Celebrating
Love of JESUS, Hope of Heaven, and Faith in the Word of God.

INSIDE THE GATES OF HEAVEN

CHAPTER 5

 LEARNING A SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLE

Now as the saints on their heavenly journey pause in these suburbs to learn spiritual realities, they are being prepared to understand and enjoy what they will experience in the Holy City.   One thing they learn is the difference between physical saints on earth and spiritual saints in Heaven.  And learning this will also enhance our visit.

"The first man, Adam, was made of dust,
the second man is the Lord from Heaven.
Now just as Adam was made of dust,
so are his descendents.
But those who are spiritual are
like Jesus who is in Heaven.
And as we have lived on earth
like Adam in a body of dust,
we shall also live in Heaven
like Jesus in a spiritual body."
1 Corinthians 15:47-49

God made us in three parts: spirit, soul, and body, but the real person (the real me) is my soul.  My mind, my heart, my memory, my emotions, my reasoning power -- these are the real me.  These are my soul.  These are my real person, invisible, and eternal.  My soul is shaped just like my body and fits into it perfectly just as a hand fits a glove.

God gave us a spirit so we could know Him and live on a higher level than animals.  But because of Adam's disobedience there is sin upon every soul, ingrained in every personality; and the only way of escape is by asking Jesus to remove our sins, save us from eternal punishment, and redeem us to eternal life with Him in Heaven.

A sinful soul uses the body for satisfaction in temporal sinful pleasures.  But a redeemed soul, being delivered from ingrained sin, is united with the spirit; and while enjoying the things of God in this life, looks forward to spiritual pleasures in eternal heavenly bliss.

"To be bodily minded is death,
to be spiritually minded is life and peace."
Romans 8:6

A redeemed soul and spirit occupy the same space at the same time within the body, out of the body, and in Heaven they appear as one spirit person.  Spirits in Heaven have no infirmities and no signs of age, but they are recognized as the same person who lived in the body of dust on earth.  After this body of dust is resurrected and changed, the saints will live in Heaven in a glorified body like Jesus.

"And, behold, there appeared to them
Moses and Elijah talking with Him.
Then answered Peter, and said to Jesus,
'Lord, it is good for us to be here;
If Thou wilt, let us make here three booths;
one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
Matthew 17:3-4

(to Chapter 6)

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