Introduction:

What a strange request. Of all the ways to know Christ, Paul's request was to know him in the Power of his Resurrection, and the Fellowship of his Suffering. The Wuest translation says: "That I may know him by experience and come to experience the power of his resurrection, and be a joint participant in his sufferings."
There are still modern day Pharisee's who say it's not going to happen. Others say it really doesn't matter whether we believe Christ arose from the dead. If that be the case we have no good news to preach. But I do have good news ! Jesus Christ is risen and because He lives, I can live also !

John 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

John 11:24-25 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

1 Corinthians 15:12-19 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (Review verses 20 - 25)

(1) SALVATION, OR THE ACT OF BEING "SAVED", HAS 4 PROVISIONS FOR BELIEVERS

(A) Regeneration: This is the experience of being "Born Again." This New Birth is from God above.
(B) Justification: This is a Judicial term for removing a guilty verdict and the penalty than would have come.
You now stand guiltless before God ! (Justification: "Just-as-if-I-had-never-sinned)
(C) Sanctification: The act of God breaking the power of sin over you, and implanting his divine nature in you. This act continues as you continue the process of being daily cleansed by the reading of the Word of God
(D) Glorification: This is a future act of God in transforming this physical body into a body like unto His for eternity.

(2) THERE ARE DEFINITE CHANGES THAT TAKE PLACE WHEN WE ARE SAVED

(A) Immediate Change: Our actions, desires, feelings, and will are made new by the power of God.
(B) Progressive Change: By reading God's Word, we begin to "put off" the old ways, lay aside old habits.
(C) Eternal Change: This is a change that cannot be sensed by our natural "feelings."
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

This Body Subject To Death, Will Give Way To A New Body Without Disease And Death

(3) WHAT WILL OUR FUTURE BODIES BE LIKE ?

Philippians 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

What Kind Of Body Did Jesus Have After The Resurrection ?

(A) A Body You Could See and Touch; Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

(B) A Body of Flesh and Bone, But No Mention of "Blood."
His precious blood was "shed" and we were redeemed by that blood ! The life of the flesh is in the blood ! His "sinless" body bore "our" sins on the cross, He was made to be sin for us!

(C) His Resurrected Body Had A New Life Force Sustaining Him: Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

(D) His Body Could Be Seen and Touched, But Also Walk Through Walls and Closed Doors.
Jesus could be visible or invisible. Here one minute, another place the next. He went to His Father and then appeared back on earth. (Scientist get so excited talking about traveling the speed of light. (186,000 miles per second) That's nothing compared to what we will travel in our new bodies !

(E) His Body Needed No Clothing For a Covering ! Luke 24:12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

(F) Jesus Was Covered By A Radiant Covering of Light. Psalms 104:1-2 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
When Jesus was transfigured before his disciples: Luke 9:29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

(4) GOD CREATED EVERY LIVING THING WITH A COVERING OF GLORY FROM WITHIN !

(A) Birds: Are covered with feathers that are produced from within.
(B) Fish: Have scales produced from their glory within.
(C) Animals: Have fir and hair, their covering is produced from within !
(D) Man (Adam & Eve) Created in the likeness and image of God, had a covering of God's Glory from within until they sinned and lost that Glory ! Every since, man has come "short" of the Glory of God.
Adam and Eve "were not" naked or exposed as we think of nakedness today. They were covered with God's Glory !

Paul used some interesting words in his description: Philippians 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

* Changed: ("metaschematizo" To transfigure or disguise, transform )

* Fashioned: ( "summorphos" Jointly formed, similar, like unto )

John said: Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

I Thessalonians 4:13 - 18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.