The gospel

[Amanah]

The two aspects of the gospel are (1) the Acts 2 water and Spirit birth (tongues as initial evidence) (2) the coming kingdom where the saints are resurrected to immortality to reign with Christ on the earth.

The Old Testament prophets foretold the coming of a Messiah who would establish a kingdom, restore Israel, and bring salvation to the nations (e.g., Isaiah 9:6-7, Daniel 7:13-14). Jesus' teachings and preaching also emphasized the kingdom of God as a central aspect of His message (e.g., Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:14-15).

The gospel message, as presented in the New Testament, includes the promise of a future kingdom, where believers will reign with Christ (e.g., 2 Timothy 2:12, Revelation 20:4-6). This kingdom is not limited to a spiritual birth but will also have a physical, earthly dimension (e.g., Isaiah 11:1-10, Revelation 21:1-4).

While the primary focus of the gospel is salvation from sin and its consequences, the promise of a future kingdom is an integral part of the broader biblical promise. The gospel message is not just about individual salvation but also about God's ultimate plan to redeem and restore creation, establishing a new kingdom where He will reign supreme with the church on the earth.

The coming kingdom is an aspect of the gospel message, highlighting the cosmic implications of God's salvation plan and the ultimate hope (resurrection to immortality) that awaits believers..

To reject either aspect of the gospel is, in essence, a rejection of the gospel itself. Here's why:

Rejecting Acts 2 water/Spirit salvation offered through faith in Jesus Christ means rejecting the core of the gospel message. This salvation is the means by which God reconciles humanity to Himself, forgives sins, and via the resurrection imparts eternal life.

Rejecting the future coming kingdom, on the other hand, undermines the biblical hope of a redeemed creation, where God will reign supreme. This rejection also diminishes the significance of Jesus' teachings and the apostolic message, which emphasized the kingdom of God as a central aspect of the gospel.

In both cases, rejecting either aspect of the gospel distorts the biblical message and undermines the integrity of the Christian faith.

The CACI teaches a different gospel by rejecting initial evidence, and teaching the light doctrine. The UPCI teaches a different gospel by rejecting resurrection to immortality to reign on the earth and presenting instead a rapture to heaven/or eternal torment dichotomy.

The Apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of holding fast to the entire gospel message, warning that even angels would be accursed if they were to preach a different gospel (Galatians 1:6-9).

[Amanah]

I'm currently reading "The New Testament in it's World," by N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird. Here are some thoughts from their book:

"...biblical resurrection, Anastasis, always had to do with physical bodies, never with a disembodied 'life after death'."
~ N.T. Wright

N.T. Wright's statement highlights a crucial aspect of the biblical concept of resurrection, particularly in its Jewish context:

* Resurrection in Jewish Context
In ancient Jewish thought, resurrection (Anastasis in Greek, Techiyat HaMetim in Hebrew) referred to the reanimation or re-embodiment of physical bodies. This concept was closely tied to the idea of God's justice, redemption, and the ultimate restoration of creation.

* Physical Bodies, Not Disembodied Spirits
Biblical resurrection always involved the transformation and restoration of physical bodies, not the continuation of a disembodied soul or spirit. This perspective is rooted in the Hebrew Bible's emphasis on the interconnectedness of body and soul.

* Contrasting with Greek Dualism
In contrast, the Greek philosophical tradition, influenced by Plato and others, posited a strong body-soul dualism. This view saw the soul as the essential, immortal part of a person, with the body being merely a temporary, earthly vessel. The biblical concept of resurrection, however, rejects this dualism, instead affirming the goodness and importance of the physical body.

* Implications for Christian Eschatology
If resurrection always involves physical bodies, then the ultimate hope for believers is not a disembodied existence in heaven, but rather the transformation and redemption of their bodies in the new creation.

* New Creation, Not Just Life After Death
This perspective shifts the focus from individualistic "life after death" to the cosmic redemption of creation. The resurrection of Jesus, in this view, is not just a proof of his divinity or a guarantee of individual salvation, but also a foretaste of the ultimate redemption of all creation.

* Conclusion
N.T. Wright's statement underscores the importance of understanding biblical resurrection within its original Jewish context. By emphasizing the physical, bodily nature of resurrection, Wright highlights the interconnectedness of body and soul, and the ultimate hope for redemption and restoration that is at the heart of Christian eschatology.

[Amanah]

[Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation: for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. Col 1:15-20 NASB

Currently only Jesus has immortality (1 Tim 6:16) as he is the first born from dead. In Jesus is our blessed hope for resurrection to immortality (Titus 2:13). Through Jesus creation itself will be reborn for those who are resurrected to immortality to inhabit a new heaven and earth (Rev 21). The meek shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).

[diakonos]

What iis raised, exactly?

ψυχικός or σαρκικός ?

[Amanah]

We are resurrected in a glorified, spiritual body (πνευματικός) per 1 Corinthians 15:44, which states:

"It is sown a ψυχικός (psychikos, natural or soulish) body, it is raised a πνευματικός (pneumatikos, spiritual) body. If there is a ψυχικός (psychikos) body, there is also a πνευματικός (pneumatikos) body."
1 Corinthians 15:44 NASB

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by diakonos

What iis raised, exactly?

ψυχικός or σαρκικός ?

The person is raised.

1 Corinthians 15:35 KJV
But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?

The topic is the raising of the dead, and the body with which they are raised. That is, the person is raised, and is raised with a particular type or kind of body. From here, the apostle discusses the raising of the body, since if the person is raised with a body, then by necessity the body is raised. The body is part of the person, so the person being raised requires the body being raised.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44 KJV
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: [43] It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: [44] It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

There is a change in the body upon resurrection. The thing that is sown is the thing that is raised in a new state. Notice, "it" is sown, and "it" is raised. IT is sown a natural body, and the same IT is raised a spiritual body. The natural body, and the spiritual body, are two different states of the same basic original "thing" (the body, and by extension the person). This is why when Jesus rose from the dead, the tomb was empty, there was no "body" left there.

The Egyptians and other pagans believed that a person had two bodies. One was the physical, visible body, the other body was an invisible body that separated from the physical body at death and went on to the "otherworld". Thus, they believed that a person never actually died, only their physical body died. The double, or spiritual body, they believed continued on in the afterlife, and thus the person continued on, conscious and active, in the afterlife, in whatever condition they were allotted to based upon their behaviour during life. Many believed that the person (via their spiritual body) could re-enter the world through rebirth (reincarnation or "transmigration of the soul") to start the earthly life process all over again as another "person".

But the Bible teaches that people actually die, and that at some point people will actually live again, in what is called the raising or resurrection of the dead. The bodies of the saints will be changed from natural bodies (like unto Adam) to spiritual bodies (like unto Jesus in His resurrected state):

1 Corinthians 15:48-49 KJV
As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. [49] And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

We will die like Adam, and we will be raised like Jesus (which means wherever our graves are, they will be empty when we are raised, like His was, because IT is changed from a natural body to a spiritual body, there is no natural body "left behind"). The change is necessary:

1 Corinthians 15:50-54 KJV
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. [51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [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. [53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

ALL the saints will be changed, even if not all the saints physically die. The natural body cannot persist into eternity, it cannot inherit immortality, it must be changed. But notice, IT must be changed, not that "we must get a whole new body altogether as a replacement for the one we have now". Rather, the one we have now will be changed, because WE will be changed (transformed, or to use an older term, "transfigured", a change in "figure" or form).

[Tithesmeister]

Originally Posted by Esaias

The person is raised.

1 Corinthians 15:35 KJV
But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?

The topic is the raising of the dead, and the body with which they are raised. That is, the person is raised, and is raised with a particular type or kind of body. From here, the apostle discusses the raising of the body, since if the person is raised with a body, then by necessity the body is raised. The body is part of the person, so the person being raised requires the body being raised.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44 KJV
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: [43] It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: [44] It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

There is a change in the body upon resurrection. The thing that is sown is the thing that is raised in a new state. Notice, "it" is sown, and "it" is raised. IT is sown a natural body, and the same IT is raised a spiritual body. The natural body, and the spiritual body, are two different states of the same basic original "thing" (the body, and by extension the person). This is why when Jesus rose from the dead, the tomb was empty, there was no "body" left there.

The Egyptians and other pagans believed that a person had two bodies. One was the physical, visible body, the other body was an invisible body that separated from the physical body at death and went on to the "otherworld". Thus, they believed that a person never actually died, only their physical body died. The double, or spiritual body, they believed continued on in the afterlife, and thus the person continued on, conscious and active, in the afterlife, in whatever condition they were allotted to based upon their behaviour during life. Many believed that the person (via their spiritual body) could re-enter the world through rebirth (reincarnation or "transmigration of the soul") to start the earthly life process all over again as another "person".

But the Bible teaches that people actually die, and that at some point people will actually live again, in what is called the raising or resurrection of the dead. The bodies of the saints will be changed from natural bodies (like unto Adam) to spiritual bodies (like unto Jesus in His resurrected state):

1 Corinthians 15:48-49 KJV
As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. [49] And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

We will die like Adam, and we will be raised like Jesus (which means wherever our graves are, they will be empty when we are raised, like His was, because IT is changed from a natural body to a spiritual body, there is no natural body "left behind"). The change is necessary:

1 Corinthians 15:50-54 KJV
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. [51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [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. [53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

ALL the saints will be changed, even if not all the saints physically die. The natural body cannot persist into eternity, it cannot inherit immortality, it must be changed. But notice, IT must be changed, not that "we must get a whole new body altogether as a replacement for the one we have now". Rather, the one we have now will be changed, because WE will be changed (transformed, or to use an older term, "transfigured", a change in "figure" or form).

Amen. That’s how I understand it. Jesus is the firstfruit of those who sleep. So He is our example. How did His disciples recognize Him?

They recognized Him because His spiritual body looked like His fleshly body. There is no documented evidence that His body changed appearance from the time His body was not yet glorified, to later when He had been glorified.