Unstoppable (Building Block 4)

Sept. 11

Read: 1 Corinthians 15, Hebrews 2:14-15, Matt 26:41, Hebrews 6:1,2

Unstoppable (Building Block 4)

“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” - Jesus (Matt 26:41)

Jesus rose from the grave and so will you. (cf. 1 Cor. 15) This is called “the resurrection”. (cf. Heb. 6:1-2) It is totally a supernatural phenomenon and in some ways the wildest part of what we believe as Christians. Though we will physically die and our immaterial self will go to be with the Lord in “heaven” while we wait for the resurrection - one day we will be put back into a new physical body. We spend eternity not in “heaven” as our immaterial self but on the “new heavens and new earth” in a new resurrection body. (cf. Rev. 20) For most of us, each day we realize how our physical bodies are breaking down… and we look forward to our new bodies more and more. Humanity has sought immortality as long as there have been humans… and Jesus freely gives it!

We feel this “wasting away” within ourselves … the “temporal” nature of these bodies. Jesus says that - as his followers - we have become “willing spirits in weak bodies”. The enemy will try to convince you that BOTH your body is weak and that your spirit is not willing. This is NOT what Jesus says. Re-read Matt 26:41. Willing spirits… weak bodies. This another testament to the need for the resurrection. God does not leave us this way. Our final stop is our new, restored and willing immaterial self (our “willing spirit’) receiving the fit body it needs to dwell in forever.

We need not fear death then. Death is not our enemy. Hebrews 2:14-15 says this:

“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself (Jesus) likewise partook of the same things, that through death he (Jesus) might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”

Jesus has set us free from being lifelong slaves to the fear of dying. Physical death is one of the MANY effects of sin and brokenness. Our enemy - the Devil - has the power of death. (cf. Heb. 2 above) and the Devil is being destroyed by Christ! If we don’t know about this truth - Jesus’ past resurrection and our future one - we will live as life long slaves of death and struggle with shame and guilt as a “willing spirit in a weak body”. Jesus makes the way for solving humanities problem of dying… he is after all “the light and life of man”. (cf. John 1:4) We must live this life now in the light of our future resurrection in Christ! This is a central idea to our faith, and a necessary building block - an elementary doctrine according to Hebrews 6:1-2.Love you guys. - JDP