Download Clothed in the Resurrection Session 2: A New Glorified Body I

Clothed in the Resurrection
Session 2: A New Glorified Body
I.
Capacities of Our Resurrected Bodies:
In the first session we learned about the reality that we get a new body in the
resurrection. This session aims to give us insight into what that body is like
and hopefully to help us begin to understand it’s capacities. There are many
things that our new body will be able to do that far surpass our current
mortal body.
A. Sown into Death:
As an introduction we will take a look at just one portion of First
Corinthians 15; our key chapter. Specifically we will be paying attention
to the differences in how our bodies transition from what is to what will
be. Paul refers to the process of the resurrection in agricultural terms
speaking of it as a death to the current one in order that a far more
glorious reality may come forth, referring to the resurrection as our
current body being sown into death in order for that seed to mature into
fullness.
“with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is
raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in
weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a
spiritual body (1Co. 15:42-44).”
B. Raised into Life:
When we receive our new body it is raised from the dead, whether we
previously experienced physical death or not there is a moment where
the weakness if this frame passes away. It’s a second of transition at His
coming where our old flesh dies so that it may be raised to the newness of
the life in the age to come.
1. It is raised imperishable.
2. It is raised in glory.
3. It is raised in power.
4. It is raised a spiritual body.
C. Contrasting Realities:
Even with only the above short list of resurrection characteristics we can
know that the way that we experience life will be very different from the
one that we accustomed to. Each one of the points of contrast that Paul
makes here is meant to paint a picture for us about how things will be
impacted in our daily life. We have been used to living with death in our
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frames, weakness and limitations and a real struggle within our flesh but
what is coming is raised as something very different.
D. New Dynamics:
The way that things look now and the way things will be then will have
enough measure of similarity that we will be able to identify it but there
will be so many new dynamics that we can not yet grasp.
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has
prepared for those who love him (1Co. 2:9).”
II.
Differences From Our Current One:
Our bodies are seeds with the promise of a far greater future reality if we
endure to the end. As different as a seed is from what it grows into later so is
the difference between this current frame and our future glorified one.
A. Forever Changed:
Some phrases give us more information about what is coming than others
but every single phrase is helpful for painting the overall picture. At first
glance when we are told that we will all be changed this may not seem
like much but it tells us that we can count on being different from what
we are now; that a an actual shift in our being will take place.
“We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the
dead will be raised…and we will be changed (1Co. 15:51-52).”
B. Raised Imperishable:
We will be raised indestructible, imperishable and immune to decay. Our
new bodies will not carry a capacity for death any longer. Like all the
realities of perishing are experienced now and mark this life there is
coming a whole new experience where we will be intrinsically immune to
weakness and never fading.
“The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable (1Co. 15:42)”
“For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable (1Co.
15:52).”
C. Clothed with the Imperishable:
Paul changes language slightly and now says that we are clothed with the
imperishable, as though we also were it like a garment somehow.
“For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable...When the
perishable has been clothed with the imperishable…then the saying that is
written will come true (1Co. 15:53-54).”
D. Clothed with Immortality:
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Like the concept of imperishability we are told that we will be clothed
immortality. The limitations that we know as mortals will no longer
apply, this means far more than simply that we will not die. It’s a new
realm, which we will enter into, and which will define us; we will become
immortal like our God.
“the mortal (must clothe itself) with immortality…When the...mortal (has
been clothed) with immortality, then the saying that is written will come
true (1Co. 15:53-54).”
E. Raised in Glory:
All of us well know the pains of our weakness that cause dishonor, cause
us to struggle and keep us from our potential. The new body is raised in
glory. This is not metaphorical jargon, it’s a promise that the glory that
raised Christ from the dead and so transformed His physical frame and
appearance will also raise and change us in the same real ways.
“it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory (1Co. 15:43)”
F. Raised in Power:
Right now there are significant restrictions and limitations that are put on
our bodies; our physical strength is limited and we experience fatigue.
Our new body will not be like our current one, it will be raised forever in
power. We will be operating at a far higher capacity with new abilities to
help us serve in the new order under Christ’s governance.
“it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power (1Co. 15:43)”
G. Raised a Spiritual Body:
Our new body is called a spiritual one and a distinction is made between
the one we have now and the one we will receive. I think that this is far
more than merely a restoration to how things were before the fall of man
as if to say that we had a spiritual body before sin entered the picture but
that sin caused us to loose our capacities of having a spiritual body. We
were told that God made woman out of man’s flesh (Ge. 2:22-23). Us
being raised spiritual beings as opposed to natural ones I believe ties into
the reason that there will be no procreation in the resurrection (Mt.
22:30); there is no mention or reason to think that any of the Heavenly
beings reproduce, they are instead created by God.
“it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body (1Co. 15:44).”
H. Victorious:
Our being clothed in the resurrection is a real point of victory for the
believer. We are told that the one who endures to the end is the one who
will be saved (Mt. 24:13; 2Ti. 2:12; Re. 2:11). When we receive the
resurrection we are marked with the reward of having made it; our
overcoming death is a lasting victory.
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“then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed
up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your
sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks
be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1Co. 15:5457).”
III.
Like His Glorified Body:
Perhaps the most telling detail that we are told about our new bodies is that
we will be transformed into His likeness. While we cannot know the depth of
this mystery, we can begin to get revelation based off of what the scripture
says about Christ and what we know about after He was resurrected.
“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being
transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the
Lord, who is the Spirit (2Co. 3:18).”
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the
Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under
his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious
body (Php. 3:20-21).”
“As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man
from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne
the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from
heaven (1Co. 15:48-49).”
A. Jesus Cooked and Ate:
After Jesus was raised from the dead He ate food with His friends, further
He cooked the food for all of them on at least one occasion. This means
that in a resurrected body we will still eat at least in a leisurely way. It is
difficult to know what else this means regarding things like providing
energy or related to digestive processing.
“On one occasion, while he was eating with them (Ac. 1:4)”
“Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore…the disciple whom Jesus
loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say,
“It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had
taken it off) and jumped into the water…When they landed, they saw a fire
of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread…Jesus said to them,
“Come and have breakfast.”…Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to
them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus
appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead (Jn. 21:4-14).”
B. He Walked Through Walls:
While His disciples were indoors with the doors locked Jesus was able to
miraculously appear before them inside the locked room. This probably
points to a far greater reality than merely being able to walk through
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walls, though I’m sure it at least means that. It probably has more to do
with a willful teleportation capacity in an exaggerated way similar to how
Phillip was transported from Gaza to Azotus (Ac. 8:39-40).
“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were
together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood
among them and said, “Peace be with you (Jn. 20:19)!”
“A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with
them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them
and said, “Peace be with you (Jn. 20:26)!”
C. He Could Fly Back and Forth to Heaven:
In the same realm of this supernatural transportation concept is the
apparent ability for Christ to not just teleport from Earth to Heaven but
actually fly or atleast travel straight up. The rapture will be our first
flight but I do not think it will be our last.
“After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid
him from their sight (Ac. 1:9).”
“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky?
This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back
in the same way you have seen him go into heaven (Ac. 1:11).”
D. He Could Cloak His Identity:
He walked with and talked to people on numerous occasions and cloaked
His identify in such a way that people who knew Him well didn’t even
know it was Him even at close range. But at other times He was able to
be clearly recognized, there seems to be something supernaturally
capacity where this ability can be turned on or off at will.
“As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself
came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing
him (Lk. 24:15-16).
“Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not
realize that it was Jesus (Jn. 21:4).”
“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were
together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood
among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed
them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the
Lord (Jn. 20:19-20).”
E. Jesus Taught People:
More than just being able to speak, the resurrected Jesus had a teaching
ministry where in He taught the disciples new things about the Kingdom
of God. This will be a major ministry during the early years of the
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Millennium as Christ institutes a new kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven
on Earth. In that time there will be great need for teaching on many new
subjects as well as an endless list of ideas of who to do things better than
we currently know. There are countless activities and concepts that are
common to us but that the currently known way to go about these things
is without the purposes and wisdom of the Kingdom of God. There will
be much need of teaching ministries that instruct on how to live life
according the Kingdom order.
“After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many
convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of
forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God (Ac. 1:3).”
IV.
We will be Like the Angels:
In addition to the detail that we will be raised to be like Jesus we are also told
that we will be like the angels. These realities are complimentary and not
conflicting; the fullness of our new reality will include elements of both the
role and glory of the angels and the brilliance and mission of Jesus. So as we
look into what it means to be like the angels let us not loose track of all the
details that we just covered about what it will mean to be like Jesus.
“At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they
will be like the angels in heaven (Mt. 22:30).”
When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will
be like the angels in heaven (Mk. 12:25).”
“But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age (the
Millennium) and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be
given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels (Lk.
20:35-36).”
A. Vary in Role and Function:
The angels vary in honor, they have different levels of authority, they
have unique designations and many different roles from simple acts of
service to national deliverance.
“At that time Michael (the arch angel), the great prince who protects your
people, will arise…everyone whose name is found written in the book—will
be delivered (Da. 12:1).”
“When he hesitated, the men (angels) grasped his hand and the hands of his
wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the
Lord was merciful to them. 17 As soon as they had brought them out, one of
them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in
the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away (Ge. 19:16-17)!”
B. Vary in Glory and Splendor:
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Not only do we see that the angels have different roles we also see that
there are varying measures of glory that they carry.
“And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to
break the seals and open the scroll (Re. 5:2)?”
C. Varying Proximity to the Lord:
All of the above somehow relates to their proximity to and interaction
with the Lord which also seems to vary from one angel to the next.
“in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as
crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and
they were covered with eyes, in front and in back (Re. 4:6).”
“Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands
upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the
throne and the living creatures and the elders (Re. 5:11).”
D. Angels Bring Judgment:
There are many accounts in the Word of God where angels are sent to
destroy cities and people. God often uses angels to execute His judgments
on the Earth. This Church will begin to enter into this reality to some
degree even before the resurrection as we partner in intercession to
release the judgments during the Great Tribulation.
“The two men (angels) said to Lot, “Do you have anyone else here—sons-inlaw, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get
them out of here, because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to
the LORD against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it (Ge.
19:12-13).”
“And God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. But as the angel was doing so,
the LORD saw it and was grieved because of the calamity and said to the
angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand (1Ch.
21:15).”
“He unleashed against them his hot anger, his wrath, indignation and
hostility— a band of destroying angels (Ps. 78:49).”
E. Angels Can Appear out of Nowhere:
The capacities of angels includes on a number of occasions their ability to
suddenly appear or disappear out of nowhere.
“While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that
gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed
down with their faces to the ground (Lk. 24:4-5).”
F. Angels Minister to People:
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Angels are ministers on God’s behalf. They come in moments of need and
help in the earthly realm in ways that are mostly unseen and which go
unperceived. Sometimes however they are viable and their efforts are
more clearly pronounced.
“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit
salvation (He. 1:14).”
G. Angels Can Strengthen People:
Several times in the Scriptures, including a few times in Revelation, we
see angels strengthening the servants of God so that they are able to be
sustained underneath significant pressure. God sends angels to
strengthen His saints.
“Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed,” he (an angel) said. “Peace! Be
strong now; be strong.” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said,
“Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength (Da. 10:19).”
“An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him (Lk. 22:43).”
H. Angels Deliver God’s Messages:
They are messengers who carry the word of the Lord forth like a high
level prophet. They speak on behalf of God and tell those that they have
been assigned to speak to about the mysteries of God.
“In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in
Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a
descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her
and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you (Lk.
1:26-28).”
I. Angels Can Appear in Dreams:
The Word of God doesn’t give all the details about how this works exactly
it just says that angels appear in dreams and can apparently accomplish
in a dream the same types of things that they would do for someone while
fully awake.
“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a
dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as
your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit (Mt.
1:20).”
“When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.
“Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay
there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him
(Mt. 2:13).”
“After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in
Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of
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Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead (Mt. 2:1920).”
V.
The New Body is Indestructible:
Let us spend just a moment discussing the fact that our new bodies cannot be
destroyed. When we take the time to look at what is coming this information
has some seriously powerful ramifications.
A. Once We are Resurrected We Can Not Die:
To make it clear Jesus tells us plainly that at the time of our receiving the
resurrection and entering into the next age we can no longer die.
“But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the
resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and
they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children,
since they are children of the resurrection (Lk. 20:35-36).”
“There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old
order of things has passed away (Re. 21:4).”
B. Only Imperishable Bodies Can Inherit Heaven:
With the exception of Jesus, from a human perspective there are only the
spirits of men and women in Heaven currently, no bodies. These
disembodied spirits will receive their bodies at the resurrection; until
then however they will remain without one.
I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom
of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable (1Co. 15:50).”
“For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal
with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the
imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is
written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory (1Co.
15:53-54).”
C. The Final Battle for Jerusalem:
Think of the ramifications of all the saints becoming equipped with
indestructible bodies that can’t die and then marching into battle with
King Jesus at the lead. The final battle for Jerusalem (commonly referred
to as the battle of Armageddon) and subsequent skirmishes will hardly be
a fair fight.
“They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them
because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his
called, chosen and faithful followers (Re. 17:14).”
“May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in
their hands, to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the
peoples, to bind their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron, to
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carry out the sentence written against them. This is the glory of all his
saints (Ps. 149:6-9).”
“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose
rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war…The
armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in
fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with
which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”
He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty (Re. 19:1115).”
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