Are you Absent From the Body and Present With Christ now?

A song goes:

One day Jesus will call my name As days go by, ‘hope I don’t stay the same. I wanna get so close to Him that it’s no big change, On that day that Jesus calls my name! -Phil McHugh, One Day Jesus Will Call my Name

Image © Phil McKay Goodsalt.com

This takes us head on to the point of a Scriptural passage that many Adventists shy away from.

So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:6-7 NKJV

Does this verse put us into defense mode? Do we feel pressured to explain what it is not saying? We should never study God’s word in defense mode. Acts 17:11 commends people for searching the Scriptures with open minds, not defensive minds. So instead of getting defensive let’s look at what Paul is saying. I find the expression Paul uses being absent from the body and present with Christ similar to the same type expression he makes in Colossians.

For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, Colossians 2:5 NKJV

Paul is simply using a figure of speech as when he says absent from the body is to be present with Christ.

As I read all of 2 Corinthians, I seem to pick up on a theme, and it is not the state of the dead. The theme to me seems to be living in the Spirit as opposed to living in the flesh or the body. In 2 Corinthians 5 that theme is very apparent. For example,

For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 NKJV

To me, Paul’s reference to being absent from the body and to be present with Christ is ongoing as we live on this earth. I see it here in Ephesians too.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:4-6 NKJV

To be present with Christ, and to sit together with Him in heavenly places would be the same, and is a currently ongoing process. In all of Paul’s writings he talks about living in the Spirit as opposed to living in the flesh. I see 2 Corinthians 5 as a continuation of his theme. Paul is describing the life in the flesh or body which separates us from Christ, as opposed to living by faith and being present with Christ right here on earth. He goes on in verse 17 and describes a new creation right here on earth.

This leads me back to the point of Phil’s song, I want to be so close to Jesus now that it is no big change when He comes. 2 Corinthians 5 is teaching us to crucify the flesh, and live with Christ here on earth. Paul strongly hits this point again in Titus.

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Titus 2:11-14 NKJV

In 2 Corinthians 5:17 and again in Titus 2:11-14 grace changes us right here on earth in the present age. And it is because of this that we look forward to Jesus’ glorious appearing.

I am in my 50’s now, and to be honest, when I was young I thought I would be a lot more like Jesus by now. I know it’s possible for me to be more like Jesus, because I see people half my age or less, who haven’t known Jesus a fraction of the time I have, and yet they are way so much more like Jesus than I am! But instead of comparing myself to others and getting discouraged I stay focused on Jesus.

forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV

I know Jesus loves me, and I keep my eyes focused on Him as His grace draws me closer to Him day by day. The Scriptures describe how Jesus’ coming will drastically change the world with earthquakes and islands and mountains falling into the sea. But the plan is that it won’t change me much. I left the flesh when I was baptized and crucified to self.The plan is, that long before the second coming it will be seen that every day I am not living in the body or flesh, but in the Spirit as I practice the presence of Jesus. See Romans 6:3-6 and Luke 9:23. My heart is not with my body. My heart is already with Christ. When Jesus comes I will continue in eternity the life Jesus began for me here on earth. Today I want to crucify the flesh and be absent from the body and live with Christ here today as well as in heaven after Jesus comes.

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Are you Absent From the Body and Present With Christ now? — 14 Comments

Jane French on June 27, 2018 at 3:41 pm said:

Thank you William for this encouraging post. It is sometimes difficult to avoid what we see in the world and live totally focussed on Jesus. So glad that Jesus knows my inner self, that my heart is with Him and that I am doing my best to witness to others- mainly my family as none of them accept the love of Jesus.
My daily, and sometimes twice daily prayer is that I can live for Him in the face of opposition and worldliness.
I pray that all of us will see the love that only God can give that will get us through to the end.

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Richard Ferguson on June 28, 2018 at 4:35 am said:

The hardest part about being absent from the body and present with the Lord is that the Way is through the cross.

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henry firus on June 29, 2018 at 12:51 am said:

Paul was a Pharisee, and Pharisees believed in the separation of the soul from the body at death, the soul is the human spirit, the self, the I.
Bible teaches that Man is the embodied breath of God.
Job 32:8 states: there is a spirit in Man, the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.
Paul accepted Jesus as the Messiah because he understood that through Jesus resurrection was possible.
Resurrection is predicated on the survival of the soul, the Good news or the Gospel is that Christians survive death, sleeping the deep sleep of death until called by the resurrection trumpet.

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Shirley de Beer on June 29, 2018 at 3:53 am said:

Hi William, I agree how you explained it is one way to understand those verses.

I believe another is that Paul is comparing life on earth and life with Christ after the resurrection.

1) he compares our temporary life on earth with our eternal life in heaven
2) he mentions clothed with earthly or heavenly house
3) mortality clothed with life (eternal life)
4) he does not want to be unclothed
5) he mentions the 'earnest' of the Spirit - 'not yet'
6) he implies this will happen after the judgement and the second coming

In 1 Cor 15
6) talks of natural body & spiritual body
7) mortal will put on immortality at the resurrection

2Co 5:1 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.
2Co 5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
2Co 5:3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
2Co 5:4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

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Kent John on July 1, 2018 at 5:51 am said:

Good thoughts, bro. William. But the one part that stood out for me that you didn't comment on is: "For we walk by faith, not by sight," sandwiched between, "we are present in the body, absent with the Lord," and "rather be absent from the body and present with the Lord." I asked my self, what is the connection of this middle part to the top and bottom? If this text means being absent from earth and present with the Lord in heaven, then we wouldn't need to walk by faith in His presence, would we?

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- William Earnhardt on July 1, 2018 at 12:18 pm said:
  
  Actually I thought I had explained walking by faith not by sight in the fact that when we are in the spirit we walk according to the spirit and not by appearances.
  
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  - Cyrus Wamahuyu on November 22, 2022 at 11:06 pm said:
    
    Nice sharing. Thank u very much pastor. May I share with u this small book from a trusted sda free library? Perhaps u have seen it before... "Absent from the body"
    http://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/book/e/4/t/absent-from-the-body
    
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Marcia Mendoza on July 2, 2018 at 3:33 am said:

Hi William many thanks for your thought provoking post. I had not seen this passage explained that way before. Just a few points for clarification please. How would you link your idea to the preceding four verses I.e.
2Co 5:1 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.
2Corinthians 5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
Clearly this is a description of the literal event of receiving an immortal body from heaven, post death in the resurrection as explained in 1 Corinthians 15:53, 54 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. My conundrum is that if the first four verses of 2 Corinthians 5 describe a literal occurrence, how can verses 6-8 just be 'a figure of speech'?
Also how do you explain Philippians 1:22-24 in the light of your post? But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
I do look forward to some clarity and insight from you and the other readers/contributors. Richest blessings.

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- William Earnhardt on July 2, 2018 at 8:36 am said:
  
  Marcia, thank you and everyone for commenting. Regarding the first few verses of 2 Corinthians 5 I agree with thoughts shared by you and Shirley.
  
  In Philippians 1 many suspect Paul was maybe dreaming about a hypothetical situation. I've even heard some suggest he was offered translation. Possibly he was referring to the absence of time in death to the dead, since they know nothing. One thing is certain. Paul knew he would not be with Christ until the resurrection. In the same letter he writes,
  
  that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
  Philippians 3:10‭-‬11 NKJV
  
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- je*****@ao*.com" class="url" rel="ugc external nofollow">JAMES LEVOS on September 10, 2018 at 5:52 pm said:
  
  I see your point Marcia. I think Paul is talking about death and resurrection. We often miss the fact that there are three states of being in Paul's words in this passage of 2 Cor. 5:1-8, not just two.
  1) Earthly house ( our current bodily existence)
  2) Our habitation from heaven, a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
  3) The third state is an intermediate state between the first two. "Having been clothe we shall not be naked." When we are "naked" we have neither the first house, our current bodily existence nor the second house, our body from heaven. This is when we are in the grave awaiting the body from heaven. "Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance." Rom 8:23-25, NKJV
  In 2 Cor 5:9, Paul says that we need to aim to please God, "Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him." NKJV
  
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Joy Bailey on July 2, 2018 at 4:10 am said:

Thanks for helping me to better understand this passage of scripture. I would hear peachers use this text, especially at funerals to mean that the dead are absent from the body and are now present with the Lord. I use to argue vehemently how wrong they are and yes technically it is wrong theology. The point made here is encouraging us to so live close to Jesus in this present life that our lives will resemble His more and more each day. May God bless you as you continue to expound the word of God so that we can get clearer insights

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Kent John on July 3, 2018 at 5:03 am said:

Marcia, if I may, these are thoughtful and insightful questions you raised; and I like the answer bro William posted as well. After all, How could Paul hoped to be raised in the resurrection (the first one as described in Rev. 20) if he would go directly into heaven upon death? Furthermore, if Paul's writings were the only ones we had on the subject, I too, might have gone along with the popular teaching on the subject. But Paul's writings do not contradict the rest of Scripture that teaches otherwise. Take Acts 2, for example, where Peter (the one who commented that some things Paul wrote were hard to understand) said that David did not ascend into heaven. His tomb (referring to his body) is still with "us".

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Richard Ferguson on July 5, 2018 at 4:54 am said:

1 Corinthians 5:3-5 is another statement of Paul's like Colossians 2:5. I would understand from this that anyone who knew Paul personally or had heard him speak would have a radically different understanding of 2 Corinthians 5:6-7 than many Christians today.

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Diana M Felix on May 15, 2020 at 5:17 am said:

Finally someone who preaches the truth

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