Sermon Snippet – The Christian’s Resurrection Body
INTRODUCTION – Last week, we set our attention on heaven (Colossians 3:1-4). Let us continue that effort today by considering the Biblical teaching about the resurrection body of the Christian.
1. THE RESURRECTION BODY WILL BE WITHOUT THE NEGATIVES THAT WE KNOW ALL TOO WELL HERE
Revelation 21:3-4 speaks of the “former things” that afflict us now, including “tears… death… sorrow… pain.” This heavenly contrast is blessedly absolute. The afflictions of this life will not trouble us there; the resurrection body will not have to “endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (II Timothy 2:3), as each Christian daily does now in this sin-cursed world.
2. THE RESURRECTION BODY WILL BE RECOGNIZABLE
The Mount of Transfiguration account in Matthew 17:1-8 gives us a glimpse of glory eternal. Note that Peter knew both Moses and Elijah (verse 4), even though the former had died more than 1400 years before and the latter had been translated to heaven close to 900 years prior. (Note also that the emphasis is always to be on Jesus.) I Corinthians 13:12 establishes a principle for each Christian: “For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” There will be no need of name tags in heaven.
3. THE RESURRECTION BODY WILL BE LIKE JESUS’ BODY
I John 3:2 includes the specific statement that “we shall be like Him.” Likeness, of course, is not equality. Let us not for a moment fall into the cultist trap by suggesting otherwise. Jesus is “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16b); we are “His servants” and “shall serve Him” (Revelation 22:3c). The simple truth is that we cannot enter into the immediate presence of our Savior God as we are right now. “We shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (I Corinthians 15:51c-52a).
4. THE RESURRECTION BODY EMPHASIZES THE SPIRITUAL
I Corinthians 15:44 says, “It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.” Verse 49 adds, “And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” Thus, the resurrection body is imperishable and immortal, prepared for life in heaven. This does not mean that this spiritual body is nonmaterial; no, it is a real body, one that can be touched (John 20:27) and that can eat (Luke 24:41-43; Revelation 19:9).
5. THE RESURRECTION BODY IS NO LONGER CONFINED
Following the Resurrection, Jesus freed Himself from the human confines of time and distance (Luke 24:31, 36) and physical barriers (John 20:19, 26). We will not be infinite; only God is without limit and is everywhere (omnipresent). However, many of our current limitations will vanish so that we can fully enjoy the blessings of heaven.
6. THE RESURRECTION BODY IS ETERNAL
Using the metaphor of a residence, the Apostle Paul writes, “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” (II Corinthians 5:1). The temporary “tabernacle” of this body (remember, Paul was a tentmaker, and he uses an image familiar to him) is replaced by one that is lasting – “eternal in the heavens.”
7. THE RESURRECTION BODY IS GLORIOUS
Both I Corinthians 15:43a and Romans 8:18 refer to the “glory” of the future spiritual body of the believer. Given all that we have studied today, this point might seem to be obvious. However, I thought of Greek mythology and Tithonus, who was granted immortality by the gods but failed to receive good health. He aged, became little more than a bag of bones, suffered, and yearned for death. The body that God will give to the believer is more than eternal; it is eternal and glorious, with no possibility of even the slightest decline.
CONCLUSION – God has thought of everything, from the Gospel to glory. May each one of us trust in the Gospel message – trust in Jesus Christ as Savior – and may we marvel at the intricacy and thoroughness of God’s great work of salvation. The best by far is yet to come.