1 Corinthians 15:44

We dare not even imagine the full meaning of this phrase a spiritual body. But there are three ideas with regard to it which we may venture to indicate. We hint at three of its probable characteristics.

I. In the first place, it takes the impress or stamp of the higher spiritual principle of Divine intelligence, or intelligence divinely enlightened and inspired, as easily and spontaneously as much in the way of its being a matter of course as naturally, in short, as the present body assumes the character, attitude, and expression of the lower principle of mere animal life of animal feeling and emotion. It is as good an index of what is spiritual, as the present body is of what is animal in man.

II. The body is an inlet, as well as an outlet. It is the index or image of what is within. But it is also an avenue inwards for things without. It takes the stamp or impress of the inner life, whatever that may be, for which it is adapted. It takes the stamp and impress also of the outer world, and conveys that stamp and impress of the outer world to the living principle, the master that it serves. The spiritual body will be true and faithful as the spirit's minister; and it will be apt and able too. It will lay the entire universe of God under contribution, not at all, in any sense or in any measure, to the lower principle of animal life and feeling, but wholly and exclusively to the higher principle of pure intelligence and Divine thought.

III. The body is an instrument by which the spirit works. The spiritual body will be sleepless, unfatigued, needing neither food nor rest, made like with the angels. How may the redeemed in glory, with those glorious spiritual bodies of theirs, be ever plying the glad and busy task of acting out the impulses of their own spiritual nature, and doing the pleasure of the Lord that bought them!

R. S. Candlish, Life in a Risen Saviour,p. 170.

References: 1 Corinthians 15:44. F. W. Aveling, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xvii., p. 120. 1 Corinthians 15:45. Spurgeon, Morning by Morning,p. 362.

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