What will we look like in heaven?

The Resurrection Body in 1 Corinthians 15

What will we look like in heaven? In the book of 1 Corinthians chapter 15, Paul talks about the resurrection and the resurrected.

Body.

In verses 35 and following, he states that our heavenly bodies will be different from our natural bodies, with some stark contrasts. Whereas our earthly bodies are characterized by mortality, being susceptible to death, our resurrected bodies will be characterized by immortality, not susceptible to death.

Likewise, while our earthly bodies are susceptible to decay or corruption, they will be incorruptible. Also, where our natural bodies are prone to weakness, our resurrected bodies will be characterized by strength.

Another comparison is that now we have a natural body, but then we will have a spiritual body. This problem doesn't mean that we will be like ghosts possessing nobody at all and floating around unable to interact with things around us.

After all, verse 49 states that we will have a body like Jesus' resurrected body. And Jesus, after his resurrection, told them to touch him and watch him eat, demonstrating that he was not merely a spirit.

Rather, it's more likely that just as our natural body is fitted for this present life in our physical universe, the spiritual body will be that which will best suit us for the eternal existence we are destined for in our eternal abode.

The Transformation of the Glorified Body

Jesus' resurrected body was capable of entering locked rooms at will. Our earthly body limits us in ways and or dimensions that our spiritual body will not. 1 Corinthians 15 .43 also describes the transformation from sown in dishonor to raised in glory.

Philippians 3 .21 says that Jesus will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to his glorious body. Our decaying bodies are described with the word dishonor because they bear the mark of the results of sin.

We can all picture the lungs of one who has ruined his health through smoking or a brain that is no longer able to form complete thoughts because of drug abuse. In the same way, the decaying physical body is the direct result of man's sinfulness.

Had there been no sin, there would be no decay in death. But God, through Christ's transforming power, is able to raise up his children in Christ with new glorious bodies, being completely free from the ravages of sin and possessing the glory of Christ instead.

What Remains Unknown About Our Appearance in Heaven

To summarize, we are not told exactly what we will look like in the next life, what age we will appear to be, or if we will look thin or fat. But while many believe we will bear some resemblance to what we look like now, we do know that in whatever ways our appearance or health has been altered as a result of sin, whether because of overeating or not eating right, hereditary malformations, injuries, aging, etc., these traits will not be carried over into our appearance in the next life.

More importantly, the sin nature inherited from Adam will no longer be with us, for we will be made after the holiness of Christ. Got questions? The Bible has answers, and we'll help you find them.