Our Real Bodies

Our Real Bodies

2 Corinthians 4:14,16 KJV “Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. [16] For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”

We know that we have eternal life through Jesus our Lord. Hence like Paul we too don’t faint though our outward body is passing away. Our inward man is being renewed day by day. This is our main focus; leaving these earthly bodies of humiliation, and being clothed with our perfect spiritual bodies. Then we will be joined with the Lord forever in the most intimate way.

1 Corinthians 15:44-54 KJV “It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. [45] And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. [46] Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. [47] The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. [48] As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. [49] And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. [50] Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. [51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. [53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”

Look at what God has given us, WOW! We will bear (literally) the image of our Lord and Savior Jesus! Just as we all bore the image of the first man Adam who is from the earth we shall bear the image of the second Adam who is from heaven. How unworthy we are to be given bodies just like Christ’s own body:

Philippians 3:20‭-‬21 MEV “But our citizenship is in heaven, from where also we await for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our body of humiliation, so that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working of His power even to subdue all things to Himself.”

Yes we are being made just like our Lord in every way including our bodies.

Romans 8:28-29 KJV “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. [29] For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

So while evil men are down here doing everything possible to defile and destroy God’s temple; His church, Christ’s body, don’t fret. They will not succeed even if it looks like they are. The Lord Jesus has forseen and declared it all:

Matthew 24:22 MEV “Unless those days were shortened, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.”

1 Corinthians 15:51 KJV “Behold, I SHEW YOU A MYSTERY; WE SHALL NOT ALL SLEEP, but we shall all be changed.”

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 KJV “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. [18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

1 Corinthians 3:17 KJV “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”

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Gaining Approval

Gaining Approval

Galatians 1:10 NET “Am I now trying to gain the approval of people, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ!’

What strong words by the apostle Paul a real man of God. Paul said the above words right after saying these:

Galatians 1:8-9 NET “But even if we (or an angel from heaven) should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be condemned to hell! 9 As we have said before, and now I say again, if any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let him be condemned to hell!”

Paul could care less about making people happy when it came to protecting the church of God. This shows his faithfulness to the gospel and the seriousness of any false gospel message that is being spread. We’d do well to be like Paul. Who’s approval are we seeking, people’s or God’s?

I’ve noticed the fear of rejection is a most powerful tool that the evil one uses. But a child of God overcomes such fear. The servant of God learns love which casts out all fear:

1 John 4:18 KJV “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

The more we come to know God the more we love and fear Him. This is not a morbid fear but a wholesome healthy respect and reverence. Fearing God is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom. (Proverbs 1:7 9:10) And God teaches us not to worry about what others think of us. Pleasing God is our main goal.

1 Corinthians 4:3 “So for me, it is a minor matter that I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.”

This is why Paul could so effectively serve the Lord, he desired God’s approval more than anything else. Do we feel the same way? Or are we trying to be friends with God and friends with the world? News flash: it can’t be done:

James 4:4 KJV “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? [15] And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? [16] And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them ; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. [17] Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, [18] And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

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Is That Too Much?

Is That Too Much?

Deuter­­onomy 30:16 MEV “What I am commanding you today is to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, so that you may live and multiply. Then the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess.”

Who doesn’t want to live and multiply? Who doesn’t want God to bless them? These are the benefits of obeying the Lord. Most want God’s blessings but don’t care to obey Him. It just doesn’t work that way. The Israelites were about to take possession of a very prosperous land. A land flowing with milk and honey. The best of the land God was giving them. God was going to drive out all of Israel’s enemies and give them their land as an inheritance. It all belongs to Him anyway. Israel’s enemies were terrifying. But God instructed His people not to fear them only fear Him. All the Israelites had to do is love, trust, and obey the Lord their God and He would give them the desires of their hearts.

Put yourself in Israel’s place; God will fight your battles, drive out all of your strong enemies before you, give you possessions and the desires of your heart, allowing you and your children to prosper. All you have to do is obey and love the Lord. Is that too much to do?

Does not everything we have come from God? Even our very lives? Don’t we owe Him our love and obedience just for that? Nothing we have originated with us. Yet people act like that’s the case. Did we create the air we breathe that sustains us? Did we make the sun that sustains all life on earth? How does the heart keep on beating then one day stops? Did we make that? Don’t you see that if God never did another good thing for us as long as we live we still owe Him? He gave us life! Is it really a tererible thing to want to know and love the one who’s responsible for your very existence? And as far as obeying God is concerned His commandments benefit us. He doesn’t stop being God if we decide to be fools. His instructions show us how to live life to the fullest even in a crooked generation. And we’re ultimately shown the way to eternal life:

John 14:6 KJV “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and THE LIFE: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

John 17:3 KJV “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

Don’t you see that loving God is only right and beneficial?

1 John 5:3-5 NLT “Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. [4] For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. [5] And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”

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