June 2 – LD 22, Day 6: Our New Spiritual Bodies

Read: I Corinthians 15:50-58

Paul, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tells us a little bit about our resurrection bodies.

He tells us, first of all, that they will not be flesh and blood such as we have now. He writes: “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption” (I Cor 15:50). Then again in verses 53, 54 of the same chapter: “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.”

Yet, secondly, the apostle tells us a little bit about that resurrection body by contrasting it with our present bodies.

“It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption” (I Cor 15:42b). That is, the body that dies is corrupt. It is corrupt because of sin; it is corrupt because of death that rots it away and finally pulls it down into the grave. But the resurrection body is incorruptible.

“It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory” (I Cor 15:43a). No matter how today’s depraved culture worships the human body, our bodies are dishonourable. We hide our bodies beneath clothing. There is nothing beautiful about them. But our resurrection bodies are gloriously beautiful, because they will be without sin and without the rotting power of death.

“It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power” (I Cor. 15:43b). We are now so weak that at the time of our greatest strength, a bacterium, microscopically small, can kill us. Our life hangs by a thread every day. But in heaven we shall be strong.

“It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body” (I Cor 15:44a). Our natural bodies can only live in this world. They are subject to all the limitations of our creation. They are bound by the limitations of time and space. If we want to travel by car to Kuala Lumpur, we must travel so many miles, and it will take us so many hours. We are dependent on food grown in this present creation. We are dependent on water for drinking, and if we do not drink any fluids, we will die. All this belongs to our natural life in the world.

But our resurrection bodies will be spiritual. They will be like the angels. They will be so changed that they can live in a heavenly and spiritual creation. What that creation will be like, we do not know. Sometimes we can become very eager to find out, for, above all, we will be without sin. We will see Christ “face to face” (I Cor 13:12). And we will be able to see God himself revealed in Christ, in all God’s love for us.

That will be glory indeed!