1 Cor. 15:20, 21, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.”
The second advantage for us of Christ’s ascension into heaven is expressed this way, “That we have our flesh in heaven as a sure pledge that He, as the Head, will also take up to Himself, us, His members.”
The importance of accepting the bodily resurrection and ascension of Christ is now set forth.
It is so down to earth that it affects us as Christians in many ways. We believe there is life after death for us. Even as Christ arose from the dead and ascended into heaven, we also will follow Him. We believe that when we die, our body is a house without an inhabitant. It is not to be discarded or cremated willfully. It is to be laid in a grave to testify that our body is an important part of our existence, on earth and ultimately in the new earth.
True, our body cannot be taken into heaven without change. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians quoted above makes this plain, I Cor. 15:50 “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit thekingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” Christ has brought to pass this necessary change in His own body. Through His death and resurrection, He conquered the curse of death upon the body and arose in a glorified body, fit for heavenly glory. I Cor. 15:53 “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality, “And it did when Jesus arose from the dead.
In that glorified body, Jesus ascended into heaven.
He did that not simply as an individual, but He did that as the head of the body, His beloved Church. Thus the verse quoted above states, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the FIRSTFRUITS of them that slept.” The reference to firstfruits is a reference to harvest time and the harvesting of the bodies of all the redeemed is connected with Christ Who is the first.
You have the guarantee that your body will partake of the glory of perfection.
That is quite an advantage which is sealed in the ascension of Jesus into heaven.