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From: sandrock@aries.scs.uiuc.edu (Mark Sandrock)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: The missing body/Empty tomb
Message-ID: <Apr.28.19.32.31.1991.21061@athos.rutgers.edu>
Date: 28 Apr 91 23:32:39 GMT
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uriel@oak.circa.ufl.edu (Scott Whitmore) writes:

>... This [concept from C.S. Lewis] is very meaningful, because it counters
>the Gnostic argument ... that the Spirit goes on
>to higher planes of existence while Gross Matter, which is 'less',
>stays behind; matter is portrayed as being somehow less *good* than
>spirit.  Gnosticism denies physical resurrection.  Yet Paul says, "For
>if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised.  If
>Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in
>your sins."  (I Cor 15:16-17, RSV)

Yes, well let's read on a little further, shall we?

	So also with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown in
	corruption rises in incorruption; what is sown in dishonor
	rises in glory; what is sown in weakness rises in power;
	what is sown a natural body rises a spiritual body.

						(I Cor 15:42-44)

And a little further we find:

	Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood can obtain no
	part in the kingdom of God, neither shall corruption have any
	part in incorruption.
						(I Cor 15:50)

And a few more...

	... even though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man
	is being renewed day by day.

	... For the things that are seen are temporal, but the things
	that are not seen are eternal.

						(II Cor 4:16,18)

Please note, not my words, but Paul's. To me it could not be more clear,
but then we can't find what we aren't looking for...

>>
>>This is the reason that those who had been close to Jesus did not immediately
>>recognize Him. It is also the reason He was able to enter into a locked room.
>>

>In other words, the disciples were lied to by God when they touched his
>wounds and watched him eat fish?  And as for the locked room, apparently he
>was no longer BOUND to the laws of physics, even though physical-ness was
>part of him.

Not at all. It WAS His body, but His non-physical body (or soul). It was
given to His Disciples to be able to see and feel this non-physical body.
"And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from
their sight." (Luke 24:31)

Common sense should tell us that Jesus was no longer BOUND to the physical
laws simply because He was no longer BOUND to His physical body! Why is
this so very hard to accept? It demonstrates the immutability of the laws
of nature, which are ultimately derived from the perfect Will of God!

Let's give God the honor of perfection, and see where it leads us!

Mark Sandrock
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