Under what conditions will a Christian be found naked? He will be found naked if he has preserved his original personality. If he has not undergone the processes of death and resurrection in this world he has no house in the heavens. When he is raised he will not be clothed with righteousness but will be spiritually naked.

For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. (II Corinthians 5:4)

The victorious saint groans in his spirit, waiting for the day in which he will be set free. Dying and going to the spirit paradise is a welcome thought. But of greater consequence is the condition in which he will find himself in the day of resurrection.

He is longing for release from the death-doomed body in which he now is imprisoned. He is hoping for a body like that of Jesus in which he will be free to serve the Lord without trouble, without perplexity, without persecution, without heavy burdens. Today he is in the prison of the mortal body. In the day to come he will be free to move about the creation, performing the Lord's will in love, joy, peace, and glory.

"Mortality" is to be "swallowed up of life."

We find the same concept in the "resurrection chapter":

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. (I Corinthians 15:54)

Our flesh and bone body will be raised from the ground. Then our body will be clothed with our body from Heaven. Our corruptible body will put on the incorruption of our house from Heaven. The glorifying of the resurrected flesh and bones with the house from Heaven marks the fullness of our redemption, our total transformation into the image of Christ.

Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest [pledge; guarantee] of the Spirit. (II Corinthians 5:5)

We are being "wrought" (fashioned) for the "selfsame thing," that is, for being "swallowed up of life". Our redemption is being prepared in us today. In the present hour we have the Spirit of God as a guarantee that God indeed will redeem our mortal body by clothing it with a heavenly body formed from the substance of resurrection life. God has sealed us to the Day in which we shall be like the Lord Jesus and see Him as He is.

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. (I John 3:2)

The above verse has been used to "prove" that we suddenly will be transformed into spiritual giants when the Lord comes. But the context of I John 3:2 does not support this interpretation; neither do the exhortations of the Apostle Paul.

To be continued.