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NASB | 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are [even here and] now children of God, and it is not yet made clear what we will be [after His coming]. We know that when He comes and is revealed, we will [as His children] be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is [in all His glory]. |
Bible Question:
Question a friend posed to me that had been brought up at a Bible study, and I'm stumped... What is the significance of us having actual bodies in heaven? I know Paul discusses resurrection vs earthly bodies in some detail in 1 Cor 15, and have also looked through Revelation, but yet to find anything concrete as to why we have a body in heaven. At this point my best answer is that I don't believe we will have a "body" exactly in the same sense as we know the word to mean on earth, but that still doesn't address the significance of it... any thoughts or especially relevant scriptures are appreciated! |
Bible Answer: Hello Live4... Welcome to the forum! Good question. I must say it really got me thinking. "What is the significance of having actual bodies in Heaven?" In Genesis 1:26-27 we see that God, (The Almighty Creator of everything seen and unseen) has created us in His image. And we can, I think rightly imagine that, these first humans had bodies quite similar to the ones we will get when we receive our new ones in Heaven, (and those still alive at His coming will also receive, 1 Thess 4:14-17). But of course that all changed at the fall when they disobeyed God and sin came into the world. Nonetheless, though these bodies are no longer incorruptible we are still created in the image of God, as He reminds Cain in (Gen 9:6b) "For in the image of God He made man." And we can also see that God himself has a body in His Divine Son, Jesus Christ; who also had received an earthly corruptible body (Phil 2:6, Rom 1:23) until His resurrection where He came back in His glorified body, much like the ones we will receive. So, God himself has a body, and I think we can see by this that being created by God with a body (much like His) is indeed quite significant. Think of the all things we enjoy now; the wonderful taste of food we love to eat and share with our family and loved ones (Luke 24:39, 24:42), the warm glow we get from a hug, the touch of a familiar loving hand (John 20:27)... When we are with Him, In His marvelous, wonderfully glorious presence in Heaven; we will be able to share with Him all the splendors of a Heavenly existence. Just imagine sitting at His table, eating the feast He has prepared for us (Rev. 3:20). I don’t know, but I think we’d not be able to do that as disembodied spirits. Oh, how wonderful it will be to enjoy all the goodly godly things we enjoy now (1 Cor 2:9) but unimaginably better! Pretty significant don’t you think? God bless John |