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‘He is risen!’ – Part 27

By Emeritus Prof. Mercy Olumide
22 October 2017   |   3:38 am
The faithful who are still alive at Christ’s return for His followers will experience the same bodily transformation, as those who have died in Christ prior to the day of resurrection (1 Cor 15:51-53).

Emeritus Prof. Mercy Olumide

The body is essential to the total human personality; humans are incomplete without a body. Thus, the redemption Christ offers applies to the whole person, including the body (Rom 8:18-25). (b) The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19); it will become once more a temple of the Spirit at the resurrection. (c) To undo the result of sin at all levels, humanity’s final enemy (death of the body) must be conquered through the resurrection (1 Cor 15:26).

(2) Both the OT (cf. Gen 22:1-14 with Heb 11:17-19; Ps16: 10 with Acts 2:24ff; cf. Job 19:25-27; Is 26:19; Dan 12:2; Hos 13:14) and the NT (Luke 14:13-14; 20:35-36; John 5:21,28-29; 6:39-40,44,54; 1 Cor 15:22-23; Phil 3:11; 1 Thes 4:14-16; Rev 20:4-6,13) teach the future bodily resurrection.

(3) Our bodily resurrection is guaranteed by the fact of Christ’s resurrection (see Mat 28:6; Acts 17:31; 1 Cor 15:12,20-23).

(4) In general terms, the believer’s resurrected body will be like the Lord’s own resurrected body (Rom 8:29; 1 Cor 15:20,42-44,49; Phil 3:20-21; 1 John 3:2). More specifically, the resurrected body will be: (a) a body possessing continuity and identity with the body of this life and, therefore, recognisable (Luke 16:19-31); (b) a body changed into a heavenly body adapted for the new heaven and new earth (1 Cor 15:42-44,47-48; Rev 21:1); (c) an imperishable body, free from decay and death (1 Cor 15:42); (d) a glorified body, like Christ’s (1 Cor 15:43; Phil 3:20-21); (e) a powerful body not subject to disease or weakness (1 Cor 1 5:43); (f) a spiritual (i.e., not natural, but supernatural) body, not bound by the laws of nature (Luke 24:31; John 20: 19; 1 Cor 1 5:44); (g) a body capable of eating and drinking (Luke 14:1 5; 22:14-18,30; 24:43).

(5) When believers receive their new bodies, they put on immortality (1 Cor 15:53). Scripture indicates at least three purposes for this: (a) so that believers may become all that God intended for humans at creation (cf: 1 Cor 2:9); (b) so that believers may come to know God, in the
full way He wants them to know Him (John 1-7:3); (c) so that God may express His love to His children as He desires (John 3:1’6; Eph 2:7; 1 ‘John 4:8:16).

(6) The faithful who are still alive at Christ’s return for His followers will experience the same bodily transformation, as those who have died in Christ prior to the day of resurrection (1 Cor 15:51-53). They will be given new bodies identical to the bodies given to those raised from the dead at that time. They will never experience physical death (see article on The Rapture).

(7) Jesus speaks of a resurrection of life for the believer and a resurrection of judgment for the wicked (John 5:28-29).

Email: mercyolumide2004@yahoo.co.uk; yetundemercyolumidewww.christiscomingsoon.netMobile: +234 803 344 6614; +234 808 123 7987.

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