D. FUTURE TRANSFORMATION
1. Bodies of Humiliation
We have seen that we are a new creation. We are also being transformed while yet in earthy
bodies. This is not all God has for us. We now shall see that "we shall bear the image of the
Heavenly" (1 Cor. 15:49). God has predestined us "to be conformed to the image of His Son, that
He might be the firstborn [that is, preeminent, foremost] among many brethren" (Rom. 8:29).
What a promise this is! Not a mere outward resemblance, but just like Him! Not earthy any more,
but entirely heavenly. (Note, the Greek word for "conformed" in Rom. 12:2_"be not conformed
to this world"_has the sense of a superficial and temporary resemblance. But it is a different
Greek word for "conformed in Rom. 8:29, meaning a permanent, thorough conformity, inside and
out.)
This was an Old Testament hope. Both Job and David testify to this (Job 19:25-27; Psa. 17:15).
The New Testament is full of this hope also.
In Phil. 3:20,21, we read:"We look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our
vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body." This change is not a continual
renewing happening upon this earth, but awaits His coming. "Our body of humiliation" (JND) is
a better translation than "our vile body." Our bodies are not exactly vile although we may do vile
things. Our bodies are "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psa. 139:14). But they are earthy and
weak and frail (Psa. 39:4-7). They are easily injured and killed. They humiliate us in many ways.
They get sick. They sometimes smell or make sounds we do not want them to make. We are not
strong enough or coordinated enough to do some things. We fall short when we try, we stumble,
we fall, we make mistakes, we get confused, we get hurt and bleed. We gradually age, get aches
and pains and spots and wrinkles, and finally die. Ecclesiastes 12 gives a graphic picture of the
aging process. This, however, is not the end. God has something better ahead for the believer (2
Cor. 4:16-18). It is a "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Even though we might
suffer terribly now for Christ’s sake, or as victims of sinful acts of others, we have this hope. All
of the creation groans together for this … the redemption of our body. It will be blessed when we
are brought into liberty of the glory of the sons of God (Rom. 8:18-25 JND). Other scriptures
enlarge on this:
Our bodies will be changed "like unto His glorious body" (Phil. 3:21).
"We shall be changed" (1 Cor. 15:51-58), with no more corruptibility or mortality. In other
words, we won’t age or die.
We shall "be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven." We have "the earnest (advance,
pledge, or binding part payment) of the Spirit" as proof of this (2 Cor. 5:1-9).
"We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2). No longer will we see Him
obscurely as through a dim window, but "face to face" (1 Cor. 13:12).
The disciples got a glimpse of this glory in the transfiguration (Matt. 17:2), and later in the
resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. Saul, on the road to Damascus, saw Him in glory. The
sight transformed his whole way of thinking and his entire life. He desires that our whole person
be like Him in that day (1 Thess. 5:23).
And is it so_I shall be like Thy Son?
Is this the grace which He for me has won?
Father of glory (thought beyond all thought!),
In glory, to His own blest likeness brought!
Nor I alone; Thy loved ones, all complete
In glory, round Thee there with joy shall meet_
All like Thee, for Thy glory like Thee, Lord,
Object supreme of all, by all adored.
2. A New Body
We each have a "soulish" body. It attends to the appetites of the soul. The soul naturally attends
to the demands of the body (Luke 12:19). Each of us also has a spirit as well as a soul. The spirit
of man "knows the things of a man" (1 Cor. 2:11). This is different from the soulish part of his
nature that a man has in common with beasts (which so confuses the evolutionists). But our bodies
are not "spiritish" bodies yet. They are earthy, but soon shall be heavenly. Jesus rose from the
dead with a new body–a heavenly one suited for the spirit in control instead of the soul. He passed
through shut doors (John 20:19,26), appeared and disappeared (Luke 24:31,36), had flesh and
bones (but blood was not needed anymore; 24:39), and finally ascended bodily into the air and
passed into the heavens (24:51; Acts l:9; Eph. 1:20; Heb. 4:14; 9:24). He is there seated_a Man
in glory (Mark 16:9; Col. 3:1; Heb. 1:3; 10:12; 12:2). He will return in His resurrection body
to get us. We will then be changed to be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is (1 Cor.
15:51-54; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 John 3:2). Later we shall return with Him, in bodies like His, to
judge His enemies on earth (2 Thess. 1:6-10; Rev. 19:11-21). Then we shall reign over the earth
as the bride of Christ for 1,000 years (Rev. 19:7-9; 20:6). After that, we shall be with Him,
unchanged, for eternity (Rev. 22:5). This is not fairy tales, science fiction, fantasy, fanciful
dreams, or wishful thinking. It is real! It has already happened to Enoch and Elijah (Gen. 5:24;
Heb. 11:5; 2 Ki. 2:11). It has already happened to Jesus. It will very soon happen to us (Rev.
22:20). Do we really believe this in our hearts? How it should affect our walk on this earth_as
pilgrims passing through (1 Pet. 2:11), as ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20), as citizens of
heaven (Phil. 3:20). Let us live as such!
Behold, what wondrous love and grace!
When we were wretched and undone,
To save a ruined, helpless race,
The Father gave His only Son!
Of twice ten thousand gifts divine,
No gift like this could ever shine!
O gift of love unspeakable!
O gift of mercy all divine!
We once were slaves of death and hell,
But in Christ’s image we shall shine!
For every gift a song we raise,
But this demands eternal praise!
3. The Lost
What of the unbelievers_cast in Adam’s image, responsible to display God’s image, lost, corrupt,
fearful, rebellious, self-centered, idolatrous souls? God will allow them to complete the path they
have chosen. By His grace He created them and allowed them to live and experience His bountiful
goodness and mercies (Psalm 107; Matt. 5:45; Acts 14:15-17; Rom. 2:4; 9:22). Men chose to
create idols instead of the true image of the God they knew (Rom. 1:20-23; Josh. 24:2). They
persisted even after they were forbidden by Moses (Exod. 20:4; Lev. 26:1; Amos 5:25-27; Acts
7:42,43). Even now men are self-centered and covetous, and "covetousness … is idolatry" (Col.
3:5). There are false prophets, false teachers, and false christs abroad even now. Jesus Himself
warned of such (Matt. 24:5,24), as did John (1 John 2:18-23; 4:1-6). This secret iniquity already
is at work (2 Thess. 2:7).
4. The False Image
Soon we shall leave this earth, and the One who restrains it, the Holy Spirit in us, will go with us.
Then men will be presented a false Christ, a false prophet who will deceive by miracles and who
will erect an image in a holy place then found in Jerusalem (Matt. 24:15,24). He looks like a lamb
but speaks like a dragon (Dan. 11:31-39; 12:1; Rev. 13:11-19; 14:9-11; 15:2; 16:2). He is an
abomination which brings on a desolator (an invading nation sent by God upon His idolatrous
rebel Israel). This antichrist displays himself as God (2 Thess. 2:4). Then the Lord, the true image
of God, will return and destroy them. The fearful and unbelieving will be cast into the lake of fire
(Rev. 21:8). Solemn fate! What a useless eternal loss when eternal life is available–free for the
taking–in Jesus. "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift" (2 Cor. 9:15). Will you not
repent, take Him, and be changed eternally into His image?
FRAGMENT
It is in Christ that all our thoughts are adjusted, set right, judged, and purified. Everything relates
to Him; we do not eat without Him, we do not drink without Him. What we say and what we do
are said and done in the name of the Lord.
FRAGMENT
Can we say of any when going into their house, “That person brings me to Christ”? If one had
paid a visit to the apostle Paul, would not that person have come away with a fresh taste of Christ?
I have often come out of the house of a poor bedridden soul feeling, “Oh, how I wish my soul
were like that!” Oh, that the pulse of Christ were throbbing in every one who belongs to Him!