Liberation of Our Body
Ishak Natan
July 2021
Introduction
The book of Romans is the defenite doctrine of eternal salvation penned
by the
apostle of the Gentile, Paul. The eighth chapter of Romans appears to
be "the sparkling
diamond"
of the entire Bible.
Because we know that until now all creatures are complaining together
and feeling the pain of childbirth together. And not only them, but we
who have received the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan in our
hearts waiting for adoption as sons, that is, the redemption of our
bodies. (Ro 8:22-23)
Theme
This
article discusses the glorified body that will be received by His
redeemed
people of all nations, namely Ekklesia, the Church; the Human race that
had been redeemed by the
precious blood of Jesus and have accepted Him as personal saviour.
The 'liberation of the body' event will occur when the Lord Jesus
returns to pick up His fiancé.
2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous of you with divine jealousy. For I
have betrothed you to one man to bring you as a holy virgin to Christ.
John 1:11-12 He came to His own, but His own [the Jews/Israel] did not
receive Him. But to all who received him gave he power to become
children of God, to those who believe in his name;
Disciples of Jesus Don't Believe in His Resurrection
There are two events recorded in the Bible.
The first was when two people
were on their way to Emmaus and Jesus approached in disguise and asked
why they were grieving. One named Cleopas told that Jesus of Nazareth
as a prophet who was expected to deliver the children of Israel had
been crucified and after three days that day news came that his tomb
was empty. Beginning with a rebuke of being a fool, Jesus begins to
explain from the Old Testament about Himself. After arriving at the
place before sunset, Jesus seemed to want to continue to go, but was
prevented and invited in to spend the night.
When He sat down to eat with them, He took bread, said a blessing, then
broke it and gave it to them. At that time, their eyes were opened, and
they recognized Him, but He disappeared from their midst. They said to
one another, "Didn't our hearts burn with joy when He spoke to us on
the way and when He explained the Scriptures to us?" (Lu 24:30-32)
The second is when Jesus appears in the
midst of his disciples except for Thomas in a closed room.
37 But they were terrified and
frightened, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38 And he
said unto them, Why are you troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your
hearts? 39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself:
handle me, and see; for a
spirit has not flesh and bones, as you see me have. 40
And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41
And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto
them, Have you here any food? 42 And they gave him a piece of a
broiled fish, and a honeycomb. 43 And he took it, and did eat
before them. Luke 24:37-43
They
were asked to feel His body because everyone thought they saw a ghost
that had no flesh and bones. When Thomas was told, he did not believe
their report . . .
John 20:25 Then the other disciples
said to him, "We have seen the
Lord!" But Thomas said to them: "Until I see the nail marks in His
hands, and before I put my finger in the nail marks and put my hands
into His side, I will never believe."
Eight days later, Jesus' disciples were back in the house and Thomas
was
with them. While the doors are locked, . . .
Then He said to Thomas:
"Put your finger here and see my hand, reach out your hand and put it
in my side and don't believe no more, but believe." Thomas answered
Him: "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen
Me, you have believed. Blessed
are those who have not seen and yet have
believed." (John 20:26-29)
Characteristics and Nature of the
Resurrection Body
In
contrast, it can be compared with the body of Lazarus, who was raised
from the dead by Jesus. Lazarus' body suddenly emerged from the grave
with his entire body still wrapped in a shroud from head to toe.
And having said this, he cried out with a loud voice: "Lazarus, come
out!" The dead man came out, his feet and hands were still bound with
cloth as well as his face. Jesus said to them, "Open
the cloths and let him go." (John 11:43-44)
On the other hand, at the resurrection of Jesus, all the shrouds that
covered
His body were still left in the grave unravelled. This means that 'His
new body' escapes through his 'cocoon-like' bandage and through the
gravestone cover.
The resurrected body of Lazarus eventually also dies again, while the
new body of Jesus cannot die again because it bears the characteristics
and attributes of a glorified body. Such a body has been prepared for
His saints (Ekklesia).
My beloved brethren, now we are children of God, but it is not yet
clear what our condition will be; but we know that when Christ is
revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. (1Jo 3:2)
For we are members of his body, of
his flesh, and of his bones. Eph 5:30
Maranatha