100:00:01,000 –> 00:00:05,660We’ve seen that there is a good, better, best pattern to200:00:05,660 –> 00:00:09,700the Christian life. To be in Christ is good. To be with300:00:09,700 –> 00:00:13,380Christ is better. In fact, the apostle says it is better, by400:00:13,420 –> 00:00:18,660far. But even for our believing loved ones who are with Christ500:00:18,660 –> 00:00:22,940right now, the best is yet to be. Welcome to stalking600:00:22,940 –> 00:00:26,420the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick.700:00:26,639 –> 00:00:29,639I’m David Pick. Glad you could join us today. And Colin,800:00:29,639 –> 00:00:32,119you’re telling us that even those who are in the presence900:00:32,119 –> 00:00:35,560of Jesus Christ right now have something better to look1000:00:35,560 –> 00:00:38,660forward to. Oh yeah, I’ve been quite sure that that is what1100:00:38,660 –> 00:00:42,599the Bible makes clear. Those who are with Christ consciously1200:00:42,599 –> 00:00:46,080enjoy his presence. It is a marvellous thing for them right1300:00:46,080 –> 00:00:49,160now. But the Scripture makes very clear that there is an1400:00:49,160 –> 00:00:52,720anticipation that they have revelation. The souls under the1500:00:53,500 –> 00:00:56,680are saying, how long oh lord? They’re looking forward to1600:00:56,680 –> 00:00:59,180something that’s still to come and what’s still to come of1700:00:59,180 –> 00:01:03,180course, is the return of the Lord Jesus Christ when those1800:01:03,180 –> 00:01:06,800souls who are with him will return with him and we will be1900:01:06,800 –> 00:01:10,260caught up to meet them in the air. And then we shall all be2000:01:10,260 –> 00:01:12,919given the gift of the resurrection body, which is our2100:01:12,919 –> 00:01:15,879focus today. And that’s going to happen in the moment and in2200:01:15,879 –> 00:01:19,379the twinkling of an eye. That’s ahead for us. It’s also ahead2300:01:19,379 –> 00:01:21,400for them and they anticipate it with joy.2400:01:21,440 –> 00:01:24,279And we’re going to hear more about this today from I2500:01:24,279 –> 00:01:28,940Corinthians 15 and verses 50 to 58 so join us in your Bible if2600:01:28,940 –> 00:01:29,599you can.2700:01:30,120 –> 00:01:31,400Here is pastor Colin.2800:01:31,639 –> 00:01:34,519I want us to look this is perhaps the most ambitious2900:01:34,519 –> 00:01:38,320outline I’ve ever attempted, four doctrines, four promises,3000:01:38,320 –> 00:01:41,639four changes and four conclusions in 40 minutes. Okay.3100:01:41,919 –> 00:01:44,860So here we go. That’s the introduction, we begin with3200:01:44,860 –> 00:01:48,919four doctrines that teach us the importance of the body. Number3300:01:49,180 –> 00:01:55,720one. Creation teaches us that God made us both body as well as3400:01:55,720 –> 00:01:59,559soul. You remember Genesis chapter two and verse seven, the3500:01:59,559 –> 00:02:02,919Lord formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed3600:02:02,919 –> 00:02:07,239into his nostrils the breath of life and the man became a living3700:02:07,279 –> 00:02:14,119creature. So, God made the body of Adam from the dust of the3800:02:14,119 –> 00:02:18,399ground. Imagine it there, the biodegradable corpse and it’s3900:02:18,759 –> 00:02:22,039lifeless, made out of the dust of the ground, could be4000:02:22,039 –> 00:02:25,699chemically analysed, the physical body, but then into4100:02:25,699 –> 00:02:28,880this corpse God breathes, the Bible says, the breath of life4200:02:28,919 –> 00:02:35,139so that Adam became a body soul union. And that is the nature4300:02:35,139 –> 00:02:39,160of our life. That is why death is an enemy, and why the Bible4400:02:39,160 –> 00:02:42,000speaks of Death as the last enemy, because it is the4500:02:42,000 –> 00:02:45,279separating of what God put together in the very nature with4600:02:45,339 –> 00:02:47,600the network of which he made us. We are a union of body and4700:02:47,600 –> 00:02:50,539soul and death separates the soul from the body.4800:02:50,600 –> 00:02:53,800It is a tearing apart of what God has joined together.4900:02:54,800 –> 00:02:58,940So you have a phone, but if it is not connected5000:02:58,940 –> 00:03:00,320to the network, what is it?5100:03:00,320 –> 00:03:04,600I mean, it’s no longer a phone. It can’t function as a phone5200:03:04,600 –> 00:03:08,160without the network. It cannot fulfill the function for which5300:03:08,160 –> 00:03:11,080it is made. It depends upon it’s union with the network.5400:03:12,080 –> 00:03:14,279And there is a network.5500:03:15,119 –> 00:03:18,119But the fact that there is a cellular network is of absolutely5600:03:18,119 –> 00:03:20,220no value to you if you do not have a phone.5700:03:20,240 –> 00:03:24,160It is the joining of the two together that makes this5800:03:24,160 –> 00:03:27,960wonderful gift of immediate personal communication possible.5900:03:27,979 –> 00:03:34,160So God created you as a body, soul union, and all that God6000:03:34,160 –> 00:03:35,479has created is good.6100:03:35,500 –> 00:03:37,500We have that from Genesis and Chapter one.6200:03:37,679 –> 00:03:40,520That is why God will not scrap it and start again.6300:03:40,559 –> 00:03:42,820He will not scrap you and start again.6400:03:42,839 –> 00:03:46,619What God has made, he redeems in Jesus Christ, and that means6500:03:46,619 –> 00:03:49,619he redeems your body as well as your soul.6600:03:50,880 –> 00:03:54,139Second doctrine, that speaks to this wonderful truth, that is6700:03:54,139 –> 00:03:57,639the doctrine of the fall that reminds us that sin has ruined6800:03:57,759 –> 00:04:01,520us both in relation to body and soul.6900:04:01,539 –> 00:04:05,740Never forget that the bodies that we have are different now7000:04:05,759 –> 00:04:10,259from the bodies Adam and Eve had when they were created by God.7100:04:10,339 –> 00:04:14,199In that created in the garden, their bodies were subject to no7200:04:14,199 –> 00:04:16,880disease, no pain and no death.7300:04:17,579 –> 00:04:20,339All of that came, the Bible makes very clear, with the7400:04:20,339 –> 00:04:23,079entrance of sin into the world.7500:04:23,720 –> 00:04:30,140And what that means is that sin afflicts every area of our life,7600:04:30,140 –> 00:04:33,279including not only the soul, but also the body.7700:04:33,279 –> 00:04:37,760So we live with teeth that decay, and cholesterol that goes7800:04:37,760 –> 00:04:42,899up and energy that goes down, and skin that sags and bones7900:04:42,899 –> 00:04:47,040that ache and eyes that need glasses, and hearing that8000:04:47,040 –> 00:04:47,940declines.8100:04:48,200 –> 00:04:54,640We live with the trials of chemical imbalances in the body.8200:04:55,019 –> 00:04:58,600Hormones flying around out of control.8300:04:58,799 –> 00:05:03,140And on top of that, in multitude of diseases and maladies and8400:05:03,140 –> 00:05:08,859conditions and cancers that afflict the course of our8500:05:09,320 –> 00:05:10,260lives.8600:05:10,839 –> 00:05:12,859God created you body and soul.8700:05:13,059 –> 00:05:16,299Sin has affected all of us body and soul.8800:05:17,140 –> 00:05:19,700Third, the doctrine of the incarnation, Jesus Christ8900:05:19,700 –> 00:05:22,839became one with us body and soul.9000:05:22,839 –> 00:05:28,739Think about this, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,9100:05:28,739 –> 00:05:30,079God became a man.9200:05:30,500 –> 00:05:32,119And the body and soul union, that is, the body and soul9300:05:32,119 –> 00:05:33,579union in Jesus Christ.9400:05:34,820 –> 00:05:38,619The body of Jesus was a body like ours, with a central9500:05:38,619 –> 00:05:43,160nervous system, he was born as a baby, he grew up as a child,9600:05:43,320 –> 00:05:45,279he learned in the same way as we learn.9700:05:45,279 –> 00:05:49,380He grew to be a man, he knew what it was to feel pressure,9800:05:49,380 –> 00:05:53,820to sweat to hunger and to thirst and to be weary.9900:05:54,220 –> 00:05:59,220Very interesting that the first major heresy10000:06:00,760 –> 00:06:04,179that the church had to deal with in the early days10100:06:04,179 –> 00:06:07,380was not the denial that Jesus was God,10200:06:07,380 –> 00:06:10,839but the denial on the part of some that Jesus was man.10300:06:11,820 –> 00:06:12,920And here was the rationale.10400:06:12,920 –> 00:06:15,480You see, people in the early world, they had this idea10500:06:15,480 –> 00:06:18,320that we’ve sort of got a pure spirit in an unworthy body10600:06:18,320 –> 00:06:20,200and so they raised him like this.10700:06:20,200 –> 00:06:23,519Now how could God, who is pure spirit,10800:06:23,899 –> 00:06:26,000possibly allow himself to get mixed up10900:06:26,000 –> 00:06:29,059with anything as base as a human body?11000:06:29,059 –> 00:06:31,779And that’s why you have in 2 John, in chapter seven,11100:06:31,779 –> 00:06:34,579for example, the statement many deceivers11200:06:34,579 –> 00:06:36,380have gone out into the world.11300:06:36,380 –> 00:06:40,200Those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ11400:06:40,200 –> 00:06:41,519in the flesh.11500:06:42,700 –> 00:06:43,959But God did become man.11600:06:43,959 –> 00:06:46,320The Word did become flesh.11700:06:47,420 –> 00:06:48,540That’s very significant.11800:06:48,540 –> 00:06:52,899You see, if the Bible said in the beginning was the Word,11900:06:53,980 –> 00:06:56,399and the Word remained Spirit.12000:06:58,119 –> 00:07:00,380If it said that,12100:07:00,380 –> 00:07:02,980we might reasonably conclude that God’s interest12200:07:02,980 –> 00:07:07,019in our lives was only in relation to things of the Spirit,12300:07:07,019 –> 00:07:11,320like prayer, and meditation, and Bible study.12400:07:11,320 –> 00:07:13,579If it said that, we might reasonably conclude12500:07:13,579 –> 00:07:17,720that God’s concerned with your heart but not your home.12600:07:17,720 –> 00:07:21,720That God’s concerned with your spirit but not your schedule.12700:07:21,720 –> 00:07:23,600That God’s concerned with your character12800:07:23,600 –> 00:07:26,679but not with your activity.12900:07:26,679 –> 00:07:30,239But what the Bible says is that the Word became flesh.13000:07:30,239 –> 00:07:34,279That God entered the world of noisy kids,13100:07:34,279 –> 00:07:37,059and pushy parents, and overcrowded schedules,13200:07:37,059 –> 00:07:40,140and relentless pressures, and unending demands13300:07:40,140 –> 00:07:41,660that push us to the limit.13400:07:41,660 –> 00:07:45,179He came into that world and lived life13500:07:45,179 –> 00:07:47,940in the body.13600:07:47,940 –> 00:07:49,140And when He went to the cross,13700:07:49,140 –> 00:07:51,059He died not only to save your soul,13800:07:51,059 –> 00:07:52,779but to redeem your life.13900:07:52,779 –> 00:07:55,779What that means is that God is laying claim to14000:07:55,779 –> 00:07:58,820and invading every part of your life14100:07:58,820 –> 00:08:02,720marriage, checkbook, career, kids, everything,14200:08:02,720 –> 00:08:09,100not just here’s my life and I add prayer and church to it.14300:08:09,100 –> 00:08:11,859The incarnation just blows that away.14400:08:11,859 –> 00:08:17,019Fourth doctrine, resurrection.14500:08:17,019 –> 00:08:18,040Please understand this.14600:08:18,040 –> 00:08:20,260All religions have at least some notion14700:08:20,260 –> 00:08:21,940of survival after death.14800:08:22,000 –> 00:08:23,079There are different notions,14900:08:23,079 –> 00:08:26,739but some notion is common to all inspiration.15000:08:26,739 –> 00:08:27,920The Titanic goes down15100:08:27,920 –> 00:08:30,820and what does Celine Dion sing for us?15200:08:30,820 –> 00:08:33,400My heart will go on.15300:08:33,400 –> 00:08:35,679She sings it very beautifully too.15400:08:35,679 –> 00:08:38,200Some idea of the survival of the soul15500:08:38,200 –> 00:08:41,179is common to humanity.15600:08:41,179 –> 00:08:43,520But the resurrection of the body friends15700:08:43,520 –> 00:08:46,260is unique to Christianity.15800:08:46,260 –> 00:08:47,940And the reason for that is very obvious,15900:08:47,940 –> 00:08:51,080only Christians have a risen Savior.16000:08:51,119 –> 00:08:53,559We should be trumpeting this.16100:08:53,559 –> 00:08:55,979It is the most glorious truth16200:08:55,979 –> 00:08:58,840that we need to grasp and to cherish16300:08:58,840 –> 00:09:01,739and to put on display.16400:09:01,739 –> 00:09:04,159At the heart of our faith16500:09:04,159 –> 00:09:06,140is that the tomb was empty16600:09:06,140 –> 00:09:09,859and the corpse of Jesus was raised to life16700:09:09,859 –> 00:09:11,900and that all who share in Him16800:09:11,900 –> 00:09:15,679will share in this glorious resurrection.16900:09:16,739 –> 00:09:20,080The truth of the resurrection of the body friends17000:09:20,080 –> 00:09:24,280is a crown jewel of the Christian faith.17100:09:25,400 –> 00:09:27,599This is a truth that we are to treasure.17200:09:27,599 –> 00:09:29,919This is a truth that we are to put on display17300:09:29,919 –> 00:09:30,760before the world.17400:09:30,760 –> 00:09:32,880Nobody else has anything like it.17500:09:34,159 –> 00:09:35,080It is a promise17600:09:35,080 –> 00:09:37,900to excite the interest of every Christian.17700:09:37,900 –> 00:09:39,599It is a hope for every believer17800:09:39,599 –> 00:09:41,039to anticipate with God17900:09:41,039 –> 00:09:42,640and here’s the tragedy.18000:09:42,640 –> 00:09:45,640Many Christians hardly have a grip18100:09:45,640 –> 00:09:48,460on this doctrine at all.18200:09:48,460 –> 00:09:50,900In fact, what I’ve found over the years as a pastor18300:09:50,900 –> 00:09:52,739and then what’s pressed me particularly18400:09:52,739 –> 00:09:54,219to this message today18500:09:54,219 –> 00:09:56,460is that it is increasingly obvious to me18600:09:56,460 –> 00:09:58,539that many Christians have the idea18700:09:58,539 –> 00:10:01,099that what God has prepared for us beyond this life18800:10:01,099 –> 00:10:02,380is a kind of half-life.18900:10:04,140 –> 00:10:05,820A sort of compensation19000:10:06,719 –> 00:10:08,580for those who didn’t have the strength19100:10:08,580 –> 00:10:11,280to continue the real life in this world.19200:10:13,000 –> 00:10:14,619For friends, the resurrection19300:10:14,619 –> 00:10:17,179is the very purpose for which we were created by God19400:10:17,179 –> 00:10:18,679and redeemed in Christ.19500:10:19,640 –> 00:10:20,960You’re listening to Open the Bible19600:10:20,960 –> 00:10:22,359with Pastor Colin Smith19700:10:22,359 –> 00:10:23,520in a message called19800:10:23,520 –> 00:10:24,679The Joys of Life19900:10:24,679 –> 00:10:26,119in the Resurrection Body.20000:10:26,119 –> 00:10:27,400And we’ll catch up20100:10:27,400 –> 00:10:30,080with the rest of this message very shortly.20200:10:30,080 –> 00:10:32,760The message is part of a series called Heaven.20300:10:32,760 –> 00:10:34,400And if you missed any of the series20400:10:34,400 –> 00:10:35,520you can easily catch up20500:10:35,520 –> 00:10:36,799or go back and listen again20600:10:36,799 –> 00:10:38,840by coming online to our website20700:10:38,840 –> 00:10:41,859openthebible.org.uk.20800:10:41,859 –> 00:10:42,979Pastor Colin’s book,20900:10:42,979 –> 00:10:44,239Heaven How I Got Here21000:10:44,239 –> 00:10:46,119was performed as a play21100:10:46,140 –> 00:10:48,239with a single actor Stephen Baldwin21200:10:48,239 –> 00:10:50,359playing the part of the thief.21300:10:50,359 –> 00:10:52,919The plays now been turned into a one hour film21400:10:52,919 –> 00:10:54,619and here’s Open the Bible’s21500:10:54,619 –> 00:10:56,679Executive Director John Martin21600:10:56,679 –> 00:10:59,000to talk about how this film can be used21700:10:59,000 –> 00:11:00,619by your church this Easter.21800:11:00,619 –> 00:11:01,460Hello David.21900:11:01,460 –> 00:11:03,299We’ve got a free event pack22000:11:03,299 –> 00:11:04,960to help churches put on22100:11:04,960 –> 00:11:07,299the one hour film of Heaven How I Got Here22200:11:07,299 –> 00:11:09,320the story of the thief on the cross.22300:11:09,320 –> 00:11:11,280This professionally produced one actor play22400:11:11,280 –> 00:11:13,280was used by many churches22500:11:13,280 –> 00:11:15,179across the UK last Easter22600:11:15,500 –> 00:11:18,979and it is now available in 14 languages.22700:11:18,979 –> 00:11:21,179The free resources include a guide22800:11:21,179 –> 00:11:22,940to help you plan your event22900:11:22,940 –> 00:11:25,479and publicity you can download.23000:11:25,479 –> 00:11:30,479Just go to openthebible.org.uk forward slash heaven.23100:11:30,940 –> 00:11:33,640Back to the message now here again is Colin23200:11:33,640 –> 00:11:35,739Let’s move on and take a look at this23300:11:35,739 –> 00:11:38,239glorious prospect that lies ahead23400:11:38,239 –> 00:11:40,559and let me point you to four promises23500:11:40,559 –> 00:11:41,900simply for scriptures23600:11:41,900 –> 00:11:43,099from right across the Bible23700:11:43,099 –> 00:11:44,359Old Testament and New23800:11:44,760 –> 00:11:47,700and particularly these point out for us23900:11:47,700 –> 00:11:50,239the great continuity that there is24000:11:50,239 –> 00:11:53,299between life here and the marvelous life24100:11:53,299 –> 00:11:54,260that is to come.24200:11:54,260 –> 00:11:56,780Here’s the first Job chapter 1924300:11:56,780 –> 00:11:57,820and many of you know this,24400:11:57,820 –> 00:12:00,599well marvelous statement of Job24500:12:01,820 –> 00:12:05,820I know that My Redeemer lives24600:12:06,880 –> 00:12:11,440and at the last He will stand upon the earth24700:12:11,440 –> 00:12:13,679and after my skin has thus24800:12:13,679 –> 00:12:18,679been destroyed yet in my flesh24900:12:18,700 –> 00:12:23,700I shall see God whom I shall see25000:12:23,700 –> 00:12:28,400for myself and my eyes shall behold25100:12:29,299 –> 00:12:30,559and not another.25200:12:32,440 –> 00:12:34,119Notice what Job knew,25300:12:35,080 –> 00:12:38,039His Redeemer lives25400:12:39,940 –> 00:12:42,559and His Redeemer one day will stand25500:12:42,599 –> 00:12:45,820on the Earth that’s what he says25600:12:46,919 –> 00:12:50,119and when this living Redeemer stands on the Earth25700:12:50,119 –> 00:12:52,080here’s what will happen for me says Job25800:12:53,119 –> 00:12:55,880I will see God with25900:12:55,880 –> 00:12:57,880my own eyes.26000:12:59,320 –> 00:13:01,219I don’t suppose for a minute that Job understood26100:13:01,219 –> 00:13:02,880from that all that was later revealed26200:13:02,880 –> 00:13:05,119in regards to the resurrection of the body.26300:13:06,200 –> 00:13:08,799The great Saint Augustine said on one occasion26400:13:08,799 –> 00:13:10,500that the Old Testament is like a room26500:13:10,500 –> 00:13:14,000that is fully furnished but it’s only dimly lit26600:13:14,000 –> 00:13:16,479and when the New Testament light is pulled26700:13:16,479 –> 00:13:18,739on the Old Testament scriptures26800:13:18,739 –> 00:13:20,700we have every reason to see what God26900:13:20,700 –> 00:13:22,659had put there in the first place27000:13:22,659 –> 00:13:24,520even if it was not fully revealed27100:13:24,520 –> 00:13:26,719to those who were living at the time.27200:13:27,700 –> 00:13:30,599Notice what he says I will see God with my own eyes.27300:13:32,140 –> 00:13:35,020Friends that’s eyeballs.27400:13:36,159 –> 00:13:38,020That’s eyeballs.27500:13:38,020 –> 00:13:40,299That’s not you know oh now I see27600:13:40,299 –> 00:13:41,960in the sense of now I understand.27700:13:41,960 –> 00:13:44,460That’s I will see.27800:13:44,460 –> 00:13:45,719In the sense that you’re looking27900:13:45,719 –> 00:13:47,559at this pulpit right now,28000:13:47,559 –> 00:13:51,020you see it, your eyeballs.28100:13:52,179 –> 00:13:53,780And Job says in that same way28200:13:53,780 –> 00:13:58,780I’m going to see God in all of his glory28300:13:59,539 –> 00:14:00,599and when’s it going to happen?28400:14:00,599 –> 00:14:02,900It’s not going to happen immediately after my death,28500:14:02,900 –> 00:14:06,299no after my skin has thus been destroyed.28600:14:06,299 –> 00:14:07,760It’s going to happen when my Redeemer28700:14:07,840 –> 00:14:09,239who lives stands on the earth28800:14:09,239 –> 00:14:10,640but it is going to happen,28900:14:10,640 –> 00:14:13,580you will see God as truly29000:14:13,580 –> 00:14:16,000as you see this pulpit in front of you.29100:14:16,000 –> 00:14:18,020Second scripture, great promise.29200:14:18,020 –> 00:14:22,400Romans chapter eight versus 22 to 24.29300:14:22,400 –> 00:14:26,359We know that the whole creation29400:14:26,359 –> 00:14:27,880has been groaning together29500:14:27,880 –> 00:14:30,619in the pains of childbirth until now,29600:14:31,559 –> 00:14:32,940and not only the creation29700:14:32,940 –> 00:14:37,500but we ourselves who have the first fruits of the Spirit,29800:14:37,500 –> 00:14:38,780what’s our experience now?29900:14:38,780 –> 00:14:43,280We groan inwardly as we wait eagerly30000:14:43,280 –> 00:14:46,380for the adoption as sons,30100:14:46,380 –> 00:14:47,219and what is that?30200:14:47,219 –> 00:14:51,140It is the redemption of our bodies30300:14:51,140 –> 00:14:54,299for in this hope we were saved.30400:14:55,460 –> 00:14:57,460And you see what Paul says here.30500:14:57,460 –> 00:14:59,859The redemption of your body30600:15:00,840 –> 00:15:05,299is the hope in which you are saved.30700:15:05,299 –> 00:15:06,700The great purpose of God,30800:15:06,739 –> 00:15:08,979the great reason for which Jesus went to the cross30900:15:08,979 –> 00:15:11,659was not to save a part of you,31000:15:11,659 –> 00:15:14,000but to redeem the whole of you.31100:15:15,400 –> 00:15:17,280God made you body and soul31200:15:17,280 –> 00:15:21,419and Christ came to redeem you soul and body.31300:15:21,419 –> 00:15:22,900And he does it in this order,31400:15:22,900 –> 00:15:24,700soul now,31500:15:24,700 –> 00:15:27,140body later.31600:15:27,140 –> 00:15:28,859But what God has joined together31700:15:28,859 –> 00:15:32,479no one is going to separate for all eternity.31800:15:33,900 –> 00:15:36,000All that God has made is good.31900:15:36,799 –> 00:15:40,960And all that God has made he will redeem.32000:15:42,380 –> 00:15:43,919This is staggering to our minds.32100:15:43,919 –> 00:15:45,940Let’s look at a third great promise32200:15:45,940 –> 00:15:48,119from Philippians chapter 3 this time.32300:15:48,119 –> 00:15:50,059Just to fill our minds with a scripture32400:15:50,059 –> 00:15:52,299regarding this great truth.32500:15:52,299 –> 00:15:55,200Philippians 3, verses 20 and 21,32600:15:55,200 –> 00:15:58,260our citizenship is in heaven32700:15:59,260 –> 00:16:02,820and from it we await as savior,32800:16:02,820 –> 00:16:05,419the Lord Jesus Christ,32900:16:05,460 –> 00:16:07,119and what’s he gonna do?33000:16:07,119 –> 00:16:11,640The Lord Jesus Christ who will transform our lowly body33100:16:12,580 –> 00:16:15,719to be like his glorious body,33200:16:15,719 –> 00:16:17,119how’s he gonna do that?33300:16:17,119 –> 00:16:20,880By the power that enables him33400:16:20,880 –> 00:16:25,580even to subject all things to himself.33500:16:27,880 –> 00:16:32,119Now notice that the human body33600:16:32,119 –> 00:16:35,280is described here as lowly.33700:16:35,280 –> 00:16:36,119Lowly.33800:16:37,159 –> 00:16:38,760At its strongest,33900:16:39,619 –> 00:16:40,880it is quite fragile.34000:16:40,880 –> 00:16:43,400The fittest person being hit by a car,34100:16:43,400 –> 00:16:44,799it’s very, very fragile.34200:16:45,820 –> 00:16:46,880It’s a lowly body.34300:16:48,159 –> 00:16:50,840CS Lewis has a wonderful picture here.34400:16:50,840 –> 00:16:54,719He says, when you are learning to ride,34500:16:54,719 –> 00:16:57,419they give you unimpressive horses.34600:16:58,679 –> 00:17:00,580Only when you are ready for it34700:17:00,580 –> 00:17:02,119are you allowed an animal34800:17:02,119 –> 00:17:04,880that will really gallop and jump.34900:17:04,979 –> 00:17:06,839Isn’t that a great picture?35000:17:06,839 –> 00:17:09,079When you’re learning to ride,35100:17:09,079 –> 00:17:11,439they give you unimpressive horses.35200:17:12,359 –> 00:17:14,119And God has given you a body35300:17:14,119 –> 00:17:16,819that the Bible says, for all its marvelous capacities35400:17:16,819 –> 00:17:19,199and for all that we enjoy in it,35500:17:19,199 –> 00:17:21,359God describes it as lowly.35600:17:22,560 –> 00:17:24,180In other words, what he’s saying to us35700:17:24,180 –> 00:17:27,380is wait till you see the upgrade.35800:17:28,500 –> 00:17:30,760Wait till you see the upgrade.35900:17:30,760 –> 00:17:33,160And here’s how the upgrade’s gonna happen.36000:17:33,239 –> 00:17:36,520Your body that’s present lowly,36100:17:36,520 –> 00:17:38,199however strong and well developed36200:17:38,199 –> 00:17:40,739and capable it marvelously is,36300:17:40,739 –> 00:17:44,000it is going to be transformed from its present condition36400:17:44,000 –> 00:17:47,599by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ.36500:17:48,719 –> 00:17:51,260In other words, this is a truth36600:17:51,260 –> 00:17:53,699that cannot be grasped apart36700:17:53,699 –> 00:17:57,140from the work of Christ and the power of Christ.36800:17:57,140 –> 00:18:00,180That’s why it’s a uniquely Christian doctrine.36900:18:00,180 –> 00:18:01,439It’s only when you consider37000:18:01,579 –> 00:18:03,500the power of the Lord Jesus Christ37100:18:03,500 –> 00:18:05,180and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ37200:18:05,180 –> 00:18:07,119by which he himself rose from the dead37300:18:07,119 –> 00:18:09,619that you can begin even to contemplate37400:18:09,619 –> 00:18:12,180this amazing and glorious truth.37500:18:12,180 –> 00:18:14,420The credibility of this great truth37600:18:14,420 –> 00:18:16,579is demonstrated in this one fact37700:18:16,579 –> 00:18:18,380that Jesus Christ has the power37800:18:18,380 –> 00:18:20,160to raise His people from the dead37900:18:20,160 –> 00:18:22,660because He rose Himself.38000:18:23,800 –> 00:18:25,099And think of it this way.38100:18:25,099 –> 00:18:27,660The Savior gave you a new heart.38200:18:28,859 –> 00:18:30,760You rejoice in that if you’re a Christian.38300:18:31,099 –> 00:18:32,479Oh yes he gave me a new heart.38400:18:32,479 –> 00:18:33,800Well the Savior in the same way.38500:18:33,800 –> 00:18:35,579He’s going to give you a new body,38600:18:35,579 –> 00:18:36,540new heart now.38700:18:38,560 –> 00:18:40,380New body to come.38800:18:40,380 –> 00:18:43,479And we’re told that your resurrection body38900:18:44,640 –> 00:18:49,640will be like Christ’s glorious body.39000:18:50,680 –> 00:18:53,079Philippians 3 Your resurrection body39100:18:53,079 –> 00:18:58,079will be like Christ’s glorious body.39200:18:58,319 –> 00:18:59,140Body.39300:19:00,699 –> 00:19:03,719Now that means that it will be a physical body.39400:19:03,719 –> 00:19:06,359You will not be a disembodied ghost39500:19:06,359 –> 00:19:09,260or spirit in the new creation.39600:19:10,199 –> 00:19:11,420Let me put it this way,39700:19:12,280 –> 00:19:16,000the reason that you won’t be floating on a cloud39800:19:16,000 –> 00:19:18,520is the bodies don’t float.39900:19:19,500 –> 00:19:21,599They fall, right?40000:19:21,599 –> 00:19:25,520And when people are in that sort of vague floating world,40100:19:25,520 –> 00:19:27,979it’s a denial of the resurrection of the body.40200:19:28,780 –> 00:19:30,939That’s what it is, it really is.40300:19:30,939 –> 00:19:32,839It’s a failure to grasp Christian doctrine40400:19:32,839 –> 00:19:34,300at its most central point.40500:19:34,300 –> 00:19:36,660That’s why this issue is so important.40600:19:36,660 –> 00:19:38,880Listen to what Jesus said as he appeared40700:19:38,880 –> 00:19:42,339in the resurrection body to his disciples.40800:19:42,339 –> 00:19:43,180And he says this,40900:19:43,180 –> 00:19:45,640See my hands and my feet.41000:19:45,640 –> 00:19:47,819This is Luke 24 and verse 39.41100:19:47,819 –> 00:19:49,579It is I, myself.41200:19:49,579 –> 00:19:52,020Touch me and see.41300:19:52,020 –> 00:19:57,020For a spirit does not have flesh and bones.41400:19:58,500 –> 00:20:02,319As you see I have.41500:20:02,319 –> 00:20:04,739Flesh and bones, resurrection body.41600:20:04,739 –> 00:20:07,280Our body will be like his.41700:20:07,280 –> 00:20:10,239That’s a physical body.41800:20:10,239 –> 00:20:13,619That’s why the word resurrection is used.41900:20:13,619 –> 00:20:15,339Yes, there will be ways in which it is different.42000:20:15,339 –> 00:20:17,319We’ll come to that in just a moment.42100:20:17,319 –> 00:20:18,420But the first thing you need to know42200:20:18,420 –> 00:20:21,420about the resurrection body is that it is a body.42300:20:21,420 –> 00:20:26,420In terms of appearance, the resurrection body of Jesus42400:20:26,859 –> 00:20:29,119and ours will be like his.42500:20:29,119 –> 00:20:32,520The resurrection body of Jesus was so similar in form42600:20:32,520 –> 00:20:33,819to the body that we have now42700:20:33,819 –> 00:20:36,060that Mary could mistake him for a gardener.42800:20:38,020 –> 00:20:39,979That two disciples on the road to Emmaus42900:20:39,979 –> 00:20:41,979thought this was just another traveler.43000:20:43,060 –> 00:20:47,380The resurrection body will be very different in some ways.43100:20:47,380 –> 00:20:49,920It will be different in that it is a vehicle43200:20:49,920 –> 00:20:54,699for endless life, which the present body obviously is not.43300:20:54,719 –> 00:20:57,000The similarities between what we have now43400:20:57,000 –> 00:20:58,660created good by God,43500:20:58,660 –> 00:21:03,060and the upgrade created better and best by God,43600:21:03,060 –> 00:21:06,099the similarities are more striking than the differences.43700:21:07,260 –> 00:21:08,540And as if to press it home,43800:21:08,540 –> 00:21:10,479you have the risen Lord Jesus Christ,43900:21:10,479 –> 00:21:12,339saying to them, Luke 24,44000:21:12,339 –> 00:21:15,459have you anything to eat?44100:21:15,459 –> 00:21:19,020And they gave him a piece of broiled fish,44200:21:19,020 –> 00:21:24,020and he took it and ate it before them.44300:21:24,439 –> 00:21:26,020Later in John’s gospel,44400:21:26,020 –> 00:21:28,739we have Jesus actually cooking the breakfast44500:21:28,739 –> 00:21:30,339and eating it with the disciples.44600:21:30,339 –> 00:21:31,180Friends,44700:21:31,180 –> 00:21:34,619we are definitely talking barbecue in the resurrection,44800:21:34,619 –> 00:21:38,500and if we start thinking in more concrete terms44900:21:38,500 –> 00:21:41,560with regards to the promise of the life to come,45000:21:41,560 –> 00:21:43,900we will be helped in our anticipation,45100:21:43,900 –> 00:21:45,939walking and running and jumping45200:21:45,939 –> 00:21:48,099and hitting balls on green grass,45300:21:48,099 –> 00:21:50,699growing in this planet,45400:21:50,699 –> 00:21:52,359renewed and made perfect45500:21:52,540 –> 00:21:56,479as it shares in the redemption of the children of God.45600:21:56,479 –> 00:21:58,680A spirit does not have flesh and bones,45700:21:58,680 –> 00:22:00,099as you see I have.45800:22:00,979 –> 00:22:02,339The first thing you need to know45900:22:02,339 –> 00:22:03,520about the resurrection body,46000:22:03,520 –> 00:22:04,800is that it is a body46100:22:04,800 –> 00:22:07,079and when you get that settled in your mind,46200:22:07,079 –> 00:22:09,719you will have a far greater anticipation46300:22:09,719 –> 00:22:11,180of the joys that lie ahead.46400:22:12,660 –> 00:22:14,160You’ve been listening to open the Bible46500:22:14,160 –> 00:22:15,599with pastor Colin Smith46600:22:15,599 –> 00:22:16,719and a message called46700:22:16,719 –> 00:22:19,699the joys of life in the resurrection body,46800:22:19,699 –> 00:22:22,280part of our series called heaven46900:22:22,300 –> 00:22:24,339if you’ve missed any part of the series47000:22:24,339 –> 00:22:26,199or if you want to go back and listen again,47100:22:26,199 –> 00:22:28,859you can do that by coming online to our website47200:22:28,859 –> 00:22:31,540openthebible.org.uk47300:22:31,540 –> 00:22:35,099or find it as a podcast on all the main podcast sites,47400:22:35,099 –> 00:22:37,060search for Open the Bible UK47500:22:37,060 –> 00:22:39,739or follow a link from our website,47600:22:39,739 –> 00:22:41,439many listeners to this programme47700:22:41,439 –> 00:22:43,819also listened to open the Bible daily,47800:22:43,819 –> 00:22:45,680which is our series of short47900:22:45,680 –> 00:22:48,160two to three minute daily reflections48000:22:48,160 –> 00:22:50,040based on pastor Colin’s teaching48100:22:50,060 –> 00:22:53,040and read in the UK by Sue MacLeish.48200:22:53,040 –> 00:22:55,920Sue, you’ve been the voice of Open the Bible Daily48300:22:55,920 –> 00:22:57,260for several years now.48400:22:57,260 –> 00:22:59,280What are your memories of it?48500:22:59,280 –> 00:23:02,800Well, David, it’s been such a privilege.48600:23:02,800 –> 00:23:03,739It really has,48700:23:03,739 –> 00:23:06,400it’s been wonderful to work with you48800:23:06,400 –> 00:23:08,599but it’s been even more wonderful48900:23:08,599 –> 00:23:11,479to be able to share what I believe49000:23:11,479 –> 00:23:14,680is really anointed gospel teaching49100:23:14,680 –> 00:23:16,800from pastor Colin,49200:23:16,800 –> 00:23:20,400it really has been a huge privilege49300:23:20,400 –> 00:23:22,599and I just thank God that he put me49400:23:22,599 –> 00:23:24,619in the place to do this.49500:23:24,619 –> 00:23:26,280How do you think listeners benefit49600:23:26,280 –> 00:23:28,979from listening to Open the Bible Daily regularly?49700:23:28,979 –> 00:23:32,680I do believe that the Dailies have a real place49800:23:32,680 –> 00:23:34,640actually in people’s faith.49900:23:34,640 –> 00:23:37,800I know for a fact that many people50000:23:37,800 –> 00:23:41,939have just found the length to be perfect for them,50100:23:41,939 –> 00:23:44,439gives them a wonderful little reflection50200:23:44,439 –> 00:23:46,319to take into the day.50300:23:46,319 –> 00:23:48,920What’s been your own experience of Open the Bible50400:23:48,920 –> 00:23:51,599since you started listening to Pastor Colin Smith50500:23:51,599 –> 00:23:52,839many years ago?50600:23:52,839 –> 00:23:55,800I have benefited in the most wonderful way.50700:23:55,800 –> 00:23:59,459I was in a very dark place when I was first introduced50800:23:59,459 –> 00:24:03,719to Colin’s sermons and it just completely50900:24:03,719 –> 00:24:08,640broke into my darkness, brought light into my life.51000:24:08,640 –> 00:24:10,880And from that moment onwards,51100:24:10,880 –> 00:24:14,079I just could not wait to hear another sermon51200:24:14,079 –> 00:24:18,699and to be taught deeply about the Bible and its message51300:24:18,699 –> 00:24:23,599and the fact that it is all one and it all points to Jesus.51400:24:23,599 –> 00:24:24,920Starting this month,51500:24:24,920 –> 00:24:28,540we’ll be featuring new readers of Open the Bible Daily.51600:24:28,540 –> 00:24:30,439Sue, what are your hopes for the future51700:24:30,439 –> 00:24:31,839of Open the Bible Daily?51800:24:31,839 –> 00:24:33,800I do believe that Pastor Colin51900:24:33,800 –> 00:24:36,079has a really anointed ministry52000:24:36,079 –> 00:24:38,359and I am absolutely delighted52100:24:38,359 –> 00:24:41,920that the UK link is going from strength to strength.52200:24:41,920 –> 00:24:45,400And I just wish the new readers every joy,52300:24:45,400 –> 00:24:49,239the joy that I have had in sharing God’s Word52400:24:49,239 –> 00:24:52,520and Pastor Colin’s wonderful teaching.52500:24:52,520 –> 00:24:54,500So whether you’re a regular listener52600:24:54,500 –> 00:24:55,719of Open the Bible Daily52700:24:55,719 –> 00:24:57,800or maybe it’s something you’d like to try,52800:24:57,800 –> 00:25:02,359you can find it on our website at openthebible.org.uk52900:25:02,359 –> 00:25:04,219and you can also find it as a podcast53000:25:04,219 –> 00:25:07,140by searching for Open the Bible UK.53100:25:07,140 –> 00:25:09,400For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,53200:25:09,400 –> 00:25:10,479I am David Pick53300:25:10,520 –> 00:25:12,280and I look forward to you joining us again53400:25:12,280 –> 00:25:15,000for more Bible insights on Open The Bible.53500:25:21,239 –> 00:25:23,560Will we have resurrection bodies53600:25:23,560 –> 00:25:27,219which materialize and dematerialize?53700:25:27,219 –> 00:25:29,680Find out next time on Open the Bible.