WHY THE BLESSED HOPE IS BLESSED - PART FOUR

Pastor Art Watkins of Coden Bible Church (Coden, Alabama)

January 20, 2016

Philippians 3:20-21 says: For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also 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, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

1 John 3:2 says: Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

When a person is born again their spirit is quickened and made alive by God’s Spirit according to John 3:6. But, the new birth does not change our bodies. And until our bodies are changed our salvation will not be complete according to Romans 13:11. But, when Jesus Christ comes again our salvation will be finalized, for then our bodies will be redeemed and transformed and made like Christ's glorified body according to Philippians 3:21 and 1 John 3:2. Then and only then will we be totally conformed and transformed into the image of God's Son. 1 Corinthians 15:49 says: And as we have borne the image of the earthy, (Adam) we shall also bear the image of the heavenly (Christ).

The blessed hope is blessed because it is our guarantee of a new body that will not be subject to sickness, disease, pain and weakness. These calamities take a physical toll on us today. We lose physical strength, mental abilities, wellness and health every time we get sick. We are never the same. We get progressively weak over time until these bodies give up and die.

A dear lady in my church who used to call and talk with me two or three times a week for years didn’t even recognize me when I visited her in the hospital last week. Sickness has taken a toll on her both physically and mentally and it’s sad. I have another dear friend of mine that I have known since junior high school days who has been sick for 6 months and can’t seem to get better. She has one set back after the other. I know many of you have many stories like this too.

This is why we should look for, love and long for the second coming of Christ. The blessed hope is our guarantee that our bodies will never again have to contend with sickness, disease, weakness, pain or death. They will never again have to visit a doctor, put in the hospital, be operated on, take medicine and grow weak and tired. Our body will be like Christ’s body in every way and no longer subject to the pain and the calamities of this life.

(Until then pray for the sick, visit the sick, and stay as healthy as you can!)