death. What are you currently living for? Are there ways you are chasing after “fleeting happiness or the approval of others” instead of God’s purpose? ([50:58])
4. The sermon describes the Holy Spirit as a source of comfort and confidence. Can you share a time when you sensed the Holy Spirit giving you peace or assurance about your future? ([40:06])
5. The idea of being “clothed in Christ’s righteousness” means our identity is found in what Jesus has done, not in our own efforts. Are there areas where you struggle to accept God’s grace or feel like you have to earn His approval? ([38:21])
6. The message challenges us to “surrender to God’s greater purpose” and share the hope of the gospel. Who in your life needs to hear this hope? What is one step you can take this week to share it with them? ([54:55])
7. At the end of your life, what do you hope will be true about how you used your “dash”? What is one change you want to make now to live more for God’s glory? ([56:39])

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Devotional

Day 1: Our Earthly Bodies Are Temporary, But Eternal Life Awaits
Life on earth is described as living in an "earthly tent"—fragile, temporary, and subject to suffering and burdens. Yet, for those who believe, there is a promise of a "heavenly building"—an eternal home with God, not made by human hands. This assurance shifts our perspective from fearing death to anticipating a homecoming beyond anything we can imagine, where all groaning and longing are satisfied in the presence of God. [33:50]

2 Corinthians 5:1-5 (ESV)
"For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee."

Reflection: How does knowing your earthly life is temporary and that God has prepared an eternal home for you change the way you view your daily struggles and fears about death?


Day 2: Clothed in Christ’s Righteousness, Not Our Own
The longing to be "clothed" is a yearning to be covered in the righteousness of Christ, not left exposed by our own failures. Through Jesus’ sacrifice, believers are made right with God, not by their own merit but by being covered in His blood and righteousness. This new identity means that when God sees us, He sees us as forgiven and accepted, not condemned or unworthy. [37:10]

2 Corinthians 5:2-4, 21 (ESV)
"For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life... For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Reflection: In what ways do you still try to earn God’s approval, and how can you rest today in the truth that you are already clothed in Christ’s righteousness?


Day 3: Confidence in the Promise—We Live by Faith, Not by Sight
Believers are called to live with confidence, not in themselves or their circumstances, but in the absolute assurance of God’s promises. This confidence is rooted in faith, not in what can be seen or measured, and it transforms how we face both life and death. The Holy Spirit within us is the guarantee of what is to come, allowing us to live boldly and with hope, even when the world feels uncertain. [41:30]

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (ESV)
"So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are struggling to trust God’s promises? How can you take a step of faith today, even if you can’t see the outcome?


Day 4: Living to Please God, Not Ourselves
The purpose of our lives is not to chase after our own happiness or achievements, but to please and glorify God in all we do. This means surrendering our desires and ambitions, and instead seeking to reflect God’s character and love to those around us. True fulfillment is found not in what we accomplish for ourselves, but in living for the One who gave us life and redeemed us. [50:58]

2 Corinthians 5:9-10 (ESV)
"So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."

Reflection: What is one practical way you can shift your focus from pleasing yourself to pleasing God in your actions or decisions today?


Day 5: The Great Reversal—Embracing a New Identity in Christ
God offers a new identity to all who trust in Jesus: not defined by past failures, achievements, or what others think, but by being claimed as His own. This “great reversal” means that grace is available to everyone, no matter their story, and that our lives are meant to point others to the hope and forgiveness found in Christ. The dash between our birth and death is an opportunity to live for what truly matters—God’s glory and the spread of His gospel. [56:39]

Romans 8:1-2 (ESV)
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death."

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear about the hope and new identity found in Christ? How can you share this message of grace with them this week?

Quotes

Dying is not about leaving home. It's about going to a home like we've never experienced here on earth. My wife is tremendous. She has done a great job. Our house feels like a home. She puts pictures up. It smells good. All these other things she does. And she's good at it. But it's nothing compared to what it will be like when we go to that heavenly building. [00:36:37] (24 seconds) Edit Clip

``So this righteousness, it only comes by way of Jesus Christ. So we are sinners and we fall short of the glory of God and we are separated from God until we come to a place where God has spoken to us and through his sovereign power has brought us back to him. And when we come back to him, we are clothed in the blood of Jesus Christ who died on the cross for our sins conquering sin. He rose from the grave and conquered death so that all who would believe in him would be considered right with God. [00:37:43] (30 seconds) Edit Clip

If you exist for your own purposes, for your own desires, for your own happiness, all you're going to find at the end of that search is nothing. You find nothing. I've done the search. I've done the homework for you. Let me tell you what I found. Nothing. [00:51:12] (20 seconds) Edit Clip

So you mean to tell me, Mike, that I put on the clothing of righteousness because of what I do? No. The clothing of righteousness is put on you by the blood of Jesus Christ. He's the one that forgives you of your sins. That blood wipes away your sin. [00:55:13] (21 seconds) Edit Clip

You don't need to justify your existence to him others don't qualify you or disqualify you your identity isn't in what you've done or how much you've accomplished or how much you've failed or how much you've sinned no there's an offer of a new identity and that's found in christ jesus it says nope that's my lord that's my savior he died in my place to forgive my sins that i might live for him. [00:58:58] (32 seconds) Edit Clip

We talk about death I talk about this a lot on the tombstone every one of us has a date already it's a day we're born and one day there'll be a day we die and all we have in the middle is that little dash and that little dash what will you do with it you can pursue your happiness and your own things and your own desires and your own this and your own that you can have all those things you think are so important but let me tell you what that is it's nothingness or you can say you know what i'm going to flip my life over and i'm going to have the great reversal and the great reversal we see in scripture over and over and over again which is those who are last shall be first the great great reversal is all that notion that idea that i don't deserve this grace and this salvation but god says you know what yes you do because you're mine and i'm claiming you as my own and that offers for everyone here today. [00:59:31] (55 seconds) Edit Clip

You know one of the issues i have with christianity today is that we have this this medicine that will save people that are sick and dying and for some reason we just keep it to ourselves and that message that antidote that is the gospel of jesus christ. [01:00:26] (18 seconds) Edit Clip