Flesh and blood can’t inherit the kingdom of God.
When Paul says that "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God," he does not deny the existence of a physical body in God’s kingdom. Instead, he is pointing out the limitations of our current mortal state. The phrase “flesh and blood” is a metaphor for our earthly, perishable nature—bodies that are weak and corruptible, and flesh and blood count inherit the kingdom of God. When Paul says that flesh and blood can not inherit the kingdom of God, he does not deny the existence of a physical body in God's kingdom; instead, he is pointing out the limitations of our occurrent mortal state. The phrase flesh and blood is a met flower of earthly, perishable nature; what is that? It is weak, correctible, and subject to decay. Paul is emphasizing that these bodies, as they are now, cannot participate in God’s eternal, perfect kingdom without being transformed.
To understand this better, let’s look at Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus in John 3:1-21. When Nicodemus, a Pharisee, visits Jesus at night, Jesus tells him, “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus is confused, asking how a person can be born again when they are already old. Jesus explains that this second birth is not physical but spiritual: one must be born of water and the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus contrasts “what is born of the flesh” with “what is born of the Spirit,” showing that the first, natural birth is not enough to inherit eternal life. Only through spiritual rebirth—being born again—can a person enter God’s kingdom.
In the same way, Paul’s statement about flesh and blood points to the need for transformation. Just as Jesus taught Nicodemus about the necessity of a second, spiritual birth, Paul highlights that our earthly, mortal nature cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Only through God’s transforming power, making us new and spiritual, can we take part in His eternal kingdom. This transformation is essential—a physical change and a complete renewal of life through the Spirit.
The Case for Transformed Resurrection Bodies in the Kingdom of God
In our last episode, we discussed how the dead will be raised and highlighted that receiving a spiritual body doesn’t mean it will be non-physical. We explained that Jesus is the pattern of resurrection. His resurrected body had physical aspects, such as being able to eat food, yet it could also do things like disappear or pass through locked doors.
At first, when the disciples saw Jesus, they thought He was a ghost. But Jesus reassured them that a ghost does not have flesh and bones. Let’s recall the passage:
Luke 24:36-39 (NKJV):"Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them and said to them, 'Peace to you.' But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, 'Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.’”
This passage tells us a lot about Jesus’ resurrected body.
It Was Physical: Jesus’ body was not just a spirit or a ghost. It was tangible—He had flesh and bones and could be touched and seen. This proves that His resurrection was a physical one, not just spiritual.
It Was Recognizable: Jesus’ resurrected body still looked like Him. His hands and feet likely showed the marks of the crucifixion. The disciples knew He was the same Jesus who had died but was now alive.
It Was Transformed: While Jesus’ body was physical, it was also different. He could appear in locked rooms (John 20:19) and vanish suddenly. This shows that His body was glorified—free from the limitations of normal human bodies.
It Gives Us Hope: Jesus’ resurrected body is a promise for believers. In 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, Paul calls Jesus the “firstfruits” of the resurrection. This means that one day, believers will also receive transformed, glorified bodies—physical but perfected, free from decay, sin, and death.
Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 and Philippians 3:21 supports this idea. The Bible consistently teaches that believers will not be raised as disembodied spirits. Instead, we will have transformed, glorified bodies, just like Jesus’—bodies made perfect and fit for eternity with God.
Jesus’ Teaching on the Resurrection
Jesus clearly taught that the bodily resurrection is central to God’s plan for redemption and His kingdom. In Matthew 22:31-32, Jesus rebukes the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection. He says, “Have you not read what was said to you by God: ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” Here, Jesus confirms that the patriarchs are alive to God, pointing to a future bodily resurrection where they will live again, transformed and incorruptible. Similarly, in John 5:28-29, Jesus teaches about the universal resurrection, saying, “For an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” This shows that the physical bodies of all people—both believers and non-believers—will be raised, with believers entering eternal life and others facing judgment.
In Luke 24:39, Jesus provides insight into the nature of His resurrected body. When He appears to His disciples after the resurrection, they think He is a ghost. Jesus tells them, “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” His glorified body is physical, yet it is transformed, no longer subject to death or decay. This serves as a model for the resurrection bodies believers will receive, as Paul confirms in Philippians 3:21.
The Apostles’ Teachings
The apostles further reinforce the reality of a bodily resurrection and describe the transformation believers will experience at Christ’s return. In 1 John 3:2, John writes,
“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”
This means believers will be made like Christ, receiving glorified bodies just as He did. Paul emphasizes this connection in Romans 8:23, saying,
“We wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”
Here, salvation is tied to the redemption and transformation of our physical bodies, not to escaping them.
Paul also explains this transformation in 2 Corinthians 5:1-4 by comparing our current bodies to “tents” that will one day be replaced with heavenly, eternal dwellings. He writes,
“For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.”
Paul makes it clear that resurrection do
es not mean disembodiment. Instead, we will receive bodies that are immortal, perfected, and free from sin and death.
Old Testament Prophets on Resurrection
The idea of resurrection and bodily transformation is rooted in the Old Testament. In Isaiah 25:8, the prophet declares,
“He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces.”
This victory over death, later quoted by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:54, points to the resurrection as the ultimate defeat of sin and mortality. Similarly, Daniel 12:2-3 speaks of a future resurrection, saying,
“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”
This passage explicitly describes the resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked, tying it to the final judgment.
In Ezekiel 37:12-14, the vision of the valley of dry bones provides a powerful image of resurrection. God says,
“I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people.”
While this vision symbolizes Israel’s restoration, it also foreshadows God’s power to bring life to the dead, pointing to the future resurrection of His people.
Logical and Theological Consistency
Paul’s teaching about resurrection bodies aligns perfectly with Jesus’ teachings, the apostles’ writings, and the Old Testament. Jesus’ bodily resurrection is described as the “first fruits” in 1 Corinthians 15:20, meaning it serves as both a guarantee and a pattern for the resurrection of believers. The apostles emphasize that the hope of salvation includes transforming our bodies, not just our spirits. Meanwhile, the Old Testament prophets laid the groundwork for the resurrection, culminating in God’s ultimate victory over death. Together, these teachings form a clear and consistent message: believers will one day receive glorified, eternal bodies, just like Jesus’ resurrected body, as part of God’s redemptive plan.
This passage from 1 Corinthians 15:54-58 wraps up Paul’s teaching about the resurrection of the dead. Earlier in the chapter, Paul explains how believers will be transformed and how death will be defeated. When Paul says, “Death is swallowed up in victory,” he means that death, which once seemed so powerful and final, has been completely overcome through Jesus. He mocks death by asking, “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” Death’s sting comes from sin, and sin gets its power from the law, which shows us our failures. But Jesus gives us victory over both sin and death through His death and resurrection. Paul then thanks God for this gift and encourages believers to keep going strong in their faith. Since Christ has won the victory, our work for God matters and is never wasted. This gives believers hope and a reason to keep serving God with purpose.
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