Incorruptable Heavenly Spiritual Bodies

Dateline: Kodiak, Alaska

“Believe” in Matthew, Mark & Luke - Part 17:

(Spiritual Wickedness and Our Heavenly Hope - Part 4):

Our last study dealt with the opposition or battle that believers face; spiritual wickedness in the heavens: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies.” Ephesians 6:10 - 1210 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

. The “devil” in Ephesians 6:1111 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

is Satan himself and we contend with his wiles (trickery.) It is he and his minions who are the rulers of darkness/spiritual wickedness in the heavens, Ephesians 6:1212 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

. In today's study we will briefly explore what the Apostle Paul reveals about the believer's position in the heavens; present and future.

The word “heavenlies” in Ephesians 6:12 is from the Greek “epouran'ios,” #G2032, which is found 20 times in the New Testament (NT), once each in Matthew and John; 12 in the Pauline epistles and 6 in Hebrews. It is translated in the King James Version (KJV) variously as “heavenly, celestial, in heaven, or high.” We will examine its use in the Pauline epistles, beginning with the epistles in which it appears most frequently; five each in 1 Corinthians and Ephesians. (The number five is significant in Scripture because it is the number for Grace.) In 1 Corinthians, Paul uses “epouran'ios” to teach that our human bodies are inherited from the first Adam; they are natural, of the earth and corrupt, that is, our physical bodies are dying in corruption. However, the bodies of believers will be raised some day to spiritual, incorruptible bodies. This is possible because the last Adam (The Lord Jesus Christ) was made a Spirit who gives spiritual life to the believer. In the KJV the Greek word “epouran'ios” is translated “celestial” twice in 1 Corinthians 15:4040 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

; twice as “heavenly” in 15:48 and once as “heavenly” in 15:49, as follows:

“There are also celestial (heavenly) bodies, and bodies terrestrial (worldly, earthly): but the glory of the celestial (heavenly) is one, and the glory of the terrestrial (worldly, earthly) is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; 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. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening (making alive or life giving) spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” 1 Corinthians 15:40 - 4940 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

43 It is sown in dishonour; 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. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.

48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

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These earthly, corrupt, dishonorable, weak human bodies we inherited from the first Adam cannot exist in heaven. The bodies of believers are sown (or planted as seed) and will be raised (from corruption/death) into spiritual bodies. This will be accomplished because of the finished work of the last Adam, that is, Jesus Christ. Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ will someday be raised into incorruptible bodies; that is, spiritual bodies just like His - read also 1 Corinthians 15:50 - 5850 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 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.

55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

. Whereas Paul used the word heavens or heavenly (the Greek “epouran'ios”) five times in 1 Corinthians to explain the believer's present physical body as opposed to the hope for a future spiritual body; he used it five times in Ephesians to explain the believer's present position and hope in the heavens (by faith.) In the KJV of Ephesians “epouran'ios” is translated “heavenly places” and “high places,” as follows:

• “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” Ephesians 1:33 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

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• “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,” Ephesians 1:18 - 2018 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

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• “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” Ephesians 2:44 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

– 6,

• “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,” Ephesians 3:88 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

– 10,

And so we learn in these first four passages in Ephesians that all the blessings believers enjoy today rest in Christ in the heavens (by faith, Ephesians 2:88 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

) and God’s purpose for this is to demonstrate to the principalities and powers in heaven (the Devil and his minions) His diverse and varied wisdom. Then the last occasion the word “epouran’ios” is used in Ephesians brings us back to where we began this study, which explains the believer’s battle or struggle:

• “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (heavenlies.)” Ephesians 6:12.

The spiritual wickedness of the Devil and his minions (the principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world) has little to do with the murderer, the rapist, drunken debauchery or any of the sins of the flesh on earth. No, its spiritual, so it is directed at the Word of God and the believer’s faith therein. It is manifested in the cults, false religions and even in the so-called schools of divinity where the highly educated, smooth-tongued orators pervert God’s Word to sway the masses. It throws diverse belief systems at the human race, all based on the works of the flesh, instead of on the Grace of God provided through the finished work of the Word of God; The Lord Jesus Christ. The goal of Satan and his followers is to dilute and divert the truth of God’s Word and/or to divide the Body of Christ in any way possible.

The only way believers can deal with the spiritual wickedness in the heavens is to put on Christ. Our defense and offense rests in the finished work of The Lord Jesus Christ: “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, (Jesus Christ is The Truth) and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (Jesus Christ is our Righteousness) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (Jesus Christ is our peace) Above all, taking the shield of faith, (Jesus Christ is our faith) wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, (Jesus Christ is our salvation) and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Jesus Christ is the Word of God – John 1:11 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

)” Ephesians 6:1313 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

– 17. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:1212 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

. See also Romans 13:12 - 1412 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

; Galations 3:27; Ephesians 4:2424 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

& Colossians 3:1010 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

for additional references in which we are exhorted to put on Christ.

Having examined “epouran’ios” in 1 Corinthians and Ephesians, we now turn to the other two places Paul uses it, first to learn God’s purpose: “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, (the Greek “epouran’ios”) and things in earth, and things under the earth;” Philippians 2:1010 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

. And finally to learn the hope of all believers, beginning with the Apostle Paul: “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly (the Greek “epouran’ios”) kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:1818 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

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