The Daily Word of Righteousness

Three Goals of the Spiritual Area of the Inheritance, #4

For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: (II Corinthians 5:2)

How, then, are we to create for ourselves a glorious resurrection so we receive a body like that of Christ when our body is raised from the dust?

Our physical body will die and sleep in the dust of the earth. It will be awakened in the Day of the Lord by the voice of Christ.

We also have a spiritual body, a body that is being created before the throne of God in Heaven. Sometimes this body is referred to as a house, or robe, or a crown of righteousness or crown of life.

The composition of our heavenly body has little to do with faith, mercy, or grace except as faith or mercy or grace affect the way we behave, the thoughts we think, the words of our mouth, the actions of our hands, the paths in which we choose to walk.

Our heavenly robe is washed and made sparkling white as we confess our sins and repent of them forcefully, turning away from them with all our might and, by the Lord's help, refuse to have anything to do with them for the remainder of eternity.

Our house from Heaven is constructed as we experience the sufferings of Christ and are made like Him in His death. If we choose to live as being crucified with Christ, continuing to trust in His incorruptible Life working within us, then a marvelous house of light and glory has its rise before the throne of God.

When the Lord appears our flesh-and-bone body will be raised from the ground, or water, or from whatever place or situation in which it has died. Then it will be clothed with our conduct, with the heavenly body that is the product of our behavior.

This is the meaning of:

"They that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation" (John 5:29).

"That every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." (II Corinthians 5:10).

"He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting" (Galatians 6:8).

"My reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be" (Revelation 22:12).

"Who will render to every man according to his deeds" (Romans 2:6).

The above passages that reveal the accountability of the believer have been made of no effect by modern Christian doctrine. We think the Lord Jesus is very distressed because of this destruction of His clear warnings. Perhaps the preachers and teachers of today should seek the Lord Jesus and ask Him if these passages really do apply to those who have put their trust in Him; and if they do not, why they were written to the saints?

The making alive of our mortal body by clothing it with a house of incorruptible life is the supreme Christian victory, the victory of salvation. It is a very important part of our land of promise.

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (I Corinthians 15:54)

To be continued.