30th Mar 26 | 13:54
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Luke 24 36-49 COMMISSIONED TO BE HIS WITNESSES 08 22Apr2022 Luke 24 38-39 Death, finally, destroyed
📖 Luke 24:36-49
08 – 22Apr2022 – Death, finally, destroyed - Luke 24:36-49 - COMMISSIONED TO BE HIS WITNESSES - Bible reading: I Corinthians 15:23-26
“Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You presented Yourself in the new body which is being prepared for us. This is to encourage and strengthen us as we live in this world. We are to strengthen one another in the body of Christ, to live out the life of Your resurrection. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.”
Luke 24:38-39 And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? (39) Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have."
Let us continue to understand resurrection from the teaching of Apostle Paul to the Corinthians.
I Corinthians 15:49-54 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.
This is the key to understanding the resurrection. To be clothed with the heavenly body that awaits us, we must continuously grow into the image of the heavenly Man. We have been bearing the image of the man of dust, but when we come to Christ and identify with His crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection, we begin the growth process into the image of the heavenly Man, Jesus.
This is the Christian life. It is a life that is constantly growing into the image of the heavenly Man.
II Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
It is the Holy Spirit, who transforms us into the image of the heavenly Man. This work of the Holy Spirit in us is the guarantee that we will be clothed with the new body that is being prepared for us.
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
The Holy Spirit gives life to our mortal bodies. Giving life to our mortal bodies is all about transforming us into the image of the heavenly Man.
(50) Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
If we resist the work of the Holy Spirit in us, then we are choosing to be mortal. Mortality cannot inherit immortality. Corruption cannot inherit incorruption. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.
We are those who are consciously and continuously led by the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
We must be transformed into the image of heavenly Man, by the Holy Spirit.
(51) Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—
Some will sleep in Jesus. Some will remain in this body of dust, till the Lord returns. Both the ones who fall asleep in Jesus and those who remain in this body of dust, are all in the process of being transformed into the image of the heavenly Man.
(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.
Those who have fallen asleep in Jesus will rise first and then those who are still physically alive, at His coming, will be caught up with Jesus and the others.
I Thessalonians 4:16-18 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. (17) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.(18) Therefore comfort one another with these words.
We comfort and encourage one another with the work of being conformed to the image of the heavenly Man.
(53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (54) So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY."
It is only when this body of dust goes back to dust, and we put on the body of Jesus, that the final victory over death takes place.
I Corinthians 15:23-26 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. (24) Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. (25) For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. (26) The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.
The last enemy to be defeated is death.
Thought to ponder
Is the understanding of the final victory over death, making a difference in your life today?