Three Reasons To Be Excited About Our Future Resurrection
Four weeks ago we celebrated Jesus’ resurrection and what all it means, but why do WE need to be resurrected? What’s really going to change?
I’m already born again, so why do I need to be resurrected?
Well, maybe this will help: You’re born again, so why do you still sin? The Holy Spirit is in you, so why don’t you feel closer to God? You know God’s will, so why don’t you keep it?
We might say, because Satan is a master enemy. Yes. And the whole world is under his power. But each of these reasons are outside of you. The biggest reason we still sin and don't obey God is because sin dwells in our physical being.
As the Apostle Paul wrote,
Rom. 7:14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.
He further mentions the “lusts of the body,” the “desires of the flesh.” Calls this body “a body of death.” He says there’s a “principle that evil is present in me.”
Rom. 7:18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.
Obedience is not automatic for any born again believer—not just you! Why? Because sin still dwells in our body and radically affects our emotions, reactions, desires. The presence of sin within makes us act like the person we don’t want to be.
2 Cor. 4:6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels...
So the question, “I’m born again, why do I still sin?” helps to answer our question, “I’m born again, why do I need to be resurrected?”
One reason we need to be resurrected is because this terrible force of sin that we’ve all inherited from Adam still dwells in our flesh.When Christ resurrects us we will have perfect, transformed, righteous, powerful bodies without a trace of sin.
When we are resurrected we shall freely, naturally, and forevermore live out of our born again self, our righteous new nature. No more struggle. No more inner turmoil. No more shame.
The moment you trust Jesus for eternal life with God the Holy Spirit regenerates your spirit. Your spirit is redeemed! You have a new heart, a new nature, a new identity in Christ. But this body still awaits its redemption at the resurrection.
Rom. 8:23 Not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, [life is hard] waiting eagerly for our [finalized] adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
At the resurrection. Then we will be fully redeemed. Perfect. Sinless. This is our destiny. Jesus Christ will transform our body and give us glory like His.
Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
So be excited for your future resurrection! For you will never again struggle with sin. No more shame. No more inner turmoil. No more anger issues, self-hate, weakness.
No addiction will ever again violate your best intentions.
For our Lord will transform this weak and humble body to conform to His sinless, perfect, powerful, body. And the glory of our future resurrected body will match the glory of our regenerated spirit…
A second reason we need to be resurrected is as long as we are still in this mortal body—this is as good as it gets. This is as close to God as we’ll get. We cannot see God and live. We cannot inherit the kingdom in these bodies. We must be resurrected to be in His presence and to reign in His kingdom.
Moses asked the Lord to show me your glory.
The Lord answered Moses,
Exodus 33:19 … “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.”20 But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” 21 Then the LORD said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; 22 and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”
“You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” [God to Moses]
Just like flying too close to the sun, we cannot survive an undraped, fully displayed encounter with God. Paul explained the plain truth,
1 Cor. 15:50 Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
Our regenerated spirit is excited and ready for God’s presence, but this mortal body cannot survive the unveiled presence of the Lord’s glory.
This is why we can get excited at the resurrection, for then our bodies will be changed, made for heaven and earth. We will enter God’s fullest presence, and see His face which far exceeds any joy or ecstasy we have here.
But this body needs to be changed. And that’s exactly what will happen,
1 Cor. 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, andwe will be changed.53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
What are some of those changes that will take place?
1 Cor. 15:42 It is sown [buried] a perishable body,it is raised an imperishable body; 43 it is sownin dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body…
No physical limitations. No weaknesses. At the resurrection, YOU will have extra-dimensional abilities like Jesus who passed through doors, appeared at will, ascended into the highest heaven, and entered the presence of God—in whose presence is fullness of joy, and pleasures forevermore…
This awaits us.
Another change, our bodies will be luminous, effervescent. Kind of hard to imagine. And it’s not a parlor trick. For our bodies will finally reflect the glory that God has already invested in us through regeneration.
Daniel 12:2 “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground [believers] will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others [unbelievers] to disgrace and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who have insight [who put their faith in Jesus] will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Jesus affirms this. He says,
Matthew 13:43 Then THE RIGHTEOUS WILL SHINE FORTH AS THE SUN in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.”
John’s revelation shows how Jesus now glows. His face is like the sun. His eyes like flames of fire. His feet like glowing bronze. Rather than hide this from us, and condescend to our level so He can be with us, our Lord will elevate us to His level. We will see Him and not be afraid, but be like Him.
A final reason to be excited for our resurrection is that in our transformed, sinless, powerful bodies, that will shine as the sun, we will fully express our true identity, the glory of who we are.
And the world will see. And we will see. For our bodies will match the glory of our spirit, so that we forevermore live out our destiny as God's children.
1 John 3:1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
This is who you are right now—a child of God. More than a title. More than a relationship. Understand, to be a child of God describes your nature. You are born again. Your spirit is regenerated—the you in this body is now immortal, righteous, alive to God. You are an eternal being with eternal life…
To be called a child of God is more than a relationship, it describes our new nature. We are born again of God.
But on this side of the resurrection, this is something we have to be told. It is something we have to believe. It is something the world does not believe.
And why? Because you and I don’t look any different! Because your body is still unredeemed. For again, we have this great "treasure in earthen vessels."
We’re like Jesus before His resurrection—He was God in the flesh but nobody could tell by looking at Him. His body was remarkably unremarkable. It didn’t reflect His eternal glory as God, in fact it veiled His eternal glory.
In the same way, we are born again, our spirit is eternal, united to Christ, but our physical bodies do not accurately portray who we are. And we too often judge by appearances. So this is hard to believe. Hard to remember.
So he tells us again,
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be; but we know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
This is exciting. This is our destiny.
At the rapture of the living and the resurrection of the dead YOU will be complete. Body and spirit. Imperishable. Indestructible. Glorious. Sinless. Righteous. Powerful. Having divine authority to carry out your mission in the kingdom. Able to stand and worship and take in the glory and beauty and splendor of God. You will be fashioned for the kingdom on earth and the glory of heaven.
And every planet, every star, every galaxy, every ocean, every rock, awaits.
Romans 8:19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God… 23 And not only this, but … we ourselves groan … waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
So the change is cosmic. The ramifications are universal. And practical…
God affirms us over and over again in the significance of our true identity.
You are a glorious being, created by an indescribably magnificent God in his own likeness. Yet you are a fallen glorious being, prone to sin and selfishness. Having trusted Jesus, your spirit is redeemed, restored to glory. But we have this treasure in imperfect, mortal bodies. And at the rapture of the living and the resurrection of the dead, your body will be transformed.
You will be a glorious being in a visibly glorious body, perfect, righteous, with great power, and visible glory. You will reflect Christ without any limitation. Whatever other say. Whatever you think of your looks, smarts, success; even if your life is a train wreck of sin or addiction, this is your destiny.
Even if it’s hard to fully see or emotionally connect with, this is your future. And the day is coming when this will no longer be a great truth to trust, but the truth we shall live.
1 Cor. 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
Three Reasons To Be Excited About Our Future Resurrection
Four weeks ago we celebrated Jesus’ resurrection and what all it means, but why do WE need to be resurrected? What’s really going to change?
I’m already born again, so why do I need to be resurrected?
Well, maybe this will help: You’re born again, so why do you still sin? The Holy Spirit is in you, so why don’t you feel closer to God? You know God’s will, so why don’t you keep it?
We might say, because Satan is a master enemy. Yes. And the whole world is under his power. But each of these reasons are outside of you. The biggest reason we still sin and don't obey God is because sin dwells in our physical being.
As the Apostle Paul wrote,
Rom. 7:14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.
He further mentions the “lusts of the body,” the “desires of the flesh.” Calls this body “a body of death.” He says there’s a “principle that evil is present in me.”
Rom. 7:18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.
Obedience is not automatic for any born again believer—not just you! Why? Because sin still dwells in our body and radically affects our emotions, reactions, desires. The presence of sin within makes us act like the person we don’t want to be.
2 Cor. 4:6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels...
So the question, “I’m born again, why do I still sin?” helps to answer our question, “I’m born again, why do I need to be resurrected?”
One reason we need to be resurrected is because this terrible force of sin that we’ve all inherited from Adam still dwells in our flesh. When Christ resurrects us we will have perfect, transformed, righteous, powerful bodies without a trace of sin.
When we are resurrected we shall freely, naturally, and forevermore live out of our born again self, our righteous new nature. No more struggle. No more inner turmoil. No more shame.
The moment you trust Jesus for eternal life with God the Holy Spirit regenerates your spirit. Your spirit is redeemed! You have a new heart, a new nature, a new identity in Christ. But this body still awaits its redemption at the resurrection.
Rom. 8:23 Not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, [life is hard] waiting eagerly for our [finalized] adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
At the resurrection. Then we will be fully redeemed. Perfect. Sinless. This is our destiny. Jesus Christ will transform our body and give us glory like His.
Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
So be excited for your future resurrection! For you will never again struggle with sin. No more shame. No more inner turmoil. No more anger issues, self-hate, weakness.
No addiction will ever again violate your best intentions.
For our Lord will transform this weak and humble body to conform to His sinless, perfect, powerful, body. And the glory of our future resurrected body will match the glory of our regenerated spirit…
A second reason we need to be resurrected is as long as we are still in this mortal body—this is as good as it gets. This is as close to God as we’ll get. We cannot see God and live. We cannot inherit the kingdom in these bodies. We must be resurrected to be in His presence and to reign in His kingdom.
Moses asked the Lord to show me your glory.
The Lord answered Moses,
Exodus 33:19 … “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” 20 But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” 21 Then the LORD said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; 22 and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”
“You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” [God to Moses]
Just like flying too close to the sun, we cannot survive an undraped, fully displayed encounter with God. Paul explained the plain truth,
1 Cor. 15:50 Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
Our regenerated spirit is excited and ready for God’s presence, but this mortal body cannot survive the unveiled presence of the Lord’s glory.
This is why we can get excited at the resurrection, for then our bodies will be changed, made for heaven and earth. We will enter God’s fullest presence, and see His face which far exceeds any joy or ecstasy we have here.
But this body needs to be changed. And that’s exactly what will happen,
1 Cor. 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
What are some of those changes that will take place?
1 Cor. 15:42 It is sown [buried] a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body…
No physical limitations. No weaknesses. At the resurrection, YOU will have extra-dimensional abilities like Jesus who passed through doors, appeared at will, ascended into the highest heaven, and entered the presence of God—in whose presence is fullness of joy, and pleasures forevermore…
This awaits us.
Another change, our bodies will be luminous, effervescent. Kind of hard to imagine. And it’s not a parlor trick. For our bodies will finally reflect the glory that God has already invested in us through regeneration.
Daniel 12:2 “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground [believers] will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others [unbelievers] to disgrace and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who have insight [who put their faith in Jesus] will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Jesus affirms this. He says,
Matthew 13:43 Then THE RIGHTEOUS WILL SHINE FORTH AS THE SUN in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.”
John’s revelation shows how Jesus now glows. His face is like the sun. His eyes like flames of fire. His feet like glowing bronze. Rather than hide this from us, and condescend to our level so He can be with us, our Lord will elevate us to His level. We will see Him and not be afraid, but be like Him.
A final reason to be excited for our resurrection is that in our transformed, sinless, powerful bodies, that will shine as the sun, we will fully express our true identity, the glory of who we are.
And the world will see. And we will see. For our bodies will match the glory of our spirit, so that we forevermore live out our destiny as God's children.
1 John 3:1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
This is who you are right now—a child of God. More than a title. More than a relationship. Understand, to be a child of God describes your nature. You are born again. Your spirit is regenerated—the you in this body is now immortal, righteous, alive to God. You are an eternal being with eternal life…
To be called a child of God is more than a relationship, it describes our new nature. We are born again of God.
But on this side of the resurrection, this is something we have to be told. It is something we have to believe. It is something the world does not believe.
And why? Because you and I don’t look any different! Because your body is still unredeemed. For again, we have this great "treasure in earthen vessels."
We’re like Jesus before His resurrection—He was God in the flesh but nobody could tell by looking at Him. His body was remarkably unremarkable. It didn’t reflect His eternal glory as God, in fact it veiled His eternal glory.
In the same way, we are born again, our spirit is eternal, united to Christ, but our physical bodies do not accurately portray who we are. And we too often judge by appearances. So this is hard to believe. Hard to remember.
So he tells us again,
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be; but we know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
This is exciting. This is our destiny.
At the rapture of the living and the resurrection of the dead YOU will be complete. Body and spirit. Imperishable. Indestructible. Glorious. Sinless. Righteous. Powerful. Having divine authority to carry out your mission in the kingdom. Able to stand and worship and take in the glory and beauty and splendor of God. You will be fashioned for the kingdom on earth and the glory of heaven.
And every planet, every star, every galaxy, every ocean, every rock, awaits.
Romans 8:19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God… 23 And not only this, but … we ourselves groan … waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
So the change is cosmic. The ramifications are universal. And practical…
God affirms us over and over again in the significance of our true identity.
You are a glorious being, created by an indescribably magnificent God in his own likeness. Yet you are a fallen glorious being, prone to sin and selfishness. Having trusted Jesus, your spirit is redeemed, restored to glory. But we have this treasure in imperfect, mortal bodies. And at the rapture of the living and the resurrection of the dead, your body will be transformed.
You will be a glorious being in a visibly glorious body, perfect, righteous, with great power, and visible glory. You will reflect Christ without any limitation. Whatever other say. Whatever you think of your looks, smarts, success; even if your life is a train wreck of sin or addiction, this is your destiny.
Even if it’s hard to fully see or emotionally connect with, this is your future. And the day is coming when this will no longer be a great truth to trust, but the truth we shall live.
1 Cor. 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.