The Resurrection of the Body

1 Co. 15:35

The resurrection of the body - of anyone who has died physically but who will spend eternity either in heaven or hell - is one of the basic teachings in God's Word. It refers to God raising their physical body from the dead and reuniting it with the person's soul and spirit. The physical body was separated from the soul and spirit during the intermediate state between physical death and the resurrection. The Bible teaches that though there is a period of time between a person's physical death and his or her bodily resurrection, there is no lapse of time between death and the life to come. A Christian's death brings him or her immediately into Christ's presence. While awaiting resurrection, believers do not exist as vague shadows or naked souls without a bodily form. For example, on the Mount of Transfiguration both Moses and Elijah appeared clothed with a heavenly body even though they were awaiting their resurrection bodies (Matt. 17:2-3). In addition, in Rev. 6:9-11 souls in heaven are described as visible and wearing white robes.

The Bible reveals at least three reasons why the resurrection of the body is necessary: the body is a basic part of the total human personality; humans are incomplete without a body. For this reason, the redemption that Christ offers applies to the whole person, including the body. The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit for those who follow Christ. At the time of resurrection, it will again become a temple of the Spirit. In order to undo the tragic result of sin at all levels, humanity's final enemy - death of the body - must be conquered through the resurrection. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament teach about the future bodily resurrection. Our bodily resurrection is guaranteed by the fact that Christ was resurrected from the dead.

In general terms, a Christian's resurrected body will be like Christ's own resurrected body. More specifically, the resurrected body will be: a body with structural similarities to the body of this life, so it will be recognizable (Luke 16:19-31); a body changed from an earthly into a heavenly body, adapted for life in the new heaven and new earth (1 Co. 15:42-44); an immortal body - permanent and indestructible - free from decay and death (1 Co. 15:42); a glorified body, like Christ's (1 Co. 15:43); a powerful body not subject to disease or weakness; a spiritual body, not bound by the laws of nature (Luke 24:31); a body capable of eating and drinking (Luke 14:15).

When God's people receive their new bodies, they "put on" immorality, which will fulfill the Christian's final and complete victory over death (1 Co. 15:53-54). The Bible gives at least three purposes for this: so that God's people may become all that God desired for humans at creation; so that believers may come to know and relate to God in the full way He wants them to know Him; so that God may express His love to His children as He desires.

Christ's faithful followers who are still alive when Christ returns for His church will experience the same bodily transformation as those believers who have died prior to the day of resurrection. They will receive new bodies just like the bodies given to those who will be raised from the dead at that time. They will never experience physical death.

Jesus speaks of a resurrection of life for those who follow Christ and a resurrection of judgment for those who do not (John 5:28-29).