“THAT WHICH IS BORN OF THE SPIRIT IS SPIRIT.”

We call to mind also our Lord’s explanation of spiritual things to Nicodemus, in which he declared plainly that only those who are born again can either enter into, or SEE the Kingdom of God (because as we had previously seen this is a spiritual kingdom, invisible to men. Note likewise here that the Lord never said that those not born again would not enter into the earthly phase of the kingdom). John 3:3,6. Nor does this refer merely to the begetting of the spirit, as at consecration (when we are begotten of the spirit); it includes also the birth of the spirit in resurrection – “born from the dead.”

The Apostle Paul gives the same assurance, saying, “Flesh and blood [human nature] cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.” Hence, he informs us that all those who shall be sharers of that heavenly Kingdom must be “changed” from human, or flesh conditions to spirit conditions, from weakness to power, from animal to spiritual conditions. –1 Cor 15:42-44.

One matter which more than any other seems to hinder the Lord’s people from grasping this subject clearly is, the prevalent but mistaken view which is entertained respecting the resurrection of the dead. We shall not attempt to discuss this subject at length here, and we shall omit entirely reference to the world’s resurrection, which will be to human conditions, nature, etc.; but it is necessary that we notice something respecting “the first [chief, best, highest] resurrection, which pertains only to Christ Jesus and the Church, which is his body – the Kingdom class.

These all are sacrificers, who have “presented their bodies living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God.” (Rom 12:1) In view of this sacrifice of the human nature, the gift of God in exchange is, to these, a spiritual nature, – and hence they are termed “new creatures.” Their exaltation in nature is very high: lifted out of the human nature, which is a little lower than that of angels (the lowest order of spirit beings), they are to be exalted to the nature and likeness of their Lord, “far above angels, principalities and powers;” and to be made partakers of the highest form of the spirit nature; namely, the divine nature, with its wonderful peculiarity, – immortality, or inherent life. (2 Pet 1:4.)

The one point which more than any other seems to confuse the student of this subject, is our Lord’s resurrection. They note the fact that he appeared in a body of flesh and bones, after his resurrection, and they therefore conclude that he still has a body of flesh and bones bearing all the scars of Calvary; hence, in thinking of his second advent they invariably expect it to be another advent as a human being (in flesh and bones), “a little lower than the angels.”

These expectations are wrong, as we shall show from the Scriptures. Our Lord after his resurrection was a spirit being, and his manifestations of himself to his disciples in various fleshly bodies then, were similar exactly to manifestations made before he became the man Christ Jesus, while he still possessed the glory which he had with the Father before the world was, – the glory of a spirit being.

For instance, are we not particularly told that the Lord and two angels appeared as men in bodies of flesh and blood and bones, and in ordinary human garb, to Abraham and Sarah?

And the record is that “they did eat and talk with Abraham.” On another occasion the Lord appeared to Moses, not in a body of flesh, but “as a flame of fire” in a bush which apparently burned, and from which he spoke to Moses. We contend that such a power to appear in any kind of a body is a power which in the past was considerably used in communicating the divine will to mankind, and that it is discontinued now, only because the canon of divine revelation is complete, so that in it the man of God is thoroughly furnished unto every good word and work, and needs no special message or revelations. – 2 Tim 3:17.

In reading the narrative of our Lord’s appearance to his disciples after his resurrection, the fact seems generally to be overlooked that he appeared only a few times, in all, and that these visits were always brief, and that between these visits, after the day of his resurrection, there were long periods of days and weeks in which the disciples saw nothing of him. It is generally overlooked, also, that he appeared in various forms, one of which was identical with the body that was crucified, only because Thomas had said he would not believe unless he could have such a demonstration. Even then our Lord rather upbraided Thomas, assuring him that there was a still greater blessing in store for those who ask not for such ocular demonstration.

It is generally forgotten that none of the world ever saw our Lord after his resurrection, but merely his disciples, to whom, it is said, he “showed himself.” This was in harmony with his statement made before his death, “Yet a little while and the world sees me no more.” – John 14:19.

Continued with next post.