Being a Spiritual Person and Hope of the Spiritual Body (1-5-2013)

January 5, 2013 - 1 Corinthians 15:42-46

15:42		死 人 復 活 也 是 這 樣 ． 所 種 的 是 必 朽 壞 的 、 復 活 的 是 不 朽 壞 的 ．
15:43		所 種 的 是 羞 辱 的 、 復 活 的 是 榮 耀 的 ． 所 種 的 是 軟 弱 的 、 復 活 的 是 強 壯 的 ．
15:44		所 種 的 是 血 氣 的 身 體 、 復 活 的 是 靈 性 的 身 體 ． 若 有 血 氣 的 身 體 、 也 必 有 靈 性 的 身 體 。
15:45		經 上 也 是 這 樣 記 著 說 、 『 首 先 的 人 亞 當 、 成 了 有 靈 的 活 人 。 』 〔 靈 或 作 血 氣 〕 末 後 的 亞 當 、 成 了 叫 人 活 的 靈 。
15:46		但 屬 靈 的 不 在 先 、 屬 血 氣 的 在 先 ． 以 後 纔 有 屬 靈 的 。

⁴² So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; ⁴³ it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; ⁴⁴ it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

   If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶ The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 

Paul in faith envisions the glory of the resurrection of our bodies - from perishable body that subjects to decay to imperishable; from dishonorable body to glorious body that frees from influence of sin; from body of weakness to body of power that liberates from all kinds of emotional, physical, or other mental limitations; and most importantly from natural body to spiritual body that is is absolutely mastered and driven by the Holy Spirit. Paul contrasts between the first Adam - the living being who still subjects to temptation to the last Adam, Jesus, who is characterized by the life-giving Spirit - Holy Spirit. This the pattern or destiny of all believers - natural comes first and then the Spiritual after. 

My Spirit, this is such a glorious hope of my destiny that I will absolutely possess a spiritual body that is filled up with, mastered by, and keeps in step with the Spirit. Presently, I am already a spiritual person that is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. My responsibility is to allow the Holy Spirit to breathe His life into my life every day and I at the same time eagerly look forward to the coming of Christ that I will be totally transformed to having a spiritual body, like the resurrection of Jesus. Sin and flesh shall never be my master but the Spirit freely works in all parts of my life.