1 Corinthians 15:51-55 declares that “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” we shall be CHANGED! Unfortunately, too many believe this text speaks of when the Christian will finally stop sinning (i.e. we cannot stop sinning until Jesus comes). Such a teaching is not Biblical. The change spoken of here is a physical or bodily one only – the granting of immortality and a perfect body. It is the reward for “overcoming the world” (John 16:33, 2 Peter 2:20). It is (1) a change from being dead to being made alive for eternity (for those saints who died before Jesus returns) and (2) a change of our mortal bodies into immortal ones (for those saints who did not die before Jesus returns).
The idea that true Christians cannot help but sin until Jesus comes is a “doctrine of devils” (1Timothy 4:1) designed to keep us from having the “Faith of Jesus” (Rev. 14:12) which is required to overcome temptations like he did. The goal is to trick us into a false hope of receiving moral “perfection” when Jesus comes while failing to “be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” today (2 Timothy 3:17). But we must have a mind change today and thus live without sinning as Christ did; in order for Him to grant us a body change (immortality) when He returns tomorrow!
