The resurrection of the body is an essential doctrine in scripture. It refers to God’s raising a human body from the dead and reuniting it with the person’s soul and Spirit. Therefore, at death, the body separates during the intermediate state leaving the internal part of the human being behind.
The Bible reveals at least three reasons why the resurrection of the body is necessary. First, the body is essential to the total human personality; humans are incomplete without a body. In this manner, the redemption Christ offers applies to the whole person, including the body. The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit; it will become once more a temple of the Spirit at the resurrection. To undo the result of sin at all levels, humanity’s final enemy (the death of the body) must conquer through the resurrection.
Both the Old Testament and the New Testament teach the future bodily resurrection. Our bodily resurrection is made confident by the fact of Christ’s resurrection. In general terms, the believer’s resurrected body will be the Lord’s own resurrected body will be: a body possessing continuity and identity with the body of this life and therefore recognizable; a body changed into a heavenly body adapted for the new heaven and new earth; an imperishable body, free from decay and death; a glorified body, like Christ’s; a powerful body not subject to disease and weakness; a spiritual body, not bound by the laws of nature; a body capable of eating and drinking.
When believers receive their new bodies, they put on immortality as stated in First Corinthians chapter fifteen verse fifty-three. Scripture indicates at least three purposes. First, believers may become all that God intended for humans at creation. Second, believers may come to know God in the complete way He wants them to know Him. Finally, God may express His love to His children as He desires.
The faithful who are still alive at Christ’s return for His followers will experience the same bodily transformation as those who have died in Christ before the day of resurrection. They will receive new bodies identical to those raised from the dead at that time. They will never experience physical death.
Jesus speaks of a resurrection of life for the believer and a resurrection of judgment for the wicked.