The Resurrection of the Body, Part 4

While the resurrected body of those who died with faith in Christ will be the same substance as the body that died, it will undergo change. It will be free of sin and glorified, shining with the reflected glory of Christ and bearing his image (Daniel 12:3; Matthew 13:43; 1 Corinthians 15:43, 49; Philippians 3:21). It will be a spiritual body, for it will have new characteristics and new qualities that will enable it to live in the presence of God. The body that is placed in the grave is a "natural" body. Its life and strength are sustained by God through eating and drinking. It bears all the marks of sin: it is unable to live in the presence of the holy God; it is perishable, weak, and lacking the glory of God's original creation. At its resurrection, however, the same body will be restored to its original condition: imperishable, immortal, and freed from sin and its consequences (1 Corinthians 15:42-49).

The children of God who are alive at Christ's second coming will experience a similar transformation. Their mortal bodies will be clothed with immortality and freed from sin and all its consequences (1 Corinthians 15:51-54).  First John summarizes its description of Christian's glorified state: "What we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2).

Scripture does not describe the nature of the bodies of those who are raised to condemnation. It is clear, however, that while their bodies will continue to exist forever, terms such as "imperishable," "immortal," and "glorified" are inappropriate for describing them in their lost state. Those who in this life rejected Christ will awaken to "shame and everlasting contempt," where there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Daniel 12:2; Matthew 24:48-51; Matthew 25:30-46; Revelation 20:11-15). The final judgment will follow immediately after the resurrection of the dead.

-- 

Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,