Yes brethren there is going to be a bodily resurrection but you are missing the whole point of what Greg is trying to convey.
When I first saw this that Greg posted I thought that Wright was going away from spiritual interpretation toward an earthly interpretation and when Christian brought out the interview then there is no doubt that he has been mislead and sad to say will lead others astray.
Brethren I believe an earlier article of what Greg posted does not need to be overlooked because of the truth people need to really see, that Mr. Wright has completely left out and has failed to see, so Im going to list it here:
Quote- The problems with all these new definitions though they are true "in part" (which makes them more subtle) is that they focus on and work towards what is earthly. The goal is to restore man on this earth and his earthly things. It is the preservation of this flesh, this world system, this creation. It is the trying to save things temporal, the things we can see.
But the problem is that the biblical witness is 100% not inline with this type of thinking. The teaching is mankind is depraved and without hope. And even after the regeneration experience of New Birth that his "flesh" is still active and sinful and the body cannot be redeemed in this earth. The bible applauds faith "things unseen" but says that everything seen will be destroyed so we are not to set our hearts on these things. It says that riches of this earth are bad and the heavenly riches are good. And the entire earth will be destroyed by fire. And then there will be a "new heavens and a new earth".
So for a doctrine that tries to preserve this earth, teach this earth and mankind is not that bad and that Jesus wants to help restore all this earth and people on this earth is wrong. Jesus is saving people "out of" this world to be brought to His heavenly kingdom.
As I was reading this article and commenting about it to my wife she was reading this passage that really summarizes the bible viewpoint of this:
"For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ." (Philippians 3:18-20)
This is not to speak evil in anyway of NT wright but to just respond to a growing trend of theology that I see going very much away from the biblical clear witness that the apostles carried. -quote
Thank you Greg for this understanding, because I believe it is from the Lord. Almost 6 years ago God showed me something through an experience of His presence that was so awesome that scriptures just came to my mind from the spirit of what Paul was saying in 2 Thess chapters 1&2.
2 Thessalonians 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I believe God showed me that many in the known church world will follow the anti-christ because they will be deceived because they are still of the flesh, worldly, and materialistic. They have been deceived by the lie of the ecumenical movement that is fleshly driven working through mans self esteem and glorifies man instead of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. It seems now that Mr. Wright has bought into this lie and many more will not be heeding the warnings of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Hebrews 11:12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Hebrews 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Hebrews 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Genesis 15:13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
Acts 7:5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.
1Pe 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1Pe 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 1Pe 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 1Pe 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
Those who are truly saved have come out of this world and are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. We are in the world but not of the world. We have an inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled and cannot fade away and is also reserved in heaven for us who are kept by the power of God unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Blessings
from brother rbanks
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