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Please read: 2 Cor. 5:1-10
We would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
2 Cor 5:8
If we could but catch a glimpse of the glory to come, then we would all say what the apostle is stating in the text:
We would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
2 Cor 5:8
What does happen when a believer dies? Jesus told the thief on the cross who had put his faith in Him, “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).
At death there is a separation of body and spirit and the spirit of a believer goes immediately into the Presence of God. The writer of Hebrews speaks of “the spirits of the righteous made perfect” (Hebrews 12:23).
The body of the believer goes into the ground at burial. When Jesus comes again at His Second Coming He will bring with Him all those departed spirits:
For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.
1 Thess. 4:14
He will raise up their bodies from where they were buried and in the twinkling of an eye will change those mortal bodies to be like His glorious body. This perishable, weak, physical body of dishonour will be raised to be like Jesus’ glorious body:
So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body … The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven … And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.
1 Cor. 15:42-44, 47, 49
Thus these new bodies will never grow old, or be subject to disease, infirmity or sickness, but will live forever full of life and vitality quickened by the Spirit of God
If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you.
Rom 8:11
Christians who are still alive when the Lord returns will along with those who have gone before be gathered up with them by the Lord and their mortal bodies likewise changed:
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.
Phil. 3:20-21
Listen, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
1 Cor. 15:51-52
Amen!
Quote of the week
“Beware in your prayers, above everything else, of limiting God, not only by unbelief, but by fancying that you know what He can do. Expect unexpected things, ‘above all that we ask or think.’ Each time, before you intercede, be quiet first, and worship God in His glory. Think of what He can do, and how He delights to hear the prayers of His redeemed people. Think of your place and privilege in Christ, and expect great things!”
Andrew Murray
Verse of the week
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain … I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.
Philippians 1:21, 23
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, we are convinced that the work You have begun in Your people, Your Church, You will bring to completion on the day of Christ Jesus; Come Holy Spirit, Come in power, bring glory to the name of Jesus, Amen!