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Can Flesh & Blood Inherit God's Kingdom?
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John:
Hi,
Chris. I told you last week that I had several bible verses that prove
conclusively that Jesus did not rise bodily from the grave. Would you be
willing to take a few minutes to see them?
Chris:
Sure.
John:
In
1 Corinthians 15:50, it says, “However, this I say, brothers, that
flesh and blood cannot inherit God’s kingdom....” See, Chris, how
could Jesus’ body have been resurrected when the bible says that flesh
and blood cannot exist in heaven?
Chris:
That’s
a great question, John. I certainly do believe that an ordinary mortal
body cannot exist in heaven, but an immortal body can. Look at verse 53,
“For this which is corruptible must put on incorruption, and
this which is mortal must put on immortality”. See, the text is
saying that incorruption and immortality is added, or “put on”, to
our physical bodies. Nothing is being taken away, or subtracted, from
our humanity; immortality is being added to it.
This is the point of what Paul is trying to convey.
John:
I
think you are obviously missing the point! Again, “flesh and blood
cannot inherit God’s kingdom”. That’s about as clear as it gets.
Chris:
John,
I believe that one of the best ways to interpret Scripture is to compare
it to other portions of Scripture. Would you agree?
John:
Yes,
that’s important. That’s why we read the whole bible, Chris, and not
just a part of it.
Chris:
Turn
to Matthew chapter 16. Remember when Jesus asked His apostles who they
thought He was, and Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the
living God”?
John:
Sure.
Chris:
Look
what Jesus said to Peter in verse 17. “Happy you are, Simon son of
Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal [it] to you, but my
Father who is in the heavens did.” Do you think Jesus meant the
literal substance, flesh and blood, or do you think He used this phrase
to refer to natural man?
John:
Natural
man, of course.
Chris:
Right.
Now look at Galatians 1:16. Paul said that when he was called to preach
the gospel of Jesus Christ, he “....did not go at once in conference
with flesh and blood”. Also, in Ephesians 6:12, Paul wrote,
“....because we have a wrestling, not against flesh and blood....”
John, in these two verses, do you think flesh and blood refers to the
actual body material, or to natural man?
John:
I
guess natural man.
Chris:
Since
this same idiom, used throughout the New Testament by both Jesus and
Paul, means an ordinary, natural man, and not literally
flesh and blood, don’t you think that this is the best way to
interpret it in 1 Corinthians 15:50?
John:
I
don’t know, Chris? I’m telling you that the bible proves that
physical bodies can’t survive in heaven. Look at 1 Corinthians 15:44,
“It is sown a physical body, it is raised up a spiritual body.
If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual one”. Now,
that’s clear! Material bodies can’t get into heaven, they have to be
raised as an invisible spirit, just like Jesus was.
Chris:
I
disagree, John. Paul’s usage of the term “spiritual body” really
means a supernatural, physical body dominated by the power of the Holy
Spirit. Look back to 1 Corinthians 10.
John:
Here
we go again!
Chris:
In
this chapter, Paul is referring to the Jewish forefathers who wandered
in the wilderness for 40 years. Do you remember what they ate and drank,
John?
John:
Manna
and water.
Chris:
Right.
Now read verses 3-4, “and all ate the same spiritual food and
all drank the same spiritual drink”. John, does spiritual food
and spiritual drink refer to immaterial, invisible food and drink, or a
supernatural provision that came from heaven?
John:
Well,
it was real food that Jehovah God provided.
Chris:
Okay.
And in 1 Corinthians 2:15, Paul says,
“However, the spiritual man examines indeed all
things, but he himself is not examined by any man”. John, does
“spiritual man” here refer to an invisible spirit person or to a
physical man who is empowered by God’s Holy Spirit?
John:
I
see your point. Although I’m not finished yet, Chris. I still have
some more verses from the Gospels that will show, without a doubt, that
Jesus’ body never rose on the third day.
Chris:
Then
let’s make some time next week, John.
John:
Sounds
good. |