“HEAVENLY BODIES”

“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”

1 John 3:2

Because of the frailty of our human bodies, nothing excites us more than receiving the bodies God will give us when Jesus returns.

In today’s verse, John addresses his readers as “beloved” (“agapetos,” “dear”). He comforts them by saying they are God’s children (“teknon,” “children of God). They are people who are led by the Spirit and have a close relationship with God.

In verse 1, John talks about what we are; in verse 2, he discusses what we shall become. Being a child of God is not a future event; it is a present reality for anyone who repents of his sins and puts his trust in Jesus Christ. However, the absolute holiness in him will only be revealed when Jesus appears (“phaneroo,” “to make visible what was hidden or unknown). John refers to the bodily return of the Lord.

Christians know (“eido,” “understand, perceive”) when Christ returns, they will be like (“homoios,” “in the same way”) Him because they will see (“optanomai,” “to look at, behold, to allow one’s self to be seen”) Him as He is. In other words, believers will see the Lord physically because they will have a body like His—a glorified body made for heaven. We will be totally conformed to the image of Christ without necessarily becoming a deity.

This reality should be a source of motivation for us. While our physical bodies are now subject to hunger, exhaustion, disease, and death, a day is coming when we will have bodies that will live forever—the bodies that are the same as the Lord’s.

Consider Paul’s message to the Corinthians:

“So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.”

1 Corinthians 15:42-44

What are your thoughts on the promise that God will one day give you a body made for heaven?

Pursue the Savior today!