The Questions People Ask: 1

NOTE: The following series of 12 questions and answers that I will be posting for the next 12 days were originally written back in 2005 and 2006. I was first inspired to write these responses when I was challenged with the first four questions from a friend of mine, Dr. Mervyn Marshall who teaches engineering at Memorial University here in St. John's, Newfoundland. I post them here under the series entitled, "The Questions People Ask." My prayer and hope is that these posts over the next while will be a help to someone.

QUESTION 1: If there are Christians already dwelling in heaven after death, what is the purpose of the resurrection? Since the believer in Christ is already in a perfect spiritual state in heaven, then why would the saint need to leave just to be reunited with their body again from the grave? –Dr. M. Marshall

ANSWER: Since the saint’s physical body rests in the grave at death, and his spirit and soul is with the Lord in heaven; this would suggest that the believer is in heaven in a disembodied state. Though in a perfect spiritual state, nevertheless, the Christian is incomplete until the day of the resurrection of the just occurs (see Luke 14: 14; Acts 24: 15; 1 Thess. 4: 13-18). Then the spirit and soul of the believer shall be reunited with his body, not with a corruptible body as some would suppose; for “we shall all be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Cor. 15: 52b-53, NKJV), but with an incorruptible, glorified body like unto the Lord Jesus Christ’s resurrected body (see Phil. 3: 21; Rom. 6: 5).

Now in relation to the saint’s resurrected, glorified body: First, it is important to note “that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption” (1 Cor. 15: 50, NKJV). So it is not a corruptible, physical body that our spirit is going to be reunited with on the day of the resurrection as some would assume. No, nor is our resurrected, glorified body a disembodied spirit[1] as advocated by others. For “we shall all be changed” (15: 51b). Changed into what? Well, certainly not a corruptible, physical body subject to death due to the curse of sin, nor is it a disembodied spirit, which suggests incompleteness. Though some will still argue that since the believer is already in a supposed perfect spiritual state in heaven, the resurrection for such Christians is unnecessary. This argument is without foundation, because it ignores the importance of the word “all” mentioned twice in 1 Corinthians 15: 51 “We shall not ALL sleep, but we shall ALL be changed.” This little word, “all” includes all saints from every age, those who are dead in Christ and those who are alive and remain. Listen to what Paul says, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4: 13-18, NKJV).

From what has been examined thus far, it is evident that the believer’s resurrected, glorified body will go through quite a change.[2] For it is neither a natural, corruptible body, nor is it a disembodied spirit. It is something far better; For the Lord “will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body” (Phil. 3: 21). Indeed, our bodies “shall be in the likeness of His resurrection” (Rom. 6: 5b). Since Christ is the first fruits of the resurrection (see 1 Cor. 15: 20, 23), His glorified body is an example of what our glorified body will be like. Remember, since Christ is the true glory of the resurrection, we must keep in mind that we will be just the representation and reflection of that far superior Glory that will be seen in Christ.

Now what this resurrected, glorified body will actually be like is a mystery. Only God knows! However, this new resurrected body appears to possess physical characteristics as observed in Christ’s resurrected body. In Christ’s own words, “Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones[3] as you see I have” (Luke 24: 39). The Lord Jesus was also able to consume food, “a piece of broiled fish and some honeycomb” (v. 42) in His resurrected, glorified body. Note also, this new resurrected body seems to possess spiritual characteristics as well. Consider the Lord Jesus Christ’s ability to appear before His disciples, despite the fact the doors were barred shut for fear of the Jews (see John 20: 19, 26, Amplified Version).

As been observed, our new resurrected, glorified body will possess both physical like and spiritual like abilities, yet this new glorified body will be much more than that. For it will be far more superior to our former corruptible, physical body, as well as our disembodied spirit. For this new resurrected body—though inferior to Christ’s glorious, resurrected body—will be the prophetic fulfillment of the complete redemption of our body. This body will be incorruptible and eternal (see 1 Cor. 15: 53). To say that a believer in Christ, when resurrected, can only dwell in heaven in spirit form is to deny that man is made in the “image of God” (Gen. 1: 27; 2: 7); thus in the process, denying the truth that man is a triune being, consisting of spirit, soul, and body (see 1 Thess. 5: 23; Heb. 4: 12).  Hence, it would make sense to conclude that the Christian in his new resurrected, glorified body will still be a triune being, since he alone bares the image of God. To teach otherwise, are a most serious error and a departure from the Word of God (see Rev. 22: 18-19).

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[1] How can a disembodied spirit of a saint at the moment of death dwell in the very presence of a perfect, just, and holy God in a perfect heaven? Does not the term “disembodied” suggest incompleteness and imperfection? Would not such a soul defile heaven and be an offence to God? No! Not at all! For the Apostle Paul plainly states, “absent from the body and present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5: 8). Paul had no problem accepting the fact that a saint’s disembodied spirit can dwell in the very presence of a holy God in heaven. Since the believer in Christ has been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, he has every right to be able to dwell in heaven with God, even in a disembodied spirit form. The deceased saint’s disembodied spirit may be incomplete until the resurrection, but before God, it is considered perfect, because the spirit of the believer is forgiven and cleansed of all his sins through the precious blood of Christ. He is forgiven and cleansed in spirit, soul, and body. The “whole” person has been redeemed by Christ (see 1 Thess. 3: 13; 5: 23; Jude 1, 24).

[2] Now the word “change” in 1 Corinthians 15: 51b carries with it the same meaning as the word “transform,” as noted in Philippians 3: 21.

[3] “Flesh and bones” (Luke 24: 39): Some commentators and theologians believe that this can only refer to the resurrected body of Christ. Since His blood is absent due to the shedding of it on the Cross at Calvary. However, since our bodies are going to “be in the likeness of His resurrection” (Rom. 6: 5b) this could very well mean that our resurrected, glorified bodies will also be absent of blood as well. Since “blood” refers to our natural, corruptible life (see Lev. 17: 11), perhaps our new glorified bodies will be predominately energized by our spiritual life force in place of our blood.