神为什么不让基督徒的肉身永生?

信徒们最终的家在天上。即使在今世，活着的也不再是那个肉体的"老我"，而是基督在里面活着，因为其罪身已与基督同钉十字架。在今世，身体是神的殿。彼得称身体为帐篷，也就是说，信徒们像野营者一样，只是在地球上寄居的客旅而已，早晚要回到基督身边，而不是永远住在现在的这个肉体里。

保罗在罗马书里说肉体里无良善，肉体乃是罪身，虽然信徒们在世期间向罪已死而向神是在耶稣基督里活着，但是肉身毕竟仍是血气罪身，神说他的灵不会在这样的身体里永远住着。

将来信徒们被耶稣复活的身体将不再与现在的肉体一样，也就是说不再是罪身，而是与神一样圣洁的身体，不再有疾病与死亡。

况且，义人因信得生，也就是说基督徒凭信心活着，而不是凭眼见。若有人加入基督教是因为看到基督徒现在的肉身能够永生，而不是因为相信耶稣的死与复活，那岂不是乱套了吗？神的意思是在末日摧毁现在的这个天地，创造新的天地; 复活的信徒们生活在新的天地里，在那个天地里，将都是永生者。

创6:3 耶和华说、人既属乎血气、我的灵就不永远住在他里面、然而他的日子还可到一百二十年。
Yahweh said, "My Spirit will not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; yet will his days be one hundred twenty years."
罗6:3 岂不知我们这受洗归入基督耶稣的人、是受洗归入他的死么。
Or don't you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
罗6:4 所以我们借着洗礼归入死、和他一同埋葬．原是叫我们一举一动有新生的样式、像基督借着父的荣耀、从死里复活一样。
We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.
罗6:5 我们若在他死的形状上与他联合、也要在他复活的形状上与他联合．
For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection;
罗6:6 因为知道我们的旧人、和他同钉十字架、使罪身灭绝、叫我们不再作罪的奴仆．
knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin.
罗6:7 因为已死的人、是脱离了罪。
For he who has died has been freed from sin.
罗6:8 我们若是与基督同死、就信必与他同活．
But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him;
罗6:11 这样、你们向罪也当看自己是死的．向神在基督耶稣里、却当看自己是活的。
Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
彼后1:13 我以为应当趁我还在这帐棚的时候提醒你们、激发你们．
I think it right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you;
彼前2:11 亲爱的弟兄阿、你们是客旅、是寄居的．我劝你们要禁戒肉体的私欲．这私欲是与灵魂争战的。
Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
来11:13 这些人都是存着信心死的、并没有得着所应许的、却从远处望见、且欢喜迎接、又承认自己在世上是客旅、是寄居的。
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
罗7:18 我也知道、在我里头、就是我肉体之中没有良善．因为立志为善由得我、只是行出来由不得我。
For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don't find it doing that which is good.
加2:20 我已经与基督同钉十字架．现在活着的、不再是我、乃是基督在我里面活着．并且我如今在肉身活着、是因信神的儿子而活、他是爱我、为我舍己。
I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.
加3:26 所以你们因信基督耶稣、都是 神的儿子。
For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus.
加3:27 你们受洗归入基督的、都是披戴基督了。
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
加5:24 凡属基督耶稣的人、是已经把肉体、连肉体的邪情私欲、同钉在十字架上了。
Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.
罗1:17 因为神的义、正在这福音上显明出来．这义是本于信、以致于信．如经上所记、『义人必因信得生。』
For in it is revealed God's righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, "But the righteous shall live by faith."
 林后5:7 因我们行事为人、是凭着信心、不是凭着眼见。
for we walk by faith, not by sight.
 林后5:8 我们坦然无惧、是更愿意离开身体与主同住。
We are courageous, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.
 林后5:9 所以无论是住在身内、离开身外、我们立了志向、要得主的喜悦。
Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing to him.
来10:38 只是义人必因信得生、〔义人有古卷作我的义人〕他若退后、我心里就不喜欢他。』
But the righteous will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him."
启22:5 (新天新地里) 不再有黑夜．他们也不用灯光日光．因为主神要光照他们．他们要作王、直到永永远远。
There will be no night, and they need no lamp light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.