The concept that we can sin in the flesh and reap immortality in the Day of Christ is without scriptural foundation. It has left multitudes of believers unprepared for the return of the Lord.

Here is the righteousness of God: we reap what we sow. If we sow to righteousness we will be clothed with the consequences of that righteousness, which is eternal life. If we sow to the flesh we will be clothed with the consequences of that corruption, which is the loss of all our life has produced. If we are saved at all it will be into a Lot-type barrenness. God is not mocked.

The resurrection of our body into incorruptible eternal life will take place at the last trumpet. The resurrection is an important aspect of our redemption, being the unveiling of us as sons of God and members of the Wife of the Lamb.

And not only they [the material creation], 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. (Romans 8:23)

The resurrection to victory described in the fifteenth chapter of the Book of I Corinthians is not an expected end of the passive believer, an outcome to be taken for granted. The resurrection into glory is a state that must be attained (Philippians 3:11).

The redeeming of the physical body is the result of eating of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. It marks the restoration of what was lost originally. The resurrection into incorruptibility, into immortality, is victory over the last enemy. Victory is possible because through the Lord Jesus Christ we have overcome sin and have exercised righteous behavior. Eternal life always is the fruit of righteousness, never of unrighteousness no matter how clothed in "grace."

No individual who continues in sin will acquire a redeemed body on the basis of mercy and forgiveness. Mercy and forgiveness operate to enable the sinner to repent and turn to the way of righteousness and holiness. It is righteous and holy behavior that results in eternal life (Romans 6:22).

Death is the result of sinful behavior. The person that sins will die spiritually even though he believes in Christ.

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. (I Corinthians 15:56)

God gives us victory over death by giving us victory over sin. When we are able to overcome sin through Christ we then are given access to the tree of life.

We reap what we sow. This may be the most neglected, most misunderstood Kingdom law in all modern Christian thinking and teaching.

The Lord Jesus Christ has come to give us victory over rebellion and lawlessness. He does this by breathing His eternal Life into us, by forming His Substance and Nature in us, by reconciling us to himself by judgment and tribulation, and by entering us through the Spirit, bringing the Father with Him.

There is enough grace here to enable us to conquer the world, Satan, and self-love. If we do so, when Christ comes He will clothe us with the righteous behavior He Himself has produced in us. This righteousness will be to us a house fashioned from the substance of eternal life.

To be continued.