Scheduled Upgrade
14 July 2024 AM – Text: 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 – Topic: Rapture, Future
Introduction: Computer software is often scheduled for upgrades. I have found that not all upgrades are beneficial. Some contain bugs that cause problems. Others change things and require extensive relearning. Many upgrades only remain good for a brief time and then are replaced again with another upgrade. Most of you can relate.
Christians are scheduled for a body upgrade which will take place at the Rapture. It will be a far better upgrade than any software upgrade.
In 2 Corinthians 4, The Apostle Paul mentioned several actions he was taking to keep a biblical focus during times of persecution and trials. Now in chapter 5, he continues his focus on things that are eternal.
Transition: Paul here gives us important information about our scheduled upgrade that ought to be our focus during times of persecution and troubles.
1. Paul Described our Body Upgrade (v.1-4)
a. Our present body is a tent.
1) Being a tentmaker by trade, Paul knew a lot about tents. Thus, he used a tent to describe the human body.
2) Paul calls our earthly house a “tabernacle” or tent. Tents were made of cloth woven from goat’s hair or similar materials. In time, this decayed.
3) Paul knew that if the Lord did not return first, the earthly tent would dissolve. In other words, it would decay, fall down, or be destroyed. Tents are temporal; they do not last forever. Tents flap in the wind, tear, wear, and leak. Similarly, our tent bodies feel pain, sorrow, and burdens. They get old and wear out.
4) While it appears that Paul was looking for the Lord’s return in his lifetime, he knew that “if” his earthly tent were dissolved, that was not the end.
5) He knew factually (based on God’s word and character) that God would give him a body upgrade.
b. Our eternal body will be a building.
1) The word “building” describes something that is built. Compared with a floppy tent, it is a solid structure.
2) While some commentators think this is speaking of the mansions in which we will live, the context makes it clear that he is speaking about our bodies.
a) Paul compares this building to putting on clothing (v.2-3).
b) He goes on to describe the clothing as mortality that is swallowed up of life. The tent is mortal or temporary; the building will be immortal or eternal.
c) Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 (read). The word “sleep” speaks of death, not soul sleep. All will be changed. The upgrade will take place in the twinkling of an eye. The upgrade will be immortal. Death will be swallowed up in victory.
3) Our body upgrade will not be a floppy temporary tent but a solid permanent building. Presently, our tent body is mortal; then our building body will be immortal. We will live forever.
4) Paul said, “for this we groan” (v.2). In this tent, we “groan, being burdened” (v.4). Can you second that? We look forward to our immortal body with no pain and no more sin.
5) Our heavenly body upgrade will be awesome!
2. God Promised our Body Upgrade (v.5).
a. The upgrade was God’s design.
1) Look carefully at the first line of verse 5.
2) The word “wrought” means to work out, to produce, to accomplish, to preform, or to fashion. It is God who fashioned this amazing body upgrade plan.
3) God originally created Adam and Eve with perfect bodies. However, when they sinned, their bodies were corrupted. They began to die. They were plagued by sin, sickness, sorrow, and death.
4) Before the fall, God knew that Adam and Eve would sin, and he fashioned the amazing body upgrade that will take place at the Rapture when Christ returns to take all true Christians to heaven.
5) Unlike computer upgrades which only last until they are surpassed by something better. This body upgrade designed by God himself is perfect and will last for all eternity.
b. The upgrade was confirmed by God.
1) What did Paul mean when he said that God has given us the earnest of the Spirit?
a) “Earnest” is an old word that is seldom used today. It refers to a down payment.
b) It is a pledge or guarantee.
2) As God’s assurance to believers that he will truly upgrade our body tent to a body house that will live forever, he has given us the indwelling Holy Spirit. His indwelling presence is a little bit of what is yet to come. What are some of the things the Holy Spirit does for us now?
a) He seals every believer, Ephesians 1:13; 4:30.
b) He wants every believer to allow him to fill them every day, Ephesians 5:18.
c) He convicts of sin, John 16:7-11.
d) He teaches believers, John 14:26.
e) He comforts believers, John 14:16, 26.
f) He guides believers in truth, John 16:13.
g) He produces fruit in the believer’s life, Gal. 5:22-23.
h) He helps believers pray, Romans 8:26.
i) He empowers believers to witness, Acts 1:8.
3) God has promised believers a body upgrade, and the indwelling Holy Spirit guarantees that.
3. We Should Anticipate our Body Upgrade (v.6-8)
a. Now we are at home in our tent bodies.
1) While we are at home in this mortal body, we are absent from the Lord. We are not living in God’s presence in heaven.
2) Again, Paul says that we walk by faith, not by sight (v.7). We anticipate our body upgrade by faith. God promised it, and we believe it. Yet, we cannot see it. If it was already a reality, we would not have to walk by faith.
3) Remember that faith is acting on trusted information. We believe God’s promise of a body upgrade, and thus we walk in that trusted information in faith.
b. One day we will be absent from our tent bodies.
1) Paul was confident of this fact (v.8).
2) He clearly stated that “to be absent from the body” is to be “present with the Lord.”
3) The Bible does not teach soul sleep, as some of the cults believe. When a believer dies, his spirit is instantly absent from the body and present with the Lord. That is a comfort when a loved one dies. It is also a comfort as we think of our own death.
4) Though the spirit of the believer goes to be with the Lord when death occurs, his body remains behind until the Rapture. Then, it will be raised and changed (1 Corinthians 15:51-55). At that time, his scheduled upgrade will take place.
5) The Apostle John wrote these assuring words, (1 John 3:2) “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.“
Conclusion: To be absent from the earthly body is to be present with the Lord. The spirits of all believers who are now in God’s presence will receive their body upgrade when Christ returns at the Rapture (see 1Thessalonians 4:13-18). If we are still alive at the Rapture, we will get our upgrade at the same time. Knowing that we have a scheduled upgrade ought to encourage our spirit during troubled times and in the face of death.
If you have not yet repented of your sin and trusted Christ to save you from hell, you do not have a scheduled body upgrade. God offers you all this and much more, but you must humbly repent and receive him to secure it. Trust Him today before it is too late.
Song: When We See Christ – 149