Perfect Flesh
Perfect Flesh
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
1 Corinthians 15:50
Someone reading this verse, especially out of context might believe that we will not have flesh and blood in heaven but that is not what is being stated here. Verse 42 clearly says, “So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.” We will have bodies in heaven. What this verse was saying is that it’s not through our flesh and blood that we can be saved. Your old self is not suitable for heaven. You must be born again and become a Spirit filled new life. Verse 44 clearly shows that, “It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”
The big question is this: Do we get brand new bodies when we accept Christ, get baptized and receive the new ‘spiritual bodies’ (that is a person who now is connected to God through the Spirit and sets his mind on spiritual things)?
The simple answer is no. How do we know this? Well, the Bible explains very clearly when we receive new and perfect physical bodies.
51 Behold, I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Corinthians 15:51-53
Our perfect bodies only come to us at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Only then can we be truly perfect in all our parts- physically, spiritually and mentally. It is only at the Second Coming that we receive our full reward as expressed in Revelation 22.
12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
Revelation 22:12
As hard as you may try, you will never be able to perfect your flesh or body. That can only be done at the return of Christ. What you can achieve is a mind and character that wholly focusses on God through the Spirit. That is what God desires for us.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:1
God bless,
Pr. Steven Couto