Help to disprove unscriptural teaching

[KingdomSon]

Greetings,
Trying to find information in regards to refutting the teaching that all believers will rise as “spirit beings” (non-bodily resurrection) vs the scriptural teaching in a “bodily resurrection” of all believers (Romans 8:11, 23).

I’m debating an individual who I believe is from the (former) Herbert W. Armstrong (Plain Truth) organization that teaches all believers will be “born again” as “spirit beings” at the resurrection and second coming of Jesus Christ, since “flesh and blood” cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.

Is there any writing from the Church Fathers or others in regards to this unscriptural teaching?

Any help would be appreciated.

Kingdomson

 

[Nita]

The verse you refer to is 1 Cor 15:50. Read all of the verses involved – those before and those after.

For example:
1 Cor 15:52-54 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
For **this **perishable **body must put on **imperishability,
and **this **mortal **body must put on **immortality.
When **this **perishable body **puts on **imperishability,
and this **mortal body ****puts on **immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
Our bodies will be changed, but Paul definitely says our “bodies” will be raised. Surely that individual doesn’t think our raised bodies will be running around without any spirits/souls united to them. Remind him that St. Paul is making these comments in connection with the verse he is citing about flesh and blood not inheriting the kingdom of heaven. It’s obvious he is misinterpreting Paul’s meaning of “flesh and blood”.

 

[_L]

Romans 6:4-5
[4] For we are buried together with him by baptism into death; that as Christ is risen from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also may walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.

The likeness of his resurrection was BODILY resurrection.

 

[Hiskid1973]

Here’s a companion verse from Thessalonians…
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Your friend is correct in the sense that this mortal flesh and blood won’t be in the kingdom…But remind them of Christ’s resurrected body…He appeared before them and dined with them…He showed Thomas His wounds…And we will be changed, we shall be like Him…

 

[KingdomSon]

Romans 6:4-5
[4] For we are buried together with him by baptism into death; that as Christ is risen from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also may walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.

The likeness of his resurrection was BODILY resurrection.

Greetings L,

Thanks for the verse out of Romans. The individual I am debating accepts the “bodily resurrection” of Christ… but denies Jesus Christ ascended “bodily” into heaven since “Flesh and blood” cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. I’ve pointed out though that since believers will be given life in their “mortal bodies” (Romans 8:11) then they can possess the Kingdom of God since now they have “put on” incorruption vs corruption and immortality vs mortality (1 Cor. 15:42-44). He continues to deny this scriptural teaching by counter-claiming that then they would not have “spiritual bodies” if they were to enter heaven with their (resurrected physical) bodies since according to 1 Cor. 15:44 there is a “physical body” and then there is a “spiritual body.” He’s admitted that a “spiritual body” is 100% spirit… but I have rebutaled with if that is the case then it is not a “spiritual body” since “spiritual body” would be a contradiction of terms if it signified only a spirit.

Kingdomson