God created the material universe (Gen. 1:1) and pronounced it "very good" (v. 31). Sin, however, brought death and decay to God's creation: "Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men...." (Rom. 5:12). Furthermore, because of man's sin "the creation was subjected to frustration...." (Rom. 8:20).

Thus, the creation has been groaning and waiting "to be liberated from its bondage to decay" (v. 21). Likewise, believers "wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we are saved" (vv. 23-24).

Since God's material creation fell, it is clear that in order for redemption to be effective it must restore this material creation. Humans sin and die in material bodies and they must be redeemed in the same physical bodies. Any other kind of deliverance would be an admission of defeat. Likewise, just as the world God created and which subsequently fell was material, even so God will eventually deliver this material universe from decay by recreating a new heaven and a new earth (Rev. 21:1-4). If redemption does not restore God's physical creation, including our material bodies, then God's original purpose in creating a material world would be frustrated. As Professor Robert Gundry aptly noted, "Anything less than that undercuts Paul's ultimate intention that redeemed man possess physical means of concrete activity for eternal service and worship of God in a restored creation." So, "to dematerialize resurrection, by any means, is to emasculate the sovereignty of God in both creative purpose and redemptive grace."