Hi Mike!

I have a question regarding the future resurrection.

It is my understanding that you teach that in the resurrection, only our SOUL is revived and NOT our mortal bodies. Is this what you believe? If so, how do you explain the following passage?

Rom 8:11 Now if the spirit of Him Who rouses Jesus out from among the dead is mak ing its home in you, He Who rouses Christ Jesus out from among the dead will also be vivifying YOUR MORTAL BODIES[ Just like God resurrected CHRIST’S MORTAL BODY] because of His spirit making its home in you

We know that the NATURAL BODY of Jesus was resurrected as well as His soul. Does this not prove that the resurrection is of the NATURAL BODY along with our soul? Does it not state that God will QUICKEN our MORTAL BODIES? Does Paul not tell us that THIS CORRUPTIBLE (Mortal BODY) must PUT ON incorruption?

If our literal NATURAL BODY is not resurrected, then how can “ this MORTAL put on immortality” if our mortal body is not resurrected at all? It doesn’t say that “this SOUL or CONSCIOUSNESS” must put on incorruption, it says our MORTAL BODY must put on incorruption, does it not?

What is your take on this?

Sincerely,

J____

Hi J____,

You ask:

If our literal NATURAL BODY is not resurrected, then how can “ this MORTAL put on immortality” if our mortal body is not resurrected at all? It doesn’t say that “this SOUL or CONSCIOUSNESS” must put on incorruption, it says our MORTAL BODY must put on incorruption, does it not?

Yes, it does say “This mortal must put on immortality.” Here is that verse:

1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

What those words mean is a mystery to those who are “of the earth.” They simply cannot relinquish the flesh and the “natural body.”

It doesn’t matter what I teach. But when we point to God’s Word, that is worthy of your consideration. Here is what God’s word says. If you can’t receive these words, I can’t be of any help to you. Here is what “this mortal must put on immortality,” means:

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Those are God’s word’s. I dare not add to or take away from them. “Flesh and blood [“our literal NATURAL BODY is not resurrected”] cannot inherit the kingdom of God.

Now I know how hard it is to accept the fact that we actually have to give up this corruptible flesh. I too, used to try to point to that hole- filled body that Christ showed to His faithless apostles as ‘scriptural proof’ that we would all be given “spiritual bodies of flesh.”

“A spirit has not flesh and bone as you see I have.” I too, thought that this was a scripture which proved that if flesh and blood could not inherit the kingdom of God, then at least flesh and bone could. What utter foolishness! That whole story of how Christ had to show His desecrated body still bearing the holes of the spear and nails had nothing to do with proving that we would be given a body of “flesh and bone.” The exact opposite is true:

Joh 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
Joh 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Joh 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Do you insist on a natural body? Thomas did. But what is the truth of God’s Word? You say “If our literal NATURAL BODY is not resurrected, then how can “ this MORTAL put on immortality?” Are we resurrected with a “natural body?:

1Co 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

Now what does “it is raised a spiritual body” mean? Does it mean it is raised a spiritual, natural body? No, “there is a natural body and there is a spiritual body.” But can’t it be both at the same time? Why don’t we let Christ answer that for us:

Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Sorry, I dare not add to or take away from those words. This mortal puts on immortal only by giving up “that which is born of the flesh”, which is flesh and putting on that which is born of the spirit, which is spirit.

No, I do not teach that our flesh will be raised at the resurrection. I can only agree with Christ “that which is born of the spirit is spirit” and with God’s word that “the soul that sinneth it shall die”

Eze 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
Eze 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

Read Where Does Our Spirit Go At Death? in Archive 12. It may help you to understand what is meant by the word ‘soul.’

So what does this spiritual body look like to a mortal man? More bad news for those who love this flesh.

Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Like our Father, we will be invisible to the natural eyes. Yet we are told “blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”

Here is what it all boils down to:

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

At this moment you seem to be right there with Nicodemus. Christ explained it all to him, and the very next verse gives us the response that you, Nicodemus and the entire orthodox Christian word asks:

Joh 3:9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

I pray that God will give you eyes to see the “hidden… things of the spirit.”

1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

Mike