Glorified
Lesson Aim: To show how our eternity with God will be glorious because of its freedom from corruption.
Scriptures: Romans 8:10, 11, 18-25; I Cor. 15:35-49.
Lesson
When Adam and Eve sinned they were separated from the tree of life; consequently, they began to die physically (Gen 3:22-24). They were corrupted spiritually and they were also subjected to physical corruption. They were not the only thing subjected to corruption because of sin. God brought His entire creation into subjection to a futile corruptible condition (Rom. 8:20).
Christians look for a new heaven and a new earth (II Pet. 3:10-13). The creation in which we now live will be freed from its corruptible state into the same freedom Christians hope to enjoy (Rom. 8:21, 22). At the end of time, we understand everything in the present physical form will pass away (I Cor. 7:31). The “all new” will be all spiritual (II Cor. 5:1-5; I John 3:1-3; Rev. 22:14).
God has given us so many blessings in Christ to help us accept the new covenant but there is one greater blessing waiting for faithful Christians. Physical death is the last blessing God will give us. Those of us who enjoy the fellowship of the Holy Spirit are waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons. We have been accepted by God as His children, we have accepted God as our Father, but the final adoption cannot become a reality while we are in this physical body. This is true because of our dual nature. We have been redeemed from the problems “in Adam.” Still we must be redeemed from our physical bodies (Rom. 8:22-25).
Our situation at this time is explained by Paul, “But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet our spirit is alive because of righteousness.” Rom. 8:10. Our inner-man died and was resurrected with Christ in our new birth (Rom. 6:3-11). Christ is in us by virtue of the fact we are developing His nature. This is the righteousness of God at work in our lives; therefore, we are alive to God but only the inner man. The outer man did not die; however, it is under the sentence of death because of its Adam nature (I Cor. 15:22). This is a peculiar situation. Our “self” is alive and this is why we must eventually exit our physical body to be housed in our spiritual body. When this happens it is what is called death of a human being (Jas. 2:26). However, for Christians it is not a tragedy. It is the last blessing from God while we live in our physical form (I Cor. 15:42-44).
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you. Romans 8:11.
There will come a time when we will die physically if our Lord does not return for us first. (II Thess. 4:13-18). Just as our inner man died in baptism with Jesus and was made alive, so when our mortal body dies in physical death, it also will be made alive. This will be true only if the Holy Spirit dwells within us. If Jesus comes before our physical death, our mortal body will become immortal (I Cor. 15:35-38, 51-54).
How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come? Christians not only have the answer but for those who continue to live by faith until our physical death have the solution (Heb. 11:13). We live a life free from the fear of death (Heb. 2:14, 15). Surely, we can consider as Paul did, “that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Rom. 8:18.
All people “in Adam” have the knowledge of good and evil because Adam and Eve sinned. All will fail to choose good all the time, the alternate is evil which is sin. The penalty for sin is death. No one can escape. All people will die spiritually if they live long enough to mature to the level where their minds and consciences decide they are guilty of sin (Rom. 2:14, 15; 12:9; 16:19). People are indeed a dual-natured living soul. God has provided a very unique way for people to die both spiritually and physically. For Christians both can turn out to be a blessing instead of a curse.
Our inner-man dies with Jesus and is made alive in baptism as a son of God. Our outer man will die later but it also will be made alive and glorified by the power of the Holy Spirit. Since we have a dual nature one part dies at one time, and the other part dies later. Both parts are better off after their death because in both cases they are resurrected in a better condition.
The creation groans to be released from corruption. Christians groan to be released from our corruptible body. In the meantime, the Holy Spirit groans with us in our prayers to God. “But if we hope for what we do not see with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.” Rom. 8:25. We wait to be glorified with Jesus.
Questions for Discussion
- Study II Pet. 3:11-13 and Rom. 8:20-23. What is the relationship between this present creation and the new heavens and earth?
- Who subjected this creation to its present futility?
- What is the last blessing God will give a faithful Christian while he or she is in this world?
- Why is it impossible to have our adoption as God’s sons finalized while we, as Christians, live in this world?
- Describe a faithful Christian’s present reality “in Christ” according to Romans 8:10.
- Describe the two stages of death a Christian passes through. Why is neither a tragedy?
- Explain Romans 8:11.
- How does the planting of a seed and the production of a new plant (see I Cor. 15:35-50), relate to your explanation of Rom. 8:11?
- Who must be present with Christians when we die physically for us to have hope for a new body?
- What is the effect on Christians’ present mental environment as a result of our hope of a new body?
