Introduction and Series Context

Well, when I was with you, it was my privilege to be with you back in 2005. I was happy when we got home to report to the brethren what we had seen here, the Lord's blessing upon you as a church family and your pastor. And now, lo and behold, there are more of you here, I think, than were there then. You've even picked up another elder along the way.

And I am ready to go back and share again a happy report of God's blessing upon His Church here in this place. And please be assured of our regular prayers for you, dear brethren, and we trust that you will also remember us. Well,

The Body Raised and Changed

I would ask you to turn this evening, please, again to 1 Corinthians, Chapter 15. 1 Corinthians, the 15th chapter. Now, in our previous study, we began to consider something of that question that evidently was being asked in Corinth and the Apostle Paul himself addressed it in First Corinthians 15. Notice, please, verse 35. But someone will say, how are the dead raised up and with what body do they come?

Well, This is something of the question that we're asking, though we do so in quite a different spirit from that which was being addressed by the Apostle Paul, because this was addressed by ones whom he calls foolish ones in verse 36, people who are even denying that Christians should be physically raised from the dead, that their bodies would come forth. And so this whole chapter really is addressing that very matter, people who thought it was impossible. How is it? How can God raise these bodies that have been scattered to the dust and the like?

Well, even though Paul is here addressing skeptics, yet he does give something of an answer to that question in verses 35 or 36 through 53, rather, he shows not only that it's possible that the dead should be raised, but that it's actually reasonable. And more than that, it's absolutely necessary. And in so doing, he tells us at least something about those resurrected bodies that we will have. What will characterize them?

Not an exhaustive description, you understand, but at least some basics as to what this will be. Now, we are dividing it under two heads. The first we looked at already today. That which is to be raised from the dead is this body, and that which we come to this evening is, it's this body changed.

Or to quote the words of our own confession, chapter 31 and paragraph 2, the dead shall be raised up with the self, same bodies, and none other, although with different qualities. Now again, I just remind you of what we saw this morning without going into any great review. The Apostle Paul here in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 in particular, he said, well, it's like seed sown in the ground and the plant that comes up. They don't necessarily look alike, but there's this organic unity between what is sown and what comes up by way of that body given.

And so it is, he says, with us. And then he goes down through the list. It is sown this way. It will be raised that way.

It sown this way. It raised that way. Not two different things, but one of the same it. is going to be, that is buried, is going to be raised. And the other analogy he uses is it's like putting on clothing.

Well, we will put on immortality, but that doesn't mean we're going to be something entirely different. Just like this body, you put clothes on it, it's still this body. Well, so too, this body, we put on immortality and incorruption, but it's the same body that will be raised. And we pointed out, even the scripture itself points out, that the resurrection body of our Lord Jesus Christ is, at least in some respects, a pattern for us.

Paul develops that here later, and we'll go on to see that a bit this evening. Well, as Christ was raised with a physical body, he could say to the disciples, touch and see, a spirit does not have flesh and bones. He did have flesh and bones, even eight in their presence, demonstrating that it was indeed Christ physically raised from the dead, that same body. And so will it be with us.

But it's this body change, or again the words of our confession, with very different qualities, mind you, even made radically different in a very wonderful way. And that is our future, dear brother, dear sister. That's true of us all in Christ.

Reading of 1 Corinthians 15:50-52

Notice what he says now in 1 Corinthians 15. Let's take up our reading at verse 51. Well, let me back up to verse 50. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption.

Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed, all of us.

The Nature of the Change

Now, obviously, that means that we will be changed from that state in which Resurrection Day finds us in the grave. We're not going to be raised up as just a bunch of dust, right? Well, that goes without saying. But more than that, he's saying that we will be changed from what those bodies were before they were put in the grave.

When those bodies and firm and the like were buried, well, we're going to be quite different and distinct. And he talks here about what a great contrast that it will be when he says, sown in corruption, sown in dishonor, sown in weakness, a soulish body that is a body suited to this world. And then he goes on to say in that verses 42 through 47, quite the opposite, raised in corruption and in glory and in power and that with a spiritual body that is energized by the Holy Spirit and suited to live in that eternal blessings. I think of these bodies, perhaps weakened by age or those who have had some disease infirmity that's eaten away at their health and their strength and their vigor.

What a great contrast that day will bring. How they will be raised to life and full strength and energy and no more weakness and no more disease and no more pain. As verse 53 says, this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal put on immortality. Radical change.

But more than that, we will not only be experiencing a great change from an aged or diseased body, even those who are in the prime of life when Christ comes, they too will be changed. Because as we see here in verse 51, not all are going to sleep. There will still be those who are alive and remain when Christ comes. And even some Christian athlete who's just full of vigor and strength, the very prime of life.

Or this child who has professed faith in Christ, truly knows the Savior. This young child. Why, here they are, the very picture of youthful joy and energy. They, too, will be changed.

In other words, brethren, the change that comes is not, well, we're going to take you back to what you were in the prime of life. No, it's something far beyond that, because all, even those in the prime of life when Christ comes, they too will be changed.

Beyond Adam's Unfallen State

But more than that, the change is something even far better than Adam's unfallen state. That is what Adam's body was before sin's entrance. No, the change that we will experience is to something better than that. In verses 48 and 49, Paul here talks about how, as we've borne the image of the man of dust, so we're going to bear the image of the heavenly man.

And in that connection, back up to verse 45, And so it is the first man, Adam, became a living being. The last Adam became a life giving spirit. When he's here saying that we're going to be as we born Adam's image, we're going to bear Christ's image. The contrast isn't as we born Adam's image in that fallen state so much as he's saying in verse 45, he's quoting from Genesis chapter two and verse seven before Adam fell.

As we born Adam's image, even what Adam was in that unfallen state. No, we're going to be raised to something, changed to something even far greater than that. Bearing the image of the heavenly man, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Think of that, Adam with that perfect body, not even a propensity towards decay and disease and the like.

You know, Genesis chapter 1 verse 31, God has created it all, and he looks upon it, and he sees it's all very good. That included Adam's body. Before sin's entrance. Brethren, what we get, what we're changed into at last, is something better than that.

Okay? Very different indeed. Okay, but changed to what? We're going to be changed.

Something far better than even what Adam had in that unfallen state. better or change, I should say, to what? Well, I must say the Bible does not go into great detail as to those resurrected bodies. The longest statement is here found in 1 Corinthians 15, verses 42 through 44, that I've already referred to, how in corruption and in glory and in power and a spiritual body, and then verse 53 adds a little bit more to that, But as you can see, that doesn't really give us much by way of detail, little is said as to the capabilities and the appearance and such things as that of that body.

Conformed to Christ's Glorious Body

But there is one fact that's here before us, I've already referred to it here in First Corinthians 15, and it's something that scripture mentions repeatedly, and that is that it will be a body like unto Christ's body. Notice verses 48 and 49. Well, let me back up to 47. The first man was of the earth, made of dust.

The second man is the Lord from heaven. As was that man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust. And as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall bear the image of the heavenly man." We're going to be like Christ.

The very thing we see, 1 John chapter 3 and verse 2, you're familiar with it. We shall see Him as He is. We shall be like Him. Or Romans 8, verse 29, how it's God's predetermined purpose that we should be conformed to the image of God's own Son.

And He should be the firstborn among many brethren. Or if you would, please notice Philippians 3. He tells us In verse 20, how our citizenship is in heaven, from which we eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body, that it may be conformed to His glorious body. according to the working by which he is able even to subdue all things to himself. I pointed out from the text this morning, it shows us this same body, our body is going to be not replaced, but changed.

But he says he's going to change our body to be like his glorious body. Now, the old King James has changed our vile body, and that would suggest something rather stinch and nasty and so forth. Well, that's not the word Bible. It's the idea of a lowly body as the New King James has it.

The body that is very weak and very limited indeed. And this includes, of course, our weakness that we now experience to do right. Remember how our Lord Jesus said, spirit is willing, flesh is weak. Well, sure enough, so it is as far as our ability to do right with our bodies.

We've got sinful appetites and carnalities and all rooted in our remaining corruption, and we're very weak when it comes to doing what is right. But even beyond that, these present humble bodies, well, these Bodies are humble from the standpoint of being weak and so needy. We tire easily. We need sleep.

Perhaps you got a good nap this afternoon. Hope you did. It's not going to do you the rest of the day. You'll get tired again before the day is out.

Right? And we're dependent upon everything around us for our sustenance and well-being. Bodies are in a humble state, very weak. These bodies have appetites that demand our attention.

Sometimes those appetites can lead us in a very wrong, a very sinful way. And our physical frame is very susceptible to injury and disease and to pain. And you young folk don't perhaps understand this now, but those with a few miles on the odometer, we understand the body's very subject to the aging process. as well, and at last, to death itself. Our humble bodies.

This is what Paul is talking about here. These lowly bodies. We are now in a state of humiliation. But what he's saying is, come that day, no more.

No longer will this body be in that physically humble or weak state ever again. Revelation chapter 7, no more hunger, no more thirst, no more discomfort, not even the sun burning down and making you uncomfortable. No more sorrow, no more crime, no more pain, as we're told in Revelation chapter 21. Well, brethren, that should be appealing, is it?

Especially as you see, perhaps, the aging process taking its toll on your body and the aches and pains and the like that you didn't have when you were a young buck or young woman. Well, Is Christ's body now racked with pain? Oh, no. Is Christ's body now subject to aging?

The man Christ Jesus, a true human body that He forever retains, is it subject now to weakness? No. Our bodies will be transformed like unto His glorious body. But it goes just beyond that, because when it says Christ's glorious body, and we're going to be conformed to that, the word literally means to form with.

It speaks of a thoroughly shared likeness, not just what we're going to be free from, but positively. It's the same word used in Romans 8, 29 about we're going to be conformed to the image of God's Son. And the word image there is like a derived image, like that which is stamped on a coin. What do you have, the Queen here in Canada?

Is it the stamp on the coin? I can't remember. You don't want to talk about it. It's a derived image.

Well, that's something of the word that's used here. A true conformity to Christ. Morally, we will be like Him, but also physically. Bodies transform physically conformed into His likeness.

Well, that's what's before us. Albert Barnes, a commentator, said, accompanied with all the circumstances of splendor and glory which are appropriate to the Son of God." You got that? Our bodies transformed, conformed to Christ's glorious body right now. The man Christ Jesus.

Even that same kind of body. And this is a consistent emphasis in scripture, a moral as well as a physical likeness to Christ. But what exactly does that mean? What is that specifically?

Well, I quote Calvin, the glory we shall have conformity to Christ's body. Is incomprehensible by us. And in light of that, Calvin basically says, so therefore be content. We will know the riches of our inheritance when we shall come to the enjoyment of them.

So though now eye has not seen, ear has not heard, has entered in our hearts, what is going to be? Be content, the day comes you will fully understand and know quite experientially, dear brother and sister. Although this is given quite an emphasis in scripture about being conformed to Christ's image, those verses that tell us about it really say little as to specifics, as to detail. But it strikes me, what more can be said?

We're simply told, like Christ's glorious body. But what can you add or what can you say to that? What more needs be said? What higher, more perfect, blessed state than that?

What befits the glory? What kind of body befits the glory of the man, Christ Jesus? What kind of body? What does He forever deserve by way of a glorified body?

Well, it's not yet been revealed what we shall be, John says in 1 John 3.2, but this has been revealed. We know that when He appears, we shall be like Him. And that is surely enough. What higher recommendation, what greater glory could be given to our resurrected bodies than to be forever like Christ's glorious body.

And so it is. This body raised. And this body changed in this wonderful way. But why this?

Why this great change in our future? This morning, we looked at the question, why this body? And I would just quickly review what we saw there. It's this body because, after all, Christ bought these bodies at a high price.

And therefore, he's not going to leave them to decay in the ground. And furthermore, our bodies, according to 1 Corinthians 6.15, are part of his body. We're in union with Christ, and he will not surrender over any part of that. And furthermore, recovering our bodies is part of his final triumph over all of his enemies.

The last enemy is death. And furthermore, raising these very bodies is part of that work entrusted to him, John 6.39. Well, that's my way of review. That's why it must be this body.

But OK, now the question is, but why this body so drastically, wonderfully changed, this great change, or as the Confession puts it, with these different qualities? Well, firstly, and obviously, that which Christ wants with Him forever is not just a bunch of decomposed bodies, not just a bunch of dust, right? So, yeah, it's going to have to be changed so he has more than just that. It's not just the dust that won't let the grave hold that.

But again, why this great change then? And secondly, then I would say this. Well, we're told to come back to 1 Corinthians 15. 1 Corinthians chapter 15 and verse 50. Now this I say, brethren, that

Bodies Unsuited for Future Glory

flesh and blood, that is our current physical condition, cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. This body right now, at its best, is not suited for our future blessedness. To experience all of that glory that will forever be ours, these bodies must be changed. They must be suited to it.

And so he goes on to say here, verses 51, 52, that we've already read. That's why we're all going to be changed. Even those who are alive when Christ comes, their bodies must be changed, too, because their bodies in this current state, even if they're in the prime of life or youthful vigor, doesn't matter. They could not take all that great glory that will be given to us.

I mean, by virtue of the fact that he says flesh and blood, our present state, we cannot inherit Corruption cannot inherit incorruption. The word is translated perish, imperishable. These bodies perish. Well, if our inheritance is to last forever, we've got to have bodies that are going to last forever too, right?

That makes perfectly good sense. But it's not just that, well, we're going to get bodies that are eternal. To quote one commentator from years past, he says we're to have bodies not only capable through their immortality of eternally existing, we will have that, but also of the infinite spiritual enjoyments of God. This body raised and it must be changed to be like Christ's glorious body because of the great joys, the great spiritual blessedness that will then be ours so that we will be able to experience it.

We need and we will have a body that will not tire, Endless ages of giving praise to God and going about whatever service God has for us. Never tire. A body that needs no sleep, no night there. A body that's not dependent upon circumstances.

Right? Well, that's the kind of body we're going to have. A body with a capacity for blessedness that we cannot now begin to fathom. And to demonstrate that, See, our present state could not handle the glory that will be ours.

Moses and the Limits of Human Frames

Come to Exodus chapter 33. Exodus chapter 33. Are you familiar with that very touching prayer of Moses in Exodus 33? Lord, show me your glory.

Now Moses, haven't you seen enough already? But he has a righteous kind of greediness for more of God. Lord, show me your glory. And God did reveal his glory to him.

We see the record of that in Exodus chapter 34. But notice what God says, though, in verse 20 about the limitation of the glory that would be displayed. Verse 20 of Exodus 33, God said, You cannot see my face. For no man shall see me and live.

Moses, I will show you as it were the hinder parts of my glory. I will give you just a glimpse, because you see in your present frame, even you, Moses, you could not handle it. It would kill you. It would overwhelm you.

Now you see that, right?

Reading of Revelation 22:3-4

Please turn to the last chapter of your Bible, Revelation chapter 22. Revelation chapter 22. We'll take up our reading at verse three. Referring to our eternal state and there should be no more curse.

But the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it. And his servants shall serve him. They shall see his face and his name should be on their foreheads. Now, whatever name on their foreheads means, I don't know, but this I do know. that it speaks very clearly that we're going to have a capacity beyond what Moses had.

And he said, Lord, show me your book. Moses, I have to give you only a limited view. Your present physical frame, you would just melt under. It would kill you and destroy for you.

I've got more work for you to do, Moses. But come that day, we are raised with a body like unto Christ's glorious body. so that we will be able to behold and enjoy the glory of God in a way far, far greater than what Moses or any other mortal has enjoyed the glory of God in this life, in this world. That's why we must be changed to have a body suited to that, and suited it will be. So much so that we will be as suited for the glory as the man Christ Jesus is now suited for that glory, and that's indeed why these bodies must be changed to be like unto His glorious body.

Are you familiar with Romans chapter 8 and verse 17? How we're told that we're going to be glorified together with Christ as joint heirs? You know what that means, don't you? It means that we share in His eternal blessedness as joint heirs, as true children of God.

His inheritance is ours. Yes, He's the firstborn among many brethren. but nonetheless we are truly joint heirs with Christ and therefore we are glorified together with him as such and that means then that we forever share his inheritance his great blessedness that will be ours and therefore our bodies must be conformed under his glorious body So that we will be given a capacity for the blessedness even that He Himself has in His glorified humanity. Now I know there is this vast difference. He is indeed the infinite and eternal God.

But let us never forget He is still and forever the man, Christ Jesus. And there is now that physical body of a man, albeit glorified. And we will have a body like unto Christ's body so that we might be able to do as He Himself said in Matthew 25, enter into the joy of your Lord. It's His joy and you enter into it and you're given capacity to do so.

A body like unto His glory, sharing His joy and His blessedness in our view of the glory of God. What kind of glory and delight will forever be Christ's inheritance? Well, we can't begin to fathom it. But I know this much.

According to these words, that is our eternal blessedness, brethren. What grace. Sinners by nature and by practice. And so redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

And so accepted by that one offering perfected forever. That we're suited even to be glorified together with Christ to share His eternal blessedness. And he gives us bodies that will be well suited to that, that kind of capability. Why must these bodies be changed?

Why not just being raised to the prime of life and a full head of hair? Well, because you see the glory that we're going to experience, it requires a body that is glorious indeed. That's our future. This is not a fairy tale.

My brother, my sister, we're talking about your future. You got that? Your future, you. That very body is sitting right there in that pew right now.

That body is going to be raised from the dead. If Christ should come before you die, OK, it won't be raised from the dead, but nonetheless, it's going to be changed to be that glorious body. And you will most certainly be suited to behold the glory of God forever and ever and share the eternal blessedness of our great Redeemer, our, can I say, elder brother, the firstborn among many brothers. Well, and that leads me to another reason why this body must be changed.

Suited to Eternal Position and Dignity

It's so that we will be then suited to our eternal position and dignity. As I've already pointed out, Christ is the firstborn among many brethren. Well, we are greatly loved children of our glorious father. We're not treated as unwanted children.

Well, you're God the son. That's the real son. But the rest of you, well, you know, you're kind of no, no. joint heirs. The whole emphasis is that sharing his dignity and honor.

And so it is that we must have bodies suited to that. Matthew 13, 43. We won't turn there for the sake of time, but there we're told how we will shine as bright as the sun in the kingdom of our father. That doesn't mean literally we're going to be like these bright globes.

But what that does mean, though, is there will be this great brilliance and glory, conspicuously so among us. characterized by our bodies will be characterized by it. And again, as God's son of glory soon. To be Christ's brethren, listen to the words of one commentator. Believers will be transformed and will receive glorified bodies that will more adequately display their essential character as the children of God and sharers of divine life.

In Christ, Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 10, Christ's mission was to bring many sons to glory as his joint heirs. That's why we have to have these bodies changed for that dignity, for that honor, that position. And not only that, but the Lord Jesus Christ came, loving the church, giving himself for it, that he might have that church as his own bride. and at last present that bride to himself altogether glorious without spot or wrinkle or any blemish. Oh, he's now doing the work by way of washing and preparing, but come that day, what kind of bride does this glorious Savior deserve?

Well, every part of that bride will be glorified together with him, suited, suited, well-suited, even physically, to be the bride of such a glorious bridegroom. That's why these bodies must be changed in such a great and wonderful way. All believers in Christ. You trust Christ, you know Christ, you believe on the Lord Jesus, has Christ saved you?

Then I'm talking about you. The Bible is talking about your future. Unquestionably and undeniably so. This is your future.

Even if you don't have a real strong faith in it, you believe on Christ, still your future. Even if you've never really given much thought to it, don't really appreciate the greatness of that glory in any way. It doesn't matter. We're talking about what God's word says about you, dear brother, dear sister in Christ.

Have we borne Adam's image? Yeah. Well, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15, so we will bear Christ's image. In fact, we're told there in that 1 Corinthians 15 chapter that Christ's resurrection, his is the first fruits.

It's the guarantee of the same kind of fruit come that great harvest day, the resurrection of our bodies. We are now God's dear children, and he will have the whole universe to know it and to see it. Because in this way, Christ will be seen as glorious as the firstborn among many brethren, all those sons He has brought to glory. And mind you, this is God's purpose all along, whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, chosen before time, Paul says in Ephesians 1, for the adoption as sons.

That kind of glory, even taking in our physical bodies, delivering these bodies entirely from sin and all its consequences. Brethren, that is our future. And surely, we're told this for one thing, that we might strongly desire it. Right?

Well, is this your desire? Even as you hear more of it, or as you think more upon it now, is this your desire? Is this your hope? Your confident expectation?

All because of Christ. This is me. This is my future. Is that so with you?

It is. As a Christian, it is. Well, that being so, brethren, This has not given us, just like what we saw this morning about this body being raised, this has not given us simply for information's sake, just something to tuck away in our knowledge and there we go, we file it somewhere and come back to it maybe in the future. No.

This is to be very real in our thinking. This is to have real impact upon us now.

Application: Pursue Holiness Now

Please come to 1 John chapter 3. 1 John chapter 3. I've already referred to verse 2. Beloved, now we are the children of God. It has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure. If it's really my desire then to be conformed to Christ, it's evidence by the fact it's my desire now to be conformed to Christ. And therefore we purify ourselves, we pursue holiness, we endeavor to live that Christian life, that godly life, because this is truly our hope, our expectation, our earnest desire. So I say God has not given us a lot of detail about what that resurrection body is going to be like, because His purpose was not to satisfy our curiosity.

That's not it. Rather, God has a far greater reason revealing these truths to us. And it's especially that this should promote holiness of life in us. This is your future.

This is how you're going to live. This is what you're going to be. And if you really want that, if you really want to be like Christ, then we'll get on with it, man, and pursue it now. More and more likeness to our Savior.

We see the same argument there in Philippians chapter three.

Philippians and Colossians: Live Accordingly

Please turn there. Philippians chapter three. Read earlier how Christ will change these lowly bodies, the bodies of our humility, to be like his glorious body. But yeah, what's Paul getting at?

Well, back up to verse 17 of the third chapter of Philippians. Brethren, join in following my example and know those who walk as you have us for a pattern. For many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping, There are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. He's saying, don't be like the world.

You follow our pattern, our example. You live a godly life, even pressing on for that high calling of God and the prize of it that he's referred to earlier. Because we look for Christ. Our citizenship is heaven.

He's going to change these bodies to be like His glorious body. Therefore, don't be like the world, having your heart set on this world. Don't be like the world who's in this destruction by now making your belly your God and just living to gratify your appetites. This body is made for something far greater than indulging the flesh and what you can eat and feel.

Your nerve endings, that's not the big thing that's going on here. He says, live a holy life. This body is going to be changed. You want that?

Then live like it now. Keep your focus there. The same argument is seen in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, after talking about how these bodies are going to be raised and glorified. It says, you know, you're not in the dark that that day is going to end.

You're sons of the light. Now live like it. God's not appointed you to wrath. He's appointed you to salvation.

That whether we live, whether we wake or sleep, that we should live together with Christ, the One who gave Himself for us. Live a holy life in light of that coming day. Come to Colossians. Colossians chapter 3.

Notice what he says in the fourth verse. When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. That's the truth we're considering. Glorified together with him.

Therefore, verse 5, put to death your members which are on the earth. Fornication, that's outright sexual immorality. But not just that. Uncleanness, that is those things that lead to it, like heavy petting and the like.

Passion, that is those burning desires. Or even a lesser word, evil desire. And covetousness, which is idolatry. The point is, this body is going to be changed.

Christ is going to appear in glory. You're going to appear with him. Therefore, right now, in the meantime, what you need to do is make sure you've got even right desires, not to gratify sexual lusts, not even to entertain evil desires or any kind of covetousness, but rather to have right desires. And that's exactly his point when he says in verses 1 and 2, If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God.

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. And he goes on to speak in that context, not only about our present life, but when Christ appears, we appear with him. The point is. Does our future glory.

Our being with Christ and like Christ. Now have this good effect upon you and your Christian life. You really want to be like him then, and the proof of the pudding is you want to be like him now. Does it cause you to keep your heart set on things above right desires and therefore you hate and kill wrong desires?

That's the effect. Keep your heart set in the right place. Keep desiring that which is indeed our future, brethren, and desire in such a way that anything contrary to that or militates against that, I'll kill it. I don't want a thing to do with that.

Right. That's the rationale. That's why we're told this. Well, dear brethren, this is our future.

Again, no matter how strongly or weakly we now believe it, or no matter how much impact this truth has had on your life this past week, how much thought you've actually given it, this is our future. But these arguments for holiness in scripture, they assume that this truth is to be so real and so powerful in our day to day thinking that were enabled to stand against our remaining corruption and put to death even sinful desires that we recognize them as something heinous. And I don't want that thing. Let's kill it.

OK. Is this that real in your thinking? Do you still believe what the Bible says about your future state and your glorified body, that it has that happy effect upon you now? I want to be holy.

Well, let me put the question another way. As a Christian, you do want to be holy as a Christian. You want help in holiness, right? Right.

Right. It's the good that I would that I don't do. It's the evil that I hate that I do. I want help in holy living.

Well, God's given us many such helps, but here's one. That we should recognize what our future is. As a help to live a holy life now.

Closing Exhortation and Gospel Call

Dear brother, dear sister, let me encourage you. Give much thought to the resurrection. This body. Christ bought it.

He'll have it. This body changed. You're going to be suited to enjoy His glory. Well, keep that hope strong.

Keep that desire fervent. And show that desire to be real by even now getting on purifying yourself as He is pure. May God help us to put this truth to a biblical use and live holy lives. out of love for our Father and desire for our Savior, and to be like Him. He who has this hope purifies himself even as Christ is pure, pursues holiness, pursues Christlikeness.

Is that true of you? Can that be said of you? That in some measure, in some way, you do now pursue Christlikeness? If you have no concern for holiness, If you have no desire now that drives you to be like Christ, then what I'm talking about here about a body changed and made like in his glorious body, I'm not talking about your future, sadly.

You really don't want this blessedness. You might be wondering, what in the world is that bald guy all excited about? In fact, You just don't want the alternative. If you were given a third option, I don't want to go to hell.

But all this being glorified with Christ, I don't understand. If I could be given a third option, give me health and strength like I now have in my body. Let me live on here in this sinful world and indulge my appetites and live for whatever I want to live for and do. That's what's behind door number three.

That's the one I will take. You're without hope, my friend. Because there is no third option. It's either being glorified together with Christ or being told by this very Savior, depart from me, ye cursed, and everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

There's no third option. What will it be for you? If you don't want to hear him say that day, depart from me, ye cursed, then hear him today when he says, come unto me, all ye that weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Come today when he says, come.

You who thirst and drink, go to Christ, be changed, be forgiven, be saved by such a Savior whose glory, whose salvation is such. He takes fine old sinners, born in sin, lived in sin, lived as rebels against Him. And He changes their hearts now. He changes their bodies hereafter.

Believe on the Lord Jesus. On the spot, he saves sinners. Look to Christ. Might God grant his mercy.

Let's pray.

Closing Prayer

Our Father in heaven, we thank you for such a salvation. What grace. What grace to those who are dead in trespasses and sins. That we should be made alive now together with Christ, what blessedness.

Father, if it was only in this life that you granted us blessedness, we would have to marvel forever. But you've given us eternal life and not simply eternal existence. But you've granted us such a salvation such justification and perfect standing before you in Christ. That we are suited.

To share eternity with you and we will be given bodies suited as well. Or grant we should be gripped anew with these realities and with your grace to us, your great unspeakable love. And that we would long for Christ yet more and more now, even so come Lord Jesus. And we would long for more conformity to Christ and how we speak in how we act, in how we think, and in what we desire, that now, even now, increasingly, that we should purify ourselves as He is pure.

We thank you that come that day, all of a sudden, we will be fully conformed to Christ's glorious body. We thank you that we will be suited to share His inheritance. Grant we will be mindful of this now in the meantime, and that we might live like it. It's in Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.

Scripture References

• Genesis 1:31; 2:7
• Exodus 33; 33:20; 34
• Matthew 13:43; 25
• John 6:39
• Romans 8:17; 8:29
• 1 Corinthians 6:15; 15; 15:35; 15:35-53; 15:42-44; 15:45; 15:47; 15:48-49; 15:50; 15:51; 15:51-52; 15:53
• Ephesians 1
• Philippians 3; 3:17; 3:20
• Colossians 3:1-2; 3:4; 3:5
• 1 Thessalonians 5
• Hebrews 2:10
• Revelation 7; 21; 22; 22:3
• 1 John 3; 3:2