A Body For Heaven

This summary explores the transformative truth of the Christian resurrection, detailing the nature of the believer’s future glorified body based on the ultimate pattern: the resurrected body of Jesus Christ. Drawing heavily from Paul’s teachings in 1 Corinthians and Philippians, this message provides hope, combating the fear of death and offering assurance regarding eternal life.

1. The Resurrection: Transformation, Not Resuscitation

The resurrection of Jesus Christ provides both the proof and the pattern for what lies ahead for all His followers.

The Difference Between Resuscitation and Transformation

The Bible records several examples of temporary resurrections (resuscitation) in both the Old and New Testaments, such as the three people Jesus raised from the dead (a boy in Naine, a girl in Capernaum, and Lazarus) and those raised by Peter and Paul. These individuals eventually became sick or had accidents and died again.

Christ’s resurrection, however, was different; it was transformation.

• The essence of His physical body was changed.
• It was glorified, rendered everlasting, imperishable, and improved with various skills and abilities.
• After this transformational resurrection, Jesus would not and could not ever die again.

The promise to Christians is that Christ “will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be conformed to his glorious body” (Philippians 3:21).

Overcoming Corruption and Death

The present human body is described as being “sown in corruption,” suffering from strokes, heart attacks, cancer, and aging. The “outward man is perishing”. Death is compared to a seed planted in the soil that must die before it germinates and sprouts into something new.

The promise is that the body will be “raised in incorruption”. From the instant of resurrection, the new body will never wear out or grow old; it will be totally resistant to deterioration or decay. The assurance is firm: since Christ was raised from the dead, “death no longer has mastery over him,” and the same will be true for all believers.

2. Defining the New Body: Five Key Attributes

While scripture does not contain a single passage outlining the new body, studying Jesus after His resurrection reveals the pattern.

A. Incarnate and Physical

The new body will be incarnate, meaning it will have a real, physical, bodily existence—it will be “in the flesh”.

• Flesh and Bones: Jesus explicitly clarified, “a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have,” affirming His resurrection was physical and real. Believers will not be “floating spirits”.
• Eating: Jesus ate on at least two occasions after His resurrection (broiled fish and honeycomb; breakfast with disciples). This suggests that in our resurrection bodies, we will also be able to eat, experiencing food like never before, potentially without the negative effects, such as gaining weight.
• Touch: Jesus invited touch, instructing Thomas: “Reach your finger here and look at my hands and reach your hand here and put it in my side”. Mary was also told not to cling to Him, which shows His body was real and touchable.

B. Identifiable and Retaining Personality

A common concern is whether loved ones will be recognized in heaven; the answer is a resounding yes.

• Recognition: “You will still be you and everyone will recognize you; you’ll instantly know your loved ones”. Even when Jesus’s identity was momentarily confused (Mary Magdalene mistook Him for a gardener, or the disciples on the Emmaus road were restrained from knowing Him), the recognition was quickly restored or intentional.
• Eternal Identity: The Apostle Paul affirmed, “Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known”. Missionary Amy Carmichael noted, “Would you be yourself if you did not remember?”.
• Personality: Believers will not lose their identity but will finally be fully themselves as God designed us to be. Jesus was recognized not only by His face but also by His personality.

C. Indestructible

As detailed above, the new body is designed for eternity and will be imperishable. It will be pain-free and disease-free, totally resistant to aging, accidents, diseases, or death.

D. Illuminated

The new bodies will be illuminated, meaning they will possess a glow or brilliance.

• Glory and Brilliance: The body is “sown in dishonor” but “raised in glory,” a word meaning brilliance.
• Reflecting Christ: This illumination is consistent with biblical history, where Moses’ face was radiant after spending time with God, and Jesus was illuminated on the Mount of Transfiguration. In the New Jerusalem, the light will radiate from the resurrected Christ, and believers will be reflectors of that light.
• Increasing Glory: Even now, those who contemplate the Lord’s glory are being transformed into His image “with ever-increasing glory,” which suggests a foretaste of the glow that will intensify in heaven.

E. Incredible and Powerful

The body is “sown in weakness, but it is raised in power“.

• Supernatural Capability: Our resurrection bodies will be astonishing, full of energy, and bursting with enthusiastic power.
• Higher Plane Functionality: If Christ’s glorified body could pass through walls and travel by impulses of thought (as He appeared in distant places and passed through locked doors), believers may also be able to do the same.
• Spiritual Body: The term “spiritual body” implies existence on a higher plane, suited for life in heaven and the new heavens and earth, where the current “natural body” could never function.