In 1 Corinthians 15:47-49 Paul sums up the differences between the old and the new body by contrasting the body of Adam with that of Christ and by saying that the resurrected body of the believer will be similar to the Lord’s.
“The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.” (1 Cor. 15:47-49)
That is to say, man’s present body is similar, in its earthly nature, to the body of the first created man, Adam, from whom all other men are descended. But the resurrection body of the believer will be similar to that of Christ, who, through the new creation, has become the head of a new race in which are included all those redeemed through faith in Him from sin and its consequences.
Paul gives a similar picture of the believer’s resurrection body.
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” (Phil. 3:20-21)
Translated more literally, this last verse states that Christ is able to transform the body of our humiliation so that it becomes similar in form to the body of His glory.
In 1 John 3:2 we glimpse a similar picture of the transformation of the believer at the return of Christ.
“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
Concerning the nature of Christ’s own body after His resurrection, the Gospels give us certain interesting indications. It would appear that He was no longer subject to those limitations of time and space with which we are familiar in our present earthly body. He could appear or disappear at will; He could pass through locked doors; He could appear in different forms in different places. He could also ascend to heaven and descend again to earth. In these and in other respects which are perhaps not yet revealed, the body of the redeemed believer after resurrection or rapture will be like that of his Lord.
So far we have spoken only about the resurrection body of the redeemed believer. What about the unrighteous? those who are not redeemed? those who die in their sins? The Scripture reveals clearly that these, too, in their own order, will be resurrected for judgement and for punishment. With what kind of bodies will they be clothed at their resurrection?
To this question no clear answer or even indication is found in the Bible. We must therefore be content to leave it unanswered.
Father, thank You for the privilege and the indescribable honour that I as a person may be an image carrier of You! You help me to live and to behave in line with that high calling! Amen.
