Changing our Address

1. Where do CHRISTians go after death? (2 Cor 5:1-8)

“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (2 Cor 5:1)

Paul speaks of a comparison between a house- dwelling place and our body. Just as a house needs repairs because of the wear and tear, our bodies (earth suits) are wearing out as well. (see 2 Cor 4:16)

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”

In the passage in 2 Corinthians 5:2-4, Paul describes the desire for a new body one day because this physical shell is fading away.

2. How can CHRISTians know that we will have a NEW BODY after we die? (2 Cor 5:5-8)

First, God guarantees a NEW BODY by giving every believer a DOWN PAYMENT, which is the HOLY SPIRIT. This happens at the moment of conversion.

“5Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.” (2Cor 5:5)

The word “earnest” is ἀρραβών, (ar-hrab-ohn’), which is used the following manner:
This is like Money…. a large part of the payment, given in advance as a security that the whole will be paid afterwards.

3. Where will every CHRISTian go after death? (2 Cor 5:6-8)

“6Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

So, as he is inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, Paul writes that IMMEDIATELY after death, we go straight to be with our Lord JESUS in heaven.

4. When will CHRISTians get their final glorified body? (1 Cor 15:35-41)

“35But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 36Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 37And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: 38But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 39All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 40There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41There 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.”

While describing the human body in this great resurrection chapter, Paul informs believers what will take place in the future at the rapture.

“42So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”

All of this will climax when Jesus Christ comes for His Church at the RAPTURE.

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In 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. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So 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. 55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

At last, a NEW GLORIFIED body like Jesus! (see 1 John 3:2)

“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.”

Conclusion: What a wonderful promise! No one can deny that these earthly bodies are wearing out. But God has made provisions for every blood-bought child of God to experience this transformation; i,e.
Not just a FIX-er UP-er!