THE SAVING OF THE BODY

The challenge of this lesson is to make all aware of the true concept of our salvation. It is not widely preached or taught in mainstream Christendom, as one would think. Therefore, it is necessary that we bring this concept before us, if we are to truly understand the intent of our God.

In the beginning…

Satan and much of the angelic host worshiped God in the Holy Mountain of God, (the sides of the North) in what is now Jerusalem. The prophet confirms this. Ezekiel 28:14-15 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

The following scriptures also lay a foundation for our understanding.

Isaiah 14:13-14

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

Psalms 48:1-2

1 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.

2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

The Prophets are describing the place of Satan's desire. He knew God had chosen Jerusalem as his holy mountain. The location of His seat is also referred to as the sides of the north.

We also know that the Garden of Eden was located somewhere in Iraq, which is hundreds of miles from the Holy Mountain, (Jerusalem), where Lucifer was conducting his services. However, it is important to note that at some point before God created the Garden, Lucifer fell into sin.

Now there are several things to consider here. First of all, do you think for one moment that God was not aware that the spirit of satan had entered the serpent? Yet, he allowed the serpent to remain in the Garden; giving satan access to his creation. Thus, satan was able to plant his spirit in the serpent, (the spirit of iniquity), in an effort to seduce the woman that she might get the man to sin against God.

The first part of satan's plan worked flawlessly. Man lost his place in paradise and his bishopric over the earth. Little did Adam know, disobedience is a spirit. (Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Ephesians 2:2 ). By this one man, sin came into the world and death by sin.

Therefore, death ruled in the earth and in man. Paul made this clear in his letter to the Roman church,

Romans 5:14

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

As I said, the first part of satan's plan worked flawlessly. However, the Father had his own plan. Therefore, he made sure Adam was not able to get to the tree of life, eat of it, and live forever with the spirit of the wicked one living inside of him as well. Satan would have used that undying body to prolong his own existence. Remember the words of our Saviour,

John 8:44

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Though his plan to occupy flesh that had everlasting life failed, yet he had the use of bodies that would serve him until they finally died. The creation appeared to be eternally lost. It had no hope in itself; for the law of sin and death worked its members, bringing it into captivity to do the will of the wicked one. Even when it wanted to do good, evil was present, forbidding it.

This is a good time to say, “But God.” Yes, God is the master architect, He is the master builder. The plan was his all along. Can we even consider thinking that God did not know that Adam would disobey him. He is omniscient. Listen to His boast in Isaiah 46:9-10 - Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure -

It is obvious, no one really has a plan. Everything that is done upon the earth is done inside of His plan. The same is true concerning the saving of man. It was always the intent of God to save, restore or redeem his creation. But this plan was hidden from the sons of men. But make no mistake the plan existed. Ephesians 3:9-10 - And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Furthermore, this is also highlighted in John’s writing. 1 John 5:7, For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And 1 John 5:11, And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

These passages prove that the Father had a plan before the world was ever formed. His intent was recorded in Heaven before the dawn of time. Once again, Paul says as much to Titus concerning the salvation of the fallen creation in Titus 1:1-3: Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; 2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

Before we move on, there are some important points we need to pinpoint here. Paul testifies that the creation was placed in hope of eternal life. Now think on how contradictory this is in light of the fact that it is dead in sins and trespasses. But God promised in eternity past, to bring the opportunity to enter into eternal life through his Son.

Romans 8:20-21;

20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

He goes on to say that the creation was made subject to the one it obeyed. But he also at the same time subjected it to hope. Now hope means to have a great expectation. Thus, it was the plan of the Father to make a promise of a coming Deliverer. It is also necessary to note that this Deliverer would also deliver the creation from “the bondage of corruption,” which is sinful flesh.

Now when we come back into ‘time’ we see the Father actually vocalizing this promise to his fallen creation. Genesis 3:15And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. This is the covenant God made with mankind. And even though man became so evil that God purposed to destroy all that breathed the breath of life, Noah found favor with Him. Genesis 6:18: But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee. Though the earth and all of its inhabitants were destroyed, God kept his promise to Adam and established it in Noah. Nevertheless, again in the halls of time, we hear Jesus reiterate the promise that was first spoken in eternity. Matthew 18:11: For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

Now I really want to pause here for a moment to point out something that is not being preached in mainstream Christendom. Christ Jesus is not only the savior of the soul, but he is also the savior of the body as well. No, the saving of the body is not something that is commonly taught in the church. However, it is a vital part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. To make us truly see the manifold wisdom of God, we will take another look into the Garden. Genesis 2:7; And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Man was formed from the dust. He was called man before the breath of life was breathed into him. It was the breath of life (soul) that brought the ‘man’ alive. My point is, there is no man without a body. This is a very significant fact because God had purposed to live in the bodies called mankind. The body of man is the image God chose to live in. Let us not forget one of the main purposes for the coming of Christ was to build God a house, a holy habitation to dwell in. This is the plan that will flow into eternity. 1 Corinthians 15:28: And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

This plan never changes. Therefore, it was necessary for the whole man to be saved. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 - And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We never hear of the saving and reservation of the body in salvation. But if the Father is to have the good pleasure of His will, ‘the body’ of his creation must be preserved. Therefore, Paul the apostle who was given an amazing revelation of Christ in the Church, boldly states…Ephesians 5:23: For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Now we come to how this saving of the body is to take place. Matthew 9:17: Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved. I think we can all agree that the wine here is the Holy Ghost, the old bottles are the bodies of unbelievers and the new bottles are the bodies of the believers. Here in the scriptures is the process or the operation of the faith of God.

• Romans 6:6 (the death of the old body)

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

• Colossians 2:11 (death of the body and eviction of the law of sin and death)

In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

• Hebrews 10:22 (the washing of the corpse)

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

• Romans 8:11 (The corpse brought back to life)

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

• 1 John 3:9 (Christ in flesh…)

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

• Ephesians 5:30 (The manifestation of the the son of God)

For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

Now that we have seen and understand the operation of the faith of God in the saving of the body, we also need to understand that we believers are living in hope. Yes, we have been subjected to the hope of eternal life. Paul writes to us of this blessed hope in Philippians 3:21: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. He also speaks again in 2 Corinthians 5:1: For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. This is where we were confused. The phrase eternal in the heavens, was thought to mean that when we expire here on earth, and the body goes back to the dust, that is the end of it. But that is not the case. Let us continue to read what the writer wrote. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

The scriptures below also tell the story.

1 Corinthians 15:52-55

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

There is a need for us to correct some of our theology here. For many years we have thought the scriptures to imply that the dead in Christ are in heaven; and that is where they will come from with him, in the rapture of the Church. Their souls are indeed in Heaven, however, their bodies are still in the earth. Consider the following passages.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

John 5:27-29

27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

The bodies of those who have believed and received the atonement of Jesus Christ, will rise from the grave and be changed into bodies likened unto the glorious body of Christ. Jesus will bring their souls back with him to occupy their changed bodies. They shall rise first, and then those of us who are still alive at the coming of the Lord, our bodies will be changed. Thus, we will meet him in the air.

So what is the conclusion of the matter? Well, I think Paul’s encouragement to the Romans says it all. Romans 8:23: And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

This is our great expectation, the hope of a new body. And this hope is justified, because the seed of Christ has remained with us and provided our body with a divine sinless nature. Beloved, let us strive to keep it holy, and acceptable unto God; that we may also appear in the first resurrection of the dead in Christ.