“However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, then the spiritual.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:46‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

The natural, physical, body it first. We are born with it. But then we start receiving our spiritual body little by little until God raises us up on the last day. Then we will receive our full spiritual body.  As we grow up in God He does not replace our natural hand with a spiritual hand, but changes and removes the desires and passions of our flesh into passion and desires to please Him. God has His hands full changing all of us into the likeness of Jesus. But He is willing and able to change us if we are willing to let Him.

“For through the law I have died to the law, so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2:19-20‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/gal.2.19-20.hcsb

“Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:1-2‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/rom.12.1-2.hcsb

“Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:1-2‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/heb.12.1-2.hcsb

God is in the restoration business. He wants to restore all people back unto Himself. Adam broke that bond with God. All people have been trying to wonder away from God and societies have been deceived that God is not worth following. But God time and time again calls people back to Himself. He wants to restore our bodies unto Him even while we are on this earth. Are we willing to do what it takes to be made in the image of Jesus again, just as Adam was made in the image of God? Or will we continue to be stiff-necked people who what only our natural desires and passions? They only lead to sin! We must lay aside every hindrance and run toward God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. 

The natural body does come first, but the spiritual body is more important. Our natural body is the only part that will not enter into eternity. It was made from dust and to dust it must return. Our soul and spirit must be changed into the conformity of Jesus. Our spirit is reborn with the Holy Spirit, but our soul must be influenced to follow God. Our soul is our passions and desires. When our passions and desires line up with the flesh our Spirit suffers and we quench the Holy Spirit’s fire. When our passions and desires line up with the Holy Spirit we crucify our flesh. Our soul is what feeds our flesh or our spirit. 

The story is told of an owner of two fighting dogs. He would enter both dogs into the fights and He would always place bets on one of the dogs that he knew would win. One dog would start out strong but will lose strength fast. While the other dog would start out slow and prevail in the fight. And the owner would always pick the dog who would win. An observer noticed this time and time again and one day asked the owner how He knew which dog would win. The owner replied that is easy the one I feed will win and the one I don’t feed will loose.  I say this story to say this, which body we feed will win whether it is the natural or spiritual. You see all the passions we have can only start the fight but in the long run, we will soon fad out if we are not feeding that body we want to win. But the more we feed that body the stronger that body will be.

Which body are you feeding? Are you feeding your natural body or your spiritual body? Out of which body are you expecting greater rewards? If you are expecting great things out of the body you are feeding you will get them but make sure your great things are of God and not of this world.

“His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. Therefore, brothers, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble. For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly supplied to you.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1:3-11‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/2pe.1.3-11.hcsb