A MESSAGE OF FAITH
What happens to the body of the believer in Christ after death? The Bible tells us that the first man, Adam, was given a natural, human body but Christ is more than that, for he was a life giving spirit.
First, then, we have these human bodies and later on God gives us spiritual, heavenly bodies.
Adam was made from the dust of the earth, but Christ came from heaven above. Every human being has a body just like Adam’s, made of dust, but all who become Christ’s will have the same body as his-a body from heaven. Just as each of us now has a body like Adam’s so we shall someday have a body like Christ’s.
I tell you this believers, an earthly body of flesh and blood cannot get into God’s kingdom.
These perishable bodies of ours are not the right kind to live forever. But I am telling you this strange wonderful secret: We shall not all die, but we shall all be given new bodies! It will happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown.
For there will be a trumpet blast from the sky and all Christians who have died will suddenly become alive, with new bodies that will never die, and then we who are still alive shall suddenly have new bodies too. For our earthly bodies, now can die but must be transformed into heavenly bodies that cannot perish but will live forever.
When this happens, then at last this scripture will come true—“death is swallowed up in victory.” Oh death, where then is your victory? Where then is your sting? For sin-the sting causes death—will be gone; and the law, which reveals our sins, will no longer be our judge. How we thank God for all of this! It is he who makes us victorious through Jesus Christ our lord!
So, believers, since future victory is sure, be strong and steady, always abounding in the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the lord is ever wasted as it would be if there were no resurrection.
A Message of Faith is provided by Pastor Doug DeNeui of the Grace Bible Church in Loup City.
