Yes, the resurrection of the body is essential because a person is not a complete entity without it.
Les Feldick teaches that no human being functions as a complete entity without body, soul, and spirit. At death, the soul and spirit go to be with the Lord, but the body remains in the grave. The resurrection reunites them, making the believer whole for eternity.
Ephesians 1:14 — This verse speaks of the redemption of the purchased possession, which Les relates to the redemption of the body, a key aspect of the resurrection.
The Bible teaches that believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit as a down payment of their inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession (Ephesians 1:13-14). This redemption includes the body, as Paul writes in Romans 8:23 about the adoption, the redemption of our body. The resurrection of the body is a central hope, as seen in 1 Corinthians 15, which deals extensively with resurrection. Scripture also indicates that the dead in Christ will be raised and reunited with their souls and spirits (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
Les Feldick emphasizes that a human being is not complete without body, soul, and spirit. While the soul and spirit of believers are redeemed at salvation, the body remains unredeemed until the resurrection. He uses Ephesians 1:14 to show that the sealing of the Holy Spirit is a down payment for the final redemption of the body. At the resurrection, the body is reunited with the soul and spirit, making the believer a complete entity for eternity. He also notes that the resurrection is unique to Christianity and is the core of biblical belief.
At physical death, the soul and spirit are separated from the body. The body remains in the grave, while the soul and spirit of the believer are present with the Lord. This is why the resurrection is necessary – to reunite the body with the soul and spirit.
Although believers are redeemed in soul and spirit at salvation, the body is still unredeemed. The Holy Spirit is a down payment guaranteeing that God will complete the transaction by giving a new resurrected body. This final redemption of the body is part of the complete redemption spoken of in Ephesians 1.
Les teaches that the resurrected body will be a new body, reconstructed by God from the original particles. It will be reunited with the soul and spirit, making the believer a complete entity. The body will be like Christ's resurrection body, as seen in His appearances after His resurrection.
For church-age believers, the resurrection occurs at the rapture, when the dead in Christ are raised and reunited with their souls and spirits. Old Testament saints will be resurrected later, after the kingdom is established, as indicated in Daniel 12.
Timing of Old Testament Resurrection
Les shows that Old Testament saints like Daniel will be resurrected 75 days after the kingdom is set up, indicating that resurrection is essential for them to enter the kingdom.
Completeness of Body, Soul, and Spirit
Les emphasizes that no human functions as a complete entity without body, soul, and spirit, and that the body must be resurrected for eternity.
Resurrected Body Like Christ's
Les points to Christ's resurrection body as a glimpse of what our new body will be like, showing the importance of the resurrection.
God Reconstructs the Body
Les explains that God will reconstruct a new body from the original particles, showing that the body is not discarded but transformed.
Redemption of the Body
Les connects Ephesians 1:14 to the final redemption of the body, showing that resurrection is part of complete redemption.
Resurrection Unique to Christianity
Les stresses that resurrection is unique to Christianity and is the core of our eternal hope, distinguishing it from reincarnation or revival.
Body Reunited with Soul and Spirit
Les teaches that at resurrection, the new body will be reunited with the soul and spirit, making us a complete entity for eternity.
Soul and Spirit in Glory Awaiting Body
Les clarifies that the soul and spirit of believers are already in glory, and at the resurrection, they are reunited with the body.
Ephesians 1:13-14: In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
This passage shows that the Holy Spirit is a down payment until the full redemption, including the body, is accomplished.
Romans 8:23: And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Paul explicitly mentions the redemption of the body as part of the believer's waiting.
1 Corinthians 15:35: But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
This question introduces the discussion of the resurrected body in 1 Corinthians 15.
2 Corinthians 5:8: We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
This shows that at death, the soul and spirit are present with the Lord while the body is absent, indicating the need for reunion.
According to Les, a human being is not complete without body, soul, and spirit. While our soul and spirit are with the Lord after death, our body remains in the grave. The resurrection reunites all three, making us a complete entity for eternity.
No. At death, the soul and spirit separate from the body and go to be with the Lord, but the body stays in the grave. The resurrection is a future event when the body is raised and reunited with the soul and spirit.
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