Dust to Dust
Many things are said and believed by Christians today and by churches around the world that are simply not true.
On the subject of the resurrection of the dead, the Bible NEVER mentions a resurrected body or a physical resurrection.
Before we move on please do the following things:
1. Put aside any preconceived ideas you might have about the resurrection.
If you’re like me, you grew up hearing about the rapture and resurrection from a physical perspective. You saw it expressed in teachings, movies and you just knew that it was in the Bible somewhere.
Now, you probably hear it mentioned from time to time by many who seem to be obsessed with something called the “end times”. You’ve always been taught that this is something that’s going to happen in the future right at the end of the world although the timing varies on when this will happen amongst many.
However the Bible tells us when it will happen and how it will happen IF we read it correctly!
Right now, make a commitment to not read into the Bible what you’ve been taught about the resurrection, let the Bible speak for itself.
2. Start as a blank page and be open.
In other words, it’s not as important to get a literal blank piece of paper so that you can take notes. What’s more essential is that YOU become that blank page.
Be open to what we’re going to learn about the resurrection. Part of being “Christ-like” means that you lovingly and patiently listen to what your brothers and sisters are trying to share with you about the Word, and then study for yourself to see if these things are so.
A popular futuristic scene of earthly graves in the graveyards around the world opening up and old physically decayed corpses coming out is often presented as what will occur when Jesus returns in the rapture.
What does the Bible really say?
Many church leaders state that the resurrection will be identical to the resurrection of Jesus. Since the body and bones of Jesus were not left in the tomb, it is assumed that the bodies of believers will not be left in the grave either.
It is believed that since Jesus rose in His earthly physical body, so will we. To many, it is assumed that every grave occupied by a believer is “evidence” that a resurrection of the dead did NOT occur in AD 70 as believers in past fulfilment claim.
Many believe that decomposed physical bodies will come forth on Resurrection Day to be physically reunited with their departed souls and physically transformed.
They also believe, at this time, physical bodies of both the dead and the living believers will be lifted off the surface of planet Earth to meet the Lord in the clouds of the air.
The Apostle Paul was confronted with claims that the resurrection had taken place already in the first century before AD 70. 2 Timothy 2:17-18
Paul could have simply taken a trip to the local graveyard and presented plenty of physical evidence to prove Hymenaeus and Philetus wrong.
This proves that Hymenaeus and Philetus had the concept of the resurrection correct because the graveyards were still filled with bodies.
Hymenaeus and Philetus understood that the resurrection was not a resurrection of dead bodies out of the grave. They just did not have the timing of the resurrection correct.
Today, this view of a physical resurrection is so ingrained in the minds of so many that it is difficult to honestly consider the Scriptural validity of fulfilled resurrection.
Here are some things worthy of careful consideration.
The body of Jesus was the only one promised not to see corruption or physical decay. Psalms 16:10
On the Day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter said this same thing. Acts 2:27,31 The Apostle Paul also refers to this same fact. Acts 13:35 Jesus was born of a virgin who conceived when she was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:35
Because Jesus was not conceived by the corruptible seed of man, He was born without sin. The Scripture also states in many places that Jesus knew no sin; no sin was found in Him. 1 John 3:5, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:22, Hebrews 4:15
Scripture declares that every other human inherits the sin state from Adam and will die a physical death. Romans 5:12, 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, Hebrews 9:27, Ecclesiastes 7:2
God plainly stated that man was formed from the dust of the ground and unto the dust shall he return. Genesis. 2:7, 3:19, 1 Kings 2:1-2
Upon death, the physical human body returns to the ground to stay. All followers of Jesus, who are born again by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, will receive at death a new spiritual body that is like the resurrected body of Jesus. John 3:5-6, 2 Timothy 1:10, Romans 6:3-5, John 7:38-39
The elimination of physical death was never the focus of Jesus’ work of redemption.
This is why the Apostle Paul used the expression “spiritual body” NOT “resurrected body”. 1 Corinthians 15:44, 51, 53 Paul makes a clear distinction between our natural physical bodies and our heavenly bodies that we will inherit at physical death. 1 Corinthians 5:1
We must always remember that Jesus came to restore what we lost in the Garden of Eden. It was spiritual life in the presence of God that was lost that day not physical life. When sin arrived, it brought physical death with it.
Born-again believers will shed this physical body at death. After death our physical body is as useless as an old, shed snakeskin or an empty cocoon.
God doesn’t need our old body, and neither will we.
Let’s walk in the newness of life that we receive when we are born again and look forward to our new spiritual body, here, now, and forever. 1 John 2:25
Believers who are baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ and are filled with the baptism of the Holy Spirit according to Acts 2:38 have received resurrection life. Romans 6:3-6
There is absolutely no Scriptural reason why born-again Christians at death are not in Heaven in their new spiritual eternal bodies. The Lord Jesus has returned as and when He said He would.
Those Christians, who had fallen asleep in Christ, were raised as and when they were expected to be which was on the last day. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15, John 5:25, 28-29, 6:40, 11:24-25
If you are a born-again Christian according to Acts 2:38 and John 3:3,5,7; when you die, you will go directly into heaven with your new spiritual eternal body.
Remember, heaven is not a geographical place but is a dimensional realm. Heaven, the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Kingdom of God are all the same thing.
Conclusion
The Bible NEVER uses the terms “resurrected body” or “resurrection of the body” or “resurrection of the flesh” or “physical resurrection”.
Instead, the Bible uses these two phrases:
1) “the resurrection of the dead” - Matthew 22:31, Acts 17:32, 23:6, 24:15,21, 1 Corinthians 15:12-13, 21,42, Hebrews 6:2
2) “resurrection from the dead” – Luke 20:35, Acts 4:2, Romans 1:4, Philippians 3:11
The Scripture describes in 1 Corinthians 15:35,38,42,44,50,51 that it is an incorruptible spiritual body that is raised not a resurrected physical body.
Just as spiritual birth is a very real birth, so is the spiritual body a real incorruptible spiritual body. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but Spirit gives birth to Spirit. John 3:6
The Apostle Paul describes himself as earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with his new spiritual body which is from Heaven. Romans 8:23, 1 Corinthians 5:2
Most Church people don’t realize what has been fulfilled and what is available to us today for the Christian life. The state of Hades, which is the grave, its sleep, and the disembodiment have been forever abolished. Revelation 1:18, 20:14, 21:4
Jesus came to abolish the death of the soul or spiritual death not physical death.
Now, Christians, who have believed and obeyed the Gospel of Jesus Christ, upon physical death, pass immediately into Heaven with their new Spiritual body. 2 Corinthians 5:1-5
These physical bodies will return to the dust, and these bones will remain in the grave, but we will have taken on our new heavenly body, not made with hands, which is eternal in Heaven.
HalaluYah!
