I have three questions.

[Seth]

He will return again to reveal himself to the world. His perfected saints with him.

As I said, Paul received the Spirit from the risen Christ, yet he knew he had not yet attained the resurrection of the dead. As it bears repeating, what Paul received was the likeness of the resurrection. Which is why he spoke about the future..

[Nathan]

Still staring up at the clouds are we??

I've been involved with a WONDERFUL conversation on my face book concerning the question "If we believe that Jesus is still returning, then did the angels lie to those standing there watching Jesus leave?

Perhaps you could give your insigts to this as well here?

[Seth]

Still staring up at the clouds are we??

I've been involved with a WONDERFUL conversation on my face book concerning the question "If we believe that Jesus is still returning, then did the angels lie to those standing there watching Jesus leave?

Perhaps you could give your insigts to this as well here?

Nope not staring up at the clouds. Don't let your assumptions about what I believe run wild.

Jesus is ALWAYS returning in the sense that he is always with us through the "foretaste of future glory" the Spirit. However, upon the perfecting of his saints, he will have the perfected sons of his Father receive creation into their glorious liberty.

I never said Jesus would be returning in literal clouds from above did I?

[Zeek]

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you


is this literal?? 

most would agree, no


so "flesh and blood can not enter the kingdom of God"


is that literal?? 

[Seth]

Well since we all agree that we will not be living in this mortal body forever, I don't see how it being literal would affect things, do you?

Can corruption inherit incorruption? Was Jesus perfected on the third day? Will the earthly man bear the image of the heavenly man?

Drinking Christ's flesh is Spiritual.

Being raised to immortality is also Spiritual.

NONE of it has to do with the flesh. I never said we would be raised with a new kind of flesh. Flesh has nothing to do with it. Our immortality will be completed in the Spirit. I never said it would all be visible to the earthly eye.

[Seth]

Zeek, was Jesus literally raised from the dead? How do we know that he was literally raised if we can also speak of resurrection in figurative terms?

[Molly]

If we die so easily, why do 'they' have to work so hard to kill us--

with their phoney wars, tainted vaccines, poisoned food, foul air, phoney medicine, chemo-'therapy,' radiation, drugs, and on and on and on...

That's a rhetorical question...

[Zeek]

Well since we all agree that we will not be living in this mortal body forever, I don't see how it being literal would affect things, do you?

Can corruption inherit incorruption? Was Jesus perfected on the third day? Will the earthly man bear the image of the heavenly man?

Drinking Christ's flesh is Spiritual.

Being raised to immortality is also Spiritual.

NONE of it has to do with the flesh. I never said we would be raised with a new kind of flesh. Flesh has nothing to do with it. Our immortality will be completed in the Spirit. I never said it would all be visible to the earthly eye.

I thot u were referring to "flesh and blood" as literal "flesh and blood".  

So that before a resurrection can occur, then "literal flesh and blood" has to be done away with.  

Am i understanding u correctly??  

and if so; then it seems to me you are mixing literal with spiritual??  


probably just me, not understanding what u are saying.  


Aren't u saying that literal "flesh and blood" death, has to occur before completed resurrection?

[Zeek]

Zeek, was Jesus literally raised from the dead? How do we know that he was literally raised if we can also speak of resurrection in figurative terms?

Yes, but do we then have to literally die on a cross too??

[Seth]

Zeek, was Jesus literally raised from the dead? How do we know that he was literally raised if we can also speak of resurrection in figurative terms?

Yes, but do we then have to literally die on a cross too??

But how do you know he literally died if we can also speak about death in figurative terms? And how do you know he was literally raised if we can speak about resurrection in figurative terms?

[Molly]

Zeek, was Jesus literally raised from the dead? How do we know that he was literally raised if we can also speak of resurrection in figurative terms?

Yes, but do we then have to literally die on a cross too??

No.  He did all that work for us.

We just have to pick up our cross and follow him.

[Zeek]

Zeek, was Jesus literally raised from the dead? How do we know that he was literally raised if we can also speak of resurrection in figurative terms?

Yes, but do we then have to literally die on a cross too??

But how do you know he literally died if we can also speak about death in figurative terms? And how do you know he was literally raised if we can speak about resurrection in figurative terms?

??  i know u are trying to make a point with this question, but i'm not sure what u mean. 

[Seth]

Well since we all agree that we will not be living in this mortal body forever, I don't see how it being literal would affect things, do you?

Can corruption inherit incorruption? Was Jesus perfected on the third day? Will the earthly man bear the image of the heavenly man?

Drinking Christ's flesh is Spiritual.

Being raised to immortality is also Spiritual.

NONE of it has to do with the flesh. I never said we would be raised with a new kind of flesh. Flesh has nothing to do with it. Our immortality will be completed in the Spirit. I never said it would all be visible to the earthly eye.

I thot u were referring to "flesh and blood" as literal "flesh and blood".  

So that before a resurrection can occur, then "literal flesh and blood" has to be done away with.  

Am i understanding u correctly??  

and if so; then it seems to me you are mixing literal with spiritual??  

What I am saying is that there is what is called a LIKENESS of the resurrection, then there is called "the resurrection of the dead."

We are fitting into the likeness of Christ's resurrection in that our minds are being set free from sin.

What I am saying about flesh and blood is that NEITHER flesh-mindedness OR literal flesh can inherit the kingdom of God. I can determine what is literal and figurative from the context.

But since we all agree that our mortal bodies will be done away with, I don't see the problem in understanding that "flesh and blood" not inheriting the Kingdom can be both literal and figurative according to the full council of the NT, which proves that our literal flesh is earthly and that we will bear the likeness of the heavenly man.

The context of "bearing the likeness of the heavenly man" is not limited to either figurative flesh (flesh mindedness) OR literal flesh. We will bear the likeness of the heavenly man IN ALL WAYS.

[Molly]

and that we will bear the likeness of the heavenly man.

John 20:26
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

[Seth]

Zeek, was Jesus literally raised from the dead? How do we know that he was literally raised if we can also speak of resurrection in figurative terms?

Yes, but do we then have to literally die on a cross too??

But how do you know he literally died if we can also speak about death in figurative terms? And how do you know he was literally raised if we can speak about resurrection in figurative terms?

??  i know u are trying to make a point with this question, but i'm not sure what u mean. 

What I mean is this. You said that Christ was referring figuratively to drinking his blood and eating his flesh. So how can we be sure that "flesh and blood" is not figurative elsewhere? At the same time, with the same logic, if resurrection is spoken of figuratively, then how do we know that Christ was raised literally? What I am saying is, according to that logic, how do we know ANYTHING is literal?

Here is how I know:

The Bible tells us that fleshy things do not save people from sin. Therefore, I can determine that Christ has no interest in having us literally drink his actual literal flesh.

However, because I know we will bear the image of the heavenly man without exception provided, I can tell that BOTH our minds AND our mortal flesh will be changed to spritual minds and spiritual bodies (ie not fleshy bodies).

[Seth]

and that we will bear the likeness of the heavenly man.

John 20:26
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

The beginning and the end...

There is a beginning to our salvation... to the end. Christ is both. First to be saved from sin, and also to be delivered from the flesh entire: mortal putting on immortality.

[Molly]

and that we will bear the likeness of the heavenly man.

John 20:26
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

The beginning and the end...

There is a beginning to our salvation... to the end. Christ is both. First to be saved from sin, and also to be delivered from the flesh entire: mortal putting on immortality.

Who was created on the 8th day?  Oh yes, that would be Adam.

I can tell that BOTH our minds AND our mortal flesh will be changed to spritual minds and spiritual bodies (ie not fleshy bodies).

29Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

30And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

--John 20

[Seth]

and that we will bear the likeness of the heavenly man.

John 20:26
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

The beginning and the end...

There is a beginning to our salvation... to the end. Christ is both. First to be saved from sin, and also to be delivered from the flesh entire: mortal putting on immortality.

Who was created on the 8th day?  Oh yes, that would be Adam.

Those who are born must also grow to maturity.

[Molly]

and that we will bear the likeness of the heavenly man.

John 20:26
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

The beginning and the end...

There is a beginning to our salvation... to the end. Christ is both. First to be saved from sin, and also to be delivered from the flesh entire: mortal putting on immortality.

Who was created on the 8th day?  Oh yes, that would be Adam.

Those who are born must also grow to maturity.

Yes, and then what will they look like?


Luke 24:39
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

[Seth]

and that we will bear the likeness of the heavenly man.

John 20:26
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

The beginning and the end...

There is a beginning to our salvation... to the end. Christ is both. First to be saved from sin, and also to be delivered from the flesh entire: mortal putting on immortality.

Who was created on the 8th day?  Oh yes, that would be Adam.

Those who are born must also grow to maturity.

Yes, and then what will they look like?


Luke 24:39
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

And Jesus was proving something to Timothy. If you need to see flesh and blood, blessed are those who believe without seeing.

[Molly]

and that we will bear the likeness of the heavenly man.

John 20:26
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

The beginning and the end...

There is a beginning to our salvation... to the end. Christ is both. First to be saved from sin, and also to be delivered from the flesh entire: mortal putting on immortality.

Who was created on the 8th day?  Oh yes, that would be Adam.

Those who are born must also grow to maturity.

Yes, and then what will they look like?


Luke 24:39
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

And Jesus was proving something to Timothy. If you need to see flesh and blood, blessed are those who believe without seeing.

Yes, but they all saw him, and witnessed to it, and we shall be like him.

[Seth]

http://www.iswasandwillbe.com/Will_We_Be_Resurrected_With_Physical_Bodies.php


Hi L____,

Thank you for your question. 

You ask, "was Christ resurrected in a spiritual body, and can you go into more detail and cite some scripture? Also, please comment on Luke 24."

I will be happy to do that for you. 

Here is the foundational scripture for the fact that a resurrected body is not a natural body:

1 Cor 15:44  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1 Cor 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

So there it is plain and simple: "It is raised a spiritual body...made a quickening spirit." Now all we have to ask and answer is; what are the characteristics of a spiritual body? Can a spiritual body be seen? Can it be handled? Or is a spiritual body invisible like the wind which we cannot see or feel? What say the scriptures? What is Christ's own answer to this question?

John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
John 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water [physically] and of the Spirit[spiritually], he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit .
John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

"So is every one that is born of the Spirit... you can hear the sound of him but you cannot tell where he came from or where he goes." That is characteristic of a spiritual body. But there is another characteristic of a spiritual body which Christ did not mention here to Nicodemus, but which is demonstrated on many occasions after His resurrection. That characteristic is the fact that a spiritual body can manifest itself in many forms which appear to be "flesh and bone" which can actually eat food and be handled by those around it. But then when it wants or needs to it can again become what it is:

[like] the wind [which] bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Those who read that Christ said "A spirit hath not flesh and bone as you see I have," are forgetting that "flesh...cannot inherit the kingdom of God." Truth to these folks is defined as the subtraction instead of the "sum of God's Word."

Psa 119:160  The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.

So we will never arrive at the Truth by declaring that one part of God's Word is not true. "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God" is true!

1 Cor 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 

Now if 1 Cor. 15:50 is true, then Christ's appearance as flesh and bone after His resurrection must have been a temporary condition for the sake of the apostles' lack of faith. And as it turns out this is exactly what our Savior tells us is the case:

John 20:24  But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
John 20:25  The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe .
John 20:26  And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
John 20:27  Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
John 20:28  And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
John 20:29  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
John 20:30  And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
John 20:31  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.


This entire story is not for the purpose of showing us that we will be given visible bodies. It is rather for the exact opposite: "Blessed are they that have NOT seen, and yet have believed."

This truth is demonstrated by the fact that Christ appeared in four different forms after His resurrection. One of those forms just happened to be the one you refer to in Luke 24.

The first form in which Christ appeared was that of the gardener at the tomb of Christ:

John 20:14  And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
John 20:15  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
John 20:16  Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

The second time Jesus appeared "in another form."  This took place the same day that He appeared to Mary as a gardener:

Mark 16:12  After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
Mark 16:13  And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
Mark 16:14  Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

"Another form" shows us that Christ appeared in several forms. Here is that same story in much more revealing detail:

Luke 24:13  And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
Luke 24:14  And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
Luke 24:15  And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
Luke 24:16  But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
Luke 24:17  And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
Luke 24:18  And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
Luke 24:19  And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
Luke 24:20  And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
Luke 24:21  But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
Luke 24:22  ...certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; ["that same day"-verse 13]
Luke 24:23  And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
Luke 24:24  And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
Luke 24:25  Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
Luke 24:26  Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
Luke 24:27  And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luke 24:28  And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
Luke 24:29  But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
Luke 24:30  And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed [it], and brake, and gave to them.
Luke 24:31  And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
Luke 24:32  And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
Luke 24:33  And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,

"They arose the same hour and returned to Jerusalem and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them" is the verse which precedes the verses you are asking about. This form, as Himself, is then the third form in which Jesus appears. In this particular form, He appears with his crucifixion wounds still intact. If the point of this story is that we are raised with a physical body; why is Christ still bearing His wounds which are not seen in any of His other appearances? Here is the story of Christ's appearance in His third form. Here is the story about which you inquire. It take place just as the men from Emmaus are finishing relating to the disciples that Jesus had appeared to them in "another form" (Mark 16:12).

Luke 24:36  And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
Luke 24:37  But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
Luke 24:38  And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
Luke 24:39  Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Luke 24:40  And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
Luke 24:41  And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
Luke 24:42  And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
Luke 24:43  And he took it, and did eat before them.

Being Spirit, Christ simply materializes in a locked room as a hungry "flesh and bone" person whom Thomas could handle.
"A spirit hath not flesh and bone as ye see me have" sounds as if Christ is denying what He Himself had affirmed to Nicodemas concerning being:

[like] the wind [which] bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Was Christ not a resurrected body? Was He yet a natural body? No, He was not a natural body! And yes, He was a resurrected spiritual body. When we see only Luke 24:39...

Luke 24:39  Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

...to the exclusion of John 3:8...

John 3:8  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth : so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

...and 1 Cor. 15: 44 and 45...

1 Cor 15:44  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1 Cor 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
...and verse 50...
1 Cor 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
...we are missing the point. This is not speculation. This is true for every resurrected body:
1 Cor 15:51  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1 Cor 15:52  In 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.
1 Cor 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

When we forget these many verses which tell us that we will all be changed from corruptible flesh to incorruptible spirit, from which all the things which are seen are made, we are placed in the unenviable position of pitting one verse of God's word against a dozen other verses of God's word.

2 Cor 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Heb 11:3  Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Christ's fourth form of appearing to His disciples is related to us in the gospel of John:

John 21:1  After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
John 21:2  There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the [sons] of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
John 21:3  Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
John 21:4  But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. [Sounds just like Mary in the garden]
John 21:5  Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
John 21:6  And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
John 21:7  Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt [his] fisher's coat [unto him], (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
John 21:8  And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
John 21:9  As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
John 21:10  Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
John 21:11  Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
John 21:12  Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
"They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes."
John 21:7  Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord..."

Two hundred cubits is just three hundred feet. Who does not recognize their own teacher's voice from a distance of three hundred feet? "Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said 'It is the Lord," not because he recognized the voice, but because "they cast therefore and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes."

And then we are even told "And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. If Christ were standing there as Himself with His wounds still intact, then the words "no man durst ask Him, Who are you?" would be meaningless.
I hope this helps you to see that if indeed Christ were seen ("a spirit hath not flesh and bone as ye see me have") then "the things which are seen are temporal." Christ was therefore simply temporarily appearing to be "in another form" as flesh and bone, and we are specifically told why He appeared in this particular form:

Mark 16:14  Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

Always remember this verse when considering the "things of the spirit."

Rom 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, BEING UNDERSTOOD by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

So it was necessary that Christ first appear as "the things that are made."But it is now necessary that we learn from His admonition to His disciples who had seen His crucifixion and burial:

Mark 16:14  Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

[Cardinal]

:cloud9: Amen WW.........and again.........there is a resurrection attained WHILE STILL IN THE BODY, and it is this resurrection that I am speaking of, as did Paul. Blessings...

Card, are you specifically talking of a SPIRITUAL resurrection then - the one while still in the body?  Do you specifically believe this body of flesh will one day stop breathing, i.e., die?  All the aforementioned is what I personally believe.

It seems to me that some are confusing the terms physical and spiritual, and I think your answer to that question would help clarify this (or not  :laughing7:).  Thanks, James.

:cloud9: I specifically believe that He is the resurrection and the life, and that if we believe that we'll never die, as He told the Samaritan woman. I also believe that this mortality is going to be swallowed up of immortality, if we believe the above.  Blessings....

[Molly]

Mark 16:14  Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

[Seth]

Mark 16:14  Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

Proverbs 26:5
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

The folly:

John 20:25
The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

The answer according to the folly:

John 20:27-29
Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Why:

Rom 1:20
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, BEING UNDERSTOOD by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

But for those who do not need to see:

1 Cor 15:44-45
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.