www.scatteredchristians.org
Another Sermon for the Scattered and Starving Bible Believing Christians All Over the World Wide Web
2005 - Touchet Baptist Church, Touchet, Washington - Pastor Mike Paulson -2005

It Doesn't Stay This Way Forever!

Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body,
according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Philippians 3:21


Define "vile" - 1.  Base; mean; worthless; despicable. 2.  Morally base or impure; sinful; depraved by sin; wicked; hateful in the sight of God and of good men.

It seems that most folks don't like to use the word vile to describe themselves today - even Christians.

  • Look at how much we are concerned about our VILE body!
  • Look at how much money we spend on our VILE body!
  • Look at the simple fact that even Christians appear to be more concerned about their 'vile' body and where they keep it and how they feed it than they are the eternal future of it!  They are more concerned about the oil in their car than they are concerned about the "anointing oil" of the Holy Spirit.  Matthew 16:26  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
  • I see Christians spending more time in judgment towards a brother or themselves about gaining weight and in their outward appearance than they do about judging matters that have eternal value for themselves and for their family. II Corinthians 10:7  Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.

  • Yes, I agree - there is something to be said about outward appearance that still has eternal consideration, but they are not anybody's problem except theirs.  We all have our own judgment seat coming - probably sooner than most want to consider these days - Romans 14:10  But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, ...

    ...besides, I doubt they are honestly concerned spiritually about that particular someone they are judging - they probably just like to make themselves feel better about their own vile body by watching someone else have a problem with theirs! - Don't use someone else as a means to justify yourself! II Corinthians 10:12  For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

    In fact, the reason this verse gives folks the fits is because of what God says about our flesh...
    ...He calls our body & flesh VILE!

    But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were,
    it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:)
    for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:
    Galatians 2:6


    Proof in Modern Versions!
    Here is a little proof of how those offended by the word vile show their 'hurt' - by changing their modern bible versions!  Instead of the word, "vile," they make it say... "dying bodies," "weak, mortal," "the body of our humiliation," "wretched," "our humble state," "that which has been humiliated," "lowly" - anything but "VILE!"

    KJV is still Vile to Them!
    However, as much as they hate the word 'vile,' they still use it against the King James Bible in their attacks.  Sure, why not - of course they don't like the Word of God - they are the very words of Jesus Christ - I Timothy 6:3-5- and they killed Him so they must try to kill the Holy Bible - the word of God... lest someone should believe and be saved Luke 8:12; Ephesians 1:12-14!

    Let us read the truth about ourselves - the truth that apparently hurts for some folks to hear!  While we have had our spiritual circumcision, etc., we still shouldn't forget that while we are still in our bodies, these bodies are still VILE!

    Luke 16:15- And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

    Genesis 6:5,6 - And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

    Isaiah 64:6 - But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

    James 3:5-8  - Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.  For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:  But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

    John 3:6a - That which is born of the flesh is flesh;

    I Peter 1:24 - For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

    Job 7:5,6 - My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.  My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.

    Job 21:26- They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.

    Acts 12:23 -  And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

    Matthew 26:41- Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

    Romans 7:18 - For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

    Romans 7:25 - I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

    Romans 8:13a- For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die...

    I Corinthians 15:42-50
    vs 42 - sown in corruption
    vs 43 - sown in dishonour
    vs 44 - it is sown a natural body
    vs 48 - we are earthy
    vs 49 - we have borne the image of the earthy
    vs 50 - our flesh and blood can not inherit the kingdom of God!


    However...  We shall be changed!
    It doesn't stay this way forever, folks!
    We shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

    Our soul is clean!
    Hebrews 4:12, Romans 4:8, etc
    For our conversation IS IN heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
    Philippians 3:20
    We do already have the Holy Spirit!
    Romans 8:10; Ephesians 1:14

    ...but our body still needs to be glorified...
    ...either when we die or are raptured, we shall be changed...

    I Corinthians 15:51,52Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  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.

    II Corinthians 3:13-18  And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:  But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.  But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.  Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

    I John 3:1-3 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

    Romans 8:29 - For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

    Philippians 3:20,21  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.  (See Ephesians 5, etc. as this has already taken place except for the physical, eh!)  (P.S. S.  fashion means to make or form, to give shape, to mold to, to fit, to adapt, to make)


    What will we be fashioned like?

    Genesis 1:27 - So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

    Genesis 5:1,2 - This is the book of the generations of Adam.  In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

    Matthew 22:30- For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

    Revelation 21:17- And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.

    We will be able to travel faster than the speed of light, etc.  Compare Matthew 28:9with John 20:17

    We will be able to go through solid objects - John 20:19, 26; and appear and disappear - Luke 24:31; John 20:26

    We will still be eating and drinking - Luke 24:41-43

    We will be flesh and bones, but no blood - Luke 24:39, I Corinthians 15:50.

    ...fashioned like unto his glorious body,
    according to the working whereby
    he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.



    P.S.
    Yes, we now must reckon ourselves dead!  Romans 6:11
    Yes, we now must keep our bodies under subjection! I Corinthians 9:27; I Timothy 2:11; I Timothy 3:4; I Peter 3:1,5
    Yes, we must now put on Christ!  Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:24; Galatians 3:27
    Yes, we must now walk in the Spirit! Romans 8:4; Galatians 5:25; Romans 8:4
    Yes, me must now make no provision for the flesh!  Romans 13:14  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

    But yes, some day - it will all be taken care of once and for all!

    ... and so shall we ever be with the Lord!
    Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
    I Thessalonians 4:17b,18