Our inner, spiritual nature is alive because of two facts: (1) we have been declared guiltless on the basis of our faith in the atonement made by Christ; and (2) the eternal Life of the Spirit of God is dwelling in us.

If the inner resurrection life is dwelling in us, the Day will come when our inner resurrection life is extended to our outer frame.

If, however, the inner life has not been developed in us, then there is no eternal life in us to be increased and extended outward to our body. There is no oil in our lamp. We may be doctrinally sound. But we do not attain the first resurrection on the basis of our doctrine. We attain the first resurrection on the basis of the Life of Christ that has been formed in us. The resurrection is being formed in us in the present hour.

God will not raise people at the appearing of Christ on the basis of His love and mercy. God will raise people on the basis of the formation of the resurrection in them. Mercy and grace, if rightfully applied, create the resurrection in us today so that in the Day of Christ the same life that is dwelling in us can radiate outward to our mortal body. Isn't this what Romans 8:11 is stating?

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. (Romans 8:12)

Our sinful, dead flesh always is demanding more attention. However, our true life is not in our flesh but in our new inner nature—that which has been born of Christ. Therefore we do not owe our body anything except to keep it healthy, if this is possible. We are not to spend our life satisfying the lusts and appetites of our flesh. "The flesh profits nothing," Jesus declared.

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify [put to death] the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (Romans 8:13)

If we yield to the demands of our flesh, spending the great majority of our time and energy eating, sleeping, working, playing, and reproducing, the resurrection life given to us when we believed in Jesus will be crowded out by the cares of the world. We will slay our own resurrection.

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. (Matthew 13:22)

But if we, as the Holy Spirit guides and empowers us, denounce and resist the deeds of our flesh, using the world but not becoming involved in it improperly, the resurrection life in us will become increasingly powerful and prominent leading to the first resurrection from the dead.

But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. (I Corinthians 7:29-31)

The sons of God spend time in prayer, in seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

To be continued.