Promise of a New Body

And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as His adopted children, including the new bodies He has promised us. Romans 8:23

When was the last time you tried to start a new exercise schedule or a new diet so that you could have a “new body”? What wonderful promises God gives us—adoption and a new body! I’ll take both! You may ask…how do I get adopted by God and get a new body? By choice. By choosing to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He sacrificed His life on the cross for your sin. That choice allows us to give up our sinful nature and to be controlled by the Spirit of God—for He lives in those who believe. (Read all of Romans 8.)  I particularly like Romans 8:12-14…Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. We who believe are children…adopted children of God. That gives me such a secure feeling. The new body is what we will receive in Heaven.

We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God Himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee He has given us His Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 5:2-5 HCSB.

Heavenly bodies—spiritual bodies? What will these new bodies be like? We don’t know…except that God has promised that there will be no pain. Some reading this will shout “Hurrah” for that!

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away. Revelation 21:4 HCSB

That is a wonderful thing to look forward to. Are you looking for a new body?

Prayer ~ Lord God, help these bodies of ours to endure until you come again…or until we don’t need them anymore. We eagerly await this promise of new bodies and most of all…the reality of our adoption.

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 13-16

© 2017 Text and photo by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

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