Last time we looked at the fact that our bodies were created by God and for God. Today’s post will examine three theological truths about our bodies.
1. I will have a body in eternity
Did you know that? Now, the good news is, it is going to be a new body! There will to be no sickness, no pain and no more tears. I think we all look forward to that. Back in Jesus’ day, there was a group of people called the Gnostics. They had a philosophy that said your body is not that important, it’s is just a container or a prison for your soul. You’re body doesn’t really matter. Today many still act that way. In America, we either live as a Gnostic or a Narcissist. Gnosticism says your body doesn’t matter. Narcissism says it’s all about your body. The body or self becomes central or worshiped instead of the creator. The Bible teaches that your body matters now and for eternity. Heaven is a physical place and you are going to have a physical body there. Notice,
“Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength.” 1 Corinthians 15:42-43
That’s good. Buried in weakness but raised in strength. The Bible mentions the word “body” 179 times. A third of those times referred to the future bodies that we will have in heaven. So as believers, we unknowingly diminish what can be called a theology of the body. Not, the religion of the body. That’s Narcissism, but the theology of the body. The theology of the body says that we recognize how important our bodies are to God because He made them in creation and He will recreate them at the resurrection.
2. As a Christ Follower, my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
A lot of people think the church building is the temple or house of God. Churches are a special place. They are special is because it’s where we gather and have corporate worship together. But, God doesn’t live there. God lives in us. We are his temple.
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? 1 Corinthians 6:19
If you are a Christ follower, at that point in your life, where you said yes to Jesus, then the Spirit of God takes up residence in your life. And then the Spirit of God works through your body. And so, how would you treat a temple? You treat it with respect and care. And so God says, treat your body this way.
3. What I Do with My Body Matters to God
God says, “I created you. I have a purpose for you. I have eternity for you and I’m putting my Spirit inside of you.” So who does my body belong to? My body belongs to God. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians reminds us,
You are not your own; You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19b-20
“I am not my own.” “God bought me with a high price.” What high price? The death of Jesus on the cross, that’s how much my body and your body, is worth to Him!
What I do with my body matters to God. Now that truth, is hitting me. Clogging my arteries, letting my heart and mind become unhealthy is not honoring God with my body. When my doctor, the scale, my BMI (body mass index) and my mirror all say I’m overweight, it true. No more excuses. I want to care of my body (His temple) and honor God with my body.
As I decide to make physical changes in my body, I also have to decide make some spiritual decisions. The next post will look at three spiritual decisions that I have to make and you need to make if you are going to have a Bod 4 God.
Darrell
Sources:
Steve Reyolds, Bod 4 God
For more about Bod 4 God, go to www.Bod4God.org
