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8B. New Bodies and Immortality 
In heaven, all wear new and recognizable heavenly bodies which are not burdensome like the old ones. Jesus Christ, "will transform our lowly bodies so that they may be like his glorious body." (l). Jesus gives his children new bodies because they are part of the Heavenly Body just as those invited to the King's banquet are given and expected to wear a brand new robe.
JESUS GIVES HIS CHILDREN NEW BODIES
Individual Love for Everyone
Every Christian is personally recognized and cherished in heaven.
"To a computer - I am just another number.
To Jesus - I am an object of his fathomless love.
I'm just a small number, computers can trace;
But Jesus knows my heartaches, my name, my face."
Gaining Immortality
Woody Allen in "Hannah and Her Sisters" says, "I don't want to gain immortality through my work. I want to gain immortality by not dying." But Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die"(2). We expect the miracle of resurrection because of our devotion to God's Son and not because it is a natural part of being, something to be expected after we die.
Jesus' Tomb
We are all "as dead as a doornail" until Jesus personally gives us new life. It is a miracle happening for every Christian. Jesus says "I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death." (3)There is no death for the believer. Death means separation. Natural death is the separation of the spirit from the body and spiritual death is the separation of the soul from God. For the Christian believer death is robbed of its sting. The writer of Hebrews speaks of Jesus "by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death- that is, the devil- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death."(4) Therefore Christ has destroyed the power of death over the believer and taken the fear of death from us too. Satan can no longer inflict death with all its terror upon us. "Our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."(5)
Question for Discussion
1. How do you picture Jesus in your mind's eye? A baby in a manger, the Cosmic Christ, or some other figure?
Notes
(1) Philippians 3.21 (2) John 11.25,26. (3) John 8.51 (4) Hebrews 2.14,15 (5) 2 Timothy 1.10
"We are living members of his mystical body"
