Saturday, November 30, 2024

Glorified Eternal

 While the Bible doesn’t describe in detail the glorified bodies we will receive in heaven, we know that they will be like that of Jesus’ resurrected body. Our mortal human bodies are described in 1 Corinthians 15:42–53 as perishable, dishonorable, and weak, all due to sin. Our immortal glorified bodies will be imperishable, honorable, and powerful. Our new bodies will no longer be “natural” bodies, subject to decay and death; we will live in “victory over sin and death,” won by Christ on our behalf (1 Corinthians 15:57, NLT).


Being imperishable, our glorified bodies will no longer suffer from sickness and death, nor will they ever be subject to heat and cold or hunger and thirst. Our new bodies will be honorable in that they will not be shamed or shameful because of sin. When Adam and Eve sinned, the first thing they felt was shame because of their nakedness (Genesis 3:6–7). The Bible doesn’t portray glorified bodies as being naked, but rather clothed in white garments (Revelation 3:4–5, 18). They will be pure and undefiled, with no taint of sin. Our earthly bodies are “weak” in many ways. Not only are we subject to the natural laws of gravity and time/space, but we are weakened by sin and its temptations. Our glorified bodies will be empowered by the Spirit who owns us, and weakness will be no more.


Just as our earthly bodies are perfectly suited to life on earth, our resurrected bodies will be suited for life in eternity. We will not be disembodied spirits but will have form and solidity (Luke 24:39–40). We will likely be able to enjoy food but will not be driven to it by necessity or fleshly desire (Luke 24:41–43). And like Moses and Elijah, we will bask in the glory of our Maker in the fellowship of His dear Son (Matthew 17:2–3; Philippians 3:10). Our resurrected, glorified bodies will be more like what God originally intended, rather than what we now abide in. Gone will be the infirmity and weakness of our sinful flesh; in their place will be eternal health and perpetual vitality. We will be glorified with Christ, and that glory will extend to the bodies we will inhabit.


Grateful past

感恩过去

Gǎn'-ēn guò-qù

 Un passé reconnaissant



Cherish present 

珍惜现在

zhēn-xī xiàn-zài

 Chérir le présent



Hopeful future 

充满希望的未来

chōng-mǎn xī-wàng de wèi-lái

 Un avenir plein d'espoir


Eternal glory 

永恒的荣耀

yǒng-héng de róng-yào

 Gloire éternelle


Reference:

1Corinthians 15:42-53 

⁴² So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. ⁴³ It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. ⁴⁴ It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶ But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. ⁴⁷ The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.





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