Episode 28: The Resurrection of the Body pt. 1 | We Believe: A Study of the Apostles Creed
Longing for More: Our Eternal Mindset
As we near the end of the Apostles' Creed, we find ourselves anchored in a powerful, hope-filled proclamation: “I believe in the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.” In this post—part one of our deep dive—we’re focusing on the resurrection of the body, a truth that shapes how we live today and what we long for in eternity.
When we think of the resurrection of the body and life everlasting, our minds often drift to awe-filled images—meeting God face to face, walking in the beauty of a redeemed creation, and being reunited with the saints who’ve gone before us. There's this deep, collective yearning in us for a world without pain, sorrow, or decay—a world where we are made whole.
We talked about it with our kids recently, and of course, the first things they mentioned were riding dinosaurs and seeing loved ones. And honestly? That childlike excitement reflects something true. There is joy, reunion, and adventure in what's to come. But even more, there’s a new level of intimacy with God. Just imagine sitting with Him, talking, listening—knowing Him fully, even as we are fully known.
For many of us, part of the longing is relational. We think about seeing people we love who have passed, those who lived faithful lives and are now with Jesus. That “great cloud of witnesses” in Hebrews—they’re cheering us on even now. And as much as we look forward to what will be there, it’s also powerful to reflect on what won’t be there: no more shame, abuse, grief, or pain. Just glory and peace.
A Hope Rooted in Resurrection
We’re not grasping at some vague spiritual idea when we talk about the resurrection. Jesus set the precedent with His own bodily resurrection. He is, as 1 Corinthians 15 says, “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” His resurrected body is the model of what’s to come for us. It’s the first taste—the sign that more is on the way.
And this is key: Jesus’s resurrection wasn’t just spiritual. It was physical. Thomas touched the scars. He walked and talked and ate with His followers. He had a body, yet it was glorified—capable of things our current ones aren’t. And that points us forward. What we do with our bodies now matters, not only because our bodies are good and made by God, but because they will be redeemed.
Romans 8 paints a beautiful picture of all creation groaning in anticipation of this redemption. Not just us—but everything. Oceans, mountains, trees—all longing to be set free from decay and brought into glory alongside us. Our faith isn't about escaping the world but about the renewal of it.
That’s why the creed jumps from “the forgiveness of sins” to “the resurrection of the body.” We’re living right in between those two realities. We’ve received forgiveness, but we’re still walking through the brokenness of a world marked by death. But there’s more coming. A real future. A real body. A real home.
What We Do Now Matters
So, how do we live in this “in-between”? We live with hope. We live with purpose. The early church fathers—Ignatius, Polycarp, Irenaeus, Tertullian—they fought hard against the idea that the body didn’t matter. Why? Because they knew that God had entered into flesh, died in it, and was raised in it. To dismiss the body was to dismiss the very means of our salvation.
And that reminds us: our lives today aren’t meaningless. Our suffering isn’t wasted. The way we care for others, the way we steward our own bodies, the way we long for justice and beauty and truth—all of it echoes into eternity.
Jesus’s resurrection is our anchor. His glorified body is our promise. One day, we’ll rise too. Until then, we live with our eyes fixed on that day, knowing that what’s ahead isn’t just better—it’s perfect.
So we say together: We believe in the resurrection of the body. And we wait with hope.
