Hope and Joy in the Resurrection Body

Devotional

Day 1: The Promise of a Transformed Future

The resurrection body is a profound hope for believers, promising a future where our bodies are redeemed and transformed, just as our souls have been. This truth should excite every Christian, as it assures us of a glorious future beyond this life. The resurrection is not merely about survival after death but about a complete transformation that mirrors the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This hope is a cornerstone of Christian faith, offering a vision of a future where the limitations and sufferings of our current bodies are replaced with a new, glorified existence. [09:19]

"For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." (2 Corinthians 5:1, ESV)

Reflection: How does the promise of a transformed future body influence the way you view your current struggles and limitations?

Day 2: Cherishing the Unique Doctrine of Resurrection

The doctrine of the resurrection is unique to Christianity, as it promises not just survival after death but the transformation of our bodies, just as Jesus was raised. This is a truth that we should cherish and put on display before the world. The resurrection is a testament to God's power and love, demonstrating that He values both our physical and spiritual existence. It challenges us to live with a perspective that values eternal transformation over temporary existence, encouraging us to share this hope with others. [08:59]

"But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." (1 Corinthians 15:20, ESV)

Reflection: How can you share the hope of the resurrection with someone who may not understand its significance?

Day 3: The Nature of the Resurrection Body

The resurrection body will be imperishable, glorious, powerful, and godly, meaning it will never age or decline, will radiate the glory of God, will have more energy and capability than ever before, and will be fully responsive to the Holy Spirit. This transformation is a promise of a future where our bodies are no longer subject to the frailties and limitations of this life. It is a future where we are fully equipped to live in the presence of God, reflecting His glory and power in ways we cannot yet imagine. [24:32]

"So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable." (1 Corinthians 15:42, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you begin to prepare your heart and mind for the transformation that awaits in the resurrection?

Day 4: Living as Wholly Owned by Christ

Recognizing that we are wholly owned by Jesus Christ should motivate us to be done with everything that defiles our body or soul and to offer our whole self to God. This is fundamental to what it means to be a Christian. Our identity in Christ calls us to live in a way that honors Him, acknowledging that our bodies and souls are His. This understanding should lead us to a life of holiness and dedication, where we actively seek to align our actions and thoughts with His will. [32:15]

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific area of your life that you need to surrender to Christ's ownership today?

Day 5: Encouragement in the Hope of Resurrection

The hope of the resurrection should encourage us to never give way to discouragement, knowing that our labor in the Lord is never in vain. We can afford to live sacrificially, knowing that the new earth and resurrection body will be better than what we have now. This hope provides a foundation for perseverance, reminding us that our efforts and sacrifices in this life have eternal significance. It encourages us to remain steadfast in our faith, trusting that God is preparing something far greater for us. [38:21]

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV)

Reflection: How can the hope of the resurrection inspire you to persevere in a challenging area of your life today?

Sermon Summary

The theme of today's message is the profound hope and joy found in the resurrection body, a topic that has been pressing on my heart. We've explored the good, better, best pattern of the Christian life, where being in Christ is good, being with Christ is better, but the best is yet to come with the resurrection body. This is a truth that should excite every believer, as it promises a future where our bodies are redeemed and transformed, just as our souls have been.

We began by examining four doctrines that highlight the importance of the body. First, creation teaches us that God made us as a union of body and soul, and death is an enemy because it separates what God has joined. Second, the fall reminds us that sin has affected both body and soul, leading to decay and death. Third, the incarnation of Jesus Christ shows that God values the body, as He became flesh and dwelt among us. Fourth, the resurrection is unique to Christianity, as it promises not just survival after death but the transformation of our bodies, just as Jesus was raised.

We then looked at four promises from Scripture that assure us of the continuity between this life and the life to come. Job, Romans, Philippians, and 1 Corinthians all speak to the hope of seeing God with our own eyes, the redemption of our bodies, and the transformation into a glorious, powerful, and spiritual body.

Next, we explored four changes that will occur in the resurrection body: it will be imperishable, glorious, powerful, and godly. These changes mean that our bodies will never age or decline, will radiate the glory of God, will have more energy and capability than ever before, and will be fully responsive to the Holy Spirit.

Finally, we drew four conclusions: recognize that you are wholly owned by Jesus Christ, be done with everything that defiles your body or soul, offer your whole self to God, and never give way to discouragement. These truths should motivate us to live sacrificially, knowing that our labor in the Lord is never in vain.

Key Takeaways

1. The resurrection body is a profound hope for believers, promising a future where our bodies are redeemed and transformed, just as our souls have been. This truth should excite every Christian, as it assures us of a glorious future beyond this life. [09:19]
2. The doctrine of the resurrection is unique to Christianity, as it promises not just survival after death but the transformation of our bodies, just as Jesus was raised. This is a truth that we should cherish and put on display before the world. [08:59]
3. The resurrection body will be imperishable, glorious, powerful, and godly, meaning it will never age or decline, will radiate the glory of God, will have more energy and capability than ever before, and will be fully responsive to the Holy Spirit. [24:32]
4. Recognizing that we are wholly owned by Jesus Christ should motivate us to be done with everything that defiles our body or soul and to offer our whole self to God. This is fundamental to what it means to be a Christian. [32:15]
5. The hope of the resurrection should encourage us to never give way to discouragement, knowing that our labor in the Lord is never in vain. We can afford to live sacrificially, knowing that the new earth and resurrection body will be better than what we have now. [38:21]
** [38:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:25] - Introduction to the Theme of Heaven
[01:12] - The Joy of the Resurrection Body
[01:46] - Four Doctrines on the Importance of the Body
[03:57] - The Doctrine of the Fall
[05:28] - The Doctrine of the Incarnation
[08:28] - The Doctrine of Resurrection
[10:39] - Four Promises of the Resurrection
[13:17] - The Redemption of Our Bodies
[14:58] - Transformation of Our Lowly Bodies
[19:25] - The Nature of the Resurrection Body
[22:26] - Four Changes in the Resurrection Body
[24:32] - Imperishable and Glorious Bodies
[27:38] - Powerful and Godly Bodies
[32:15] - Four Conclusions and Applications
[38:21] - Encouragement in the Hope of Resurrection

Sermon Clips

To be in Christ is good, to be with Christ is better, in fact, the Apostle says it is better by far, but even for our believing loved ones who are with Christ right now, the best is yet to be. They are fully conscious, they are actively engaged, but they are still eagerly waiting for the gift of the resurrection body. [00:38:15]

The resurrection of the body, friends, is unique to Christianity, and the reason for that is very obvious. Only Christians have a risen Savior. We should be trumpeting this. It is the most glorious truth that we need to grasp and to cherish and to put on display. At the heart of our faith is that the tomb was empty. [00:53:10]

The resurrection body will be like Christ's glorious body. Now, that means that it will be a physical body. You will not be a disembodied ghost or spirit in the new creation. Let me put it this way: the reason that you won't be floating on a cloud is that bodies don't float; they fall, right? [01:21:04]

The resurrection body is going to have more energy, more physical capability, more stamina, more athleticism, more speed, more coordination, more durability than it ever had before because we're not going to need the body less; we're going to need it more, and we're going to use it more. [01:38:47]

Recognize that you are wholly owned by Jesus Christ. I think of 1 Corinthians 6: You are not your own, Paul says to believers, because you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. He made you soul and body; he redeemed you soul and body. [01:59:29]

In the light of this great truth, be done with everything that defiles either your body or your soul. This is 2nd Corinthians chapter 7 and verse 1: Since we have these promises, in other words, in the light of the glorious promise of the Resurrection that lies ahead of us, what should we do? [02:11:79]

Offer your whole self to God. This is Romans chapter 12 and verse 1: I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, in the light of all this, I appeal to you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. [02:22:61]

You don't have to worry anymore about your bucket list. You don't have to worry about... if you really believe this, you can afford to live sacrificially. You can afford to lay down your life. The new earth will be better than the one we have now. The resurrection body will be better than the body you have now. [02:55:31]

Therefore, never give way to discouragement. And this comes right out of all that Paul says about the resurrection body. 1 Corinthians 15:58: Therefore, my brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. [03:01:71]

Soon you will savor the joys of life in the resurrection body. Soon your struggles with sin are going to be over, so fight your best warfare against it now. Soon the weariness that comes with being stretched to the limit in serving will be a thing of the past because you are pressing forward towards the resurrection. [03:33:07]

Father, settle in our minds the glorious hope of the resurrection and help us to live in a way that reflects our knowledge that we are wholly owned, our radical commitment to be done with sin, our offering of ourselves wholly and sacrificially to you, and our sure and certain knowledge that such a life is never, never, never lived in vain. [03:55:19]

The hope of the resurrection should encourage us to never give way to discouragement, knowing that our labor in the Lord is never in vain. We can afford to live sacrificially, knowing that the new earth and resurrection body will be better than what we have now. [03:38:21]

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