Flesh and heart, in a theological setting, are much different than they are to the secular world. "Hearts" are the desires of mankind. "Flesh" are the enjoyment of the pleasures that are desired. Thus not only will our bodies be perfected - to the Designers original intent by the way - but our attitudes as well. Glorified Christians will know only the Law of God and desire only the will of God. Their heart, merely "circumcised" on earth will be transplanted in Heaven. God will supply entire new bodies, new attitudes, and new pleasures. Pleasure will no longer be on things but with contentment and joy.
Imagine the relief and exultation when the time comes that you will no longer have pain, any type of suffering, no death and perpetual happiness. How can anyone not want those things? Scripture calls those who do not foolish. "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered." (Prov 28:26).
Men want to do what they will, that being the entire theme of the law of sin. That is why do what thou wilt is the whole law of the Satanists. In contrast to that, God's will be done on earth as in Heaven is what Christians are to pray, and is the Law of God. It takes great faith to trust in oneself when there is no reward for doing that. However, by trusting in God, Christians have the hope of salvation (Lam 3:26).
Ironically, before God judges the living and the dead, everyone judges themselves. That is the freedom God designed into mankind in His image. "As gods: (Gen 3:7), we can and do judge ourselves. That judgment is self-inflicted and is our outlook on ourselves under the Light of God. If there is no Light shining in our lives the default is damnation. If the Light shines but is rejected, that too results in damnation. On the other hand, if any sinner looks up to God's Light and switches off his own inferior light, that is regeneration, and the only thing in the Bible which anyone must be to be saved (John 3:7).
When is judgment? Now is the day of salvation (2 Cor 6:2). Not that you will be saved this day but that you judge yourself this day. For instance, if you are in the dark - not buying into the truth God speaks - and reject His Truth, then you judge yourself as you read this.
What is truth? What God says. He says that you must be born again by diminishing yourselves and elevating Him. Look beyond the darkness of your limited knowledge and lack of wisdom, and the Light shines brightly. I see God sitting on His throne and magnify Him. How can I see God? With bright eyes because truth permeates the transparent sea of glass on which God's throne sits (Rev 15:2). Safety comes with letting God kill our snakes. In that verse I see God getting victory over the "beast" - the Serpent from the Tree of Knowledge.
What is it that we get victory over? False knowledge and foolishness. We come to rely on God's knowledge and wisdom rather than ours. That's why there was that tree: to judge ourselves by. "Evil" is the law of sin and "good" is the Law of God. If Adam and Eve had not eaten of that fruit, there would be no need for judgment because everything God created was "good" (Gen 1:29). Because our forebears ate of the forbidden fruit, henceforth mankind judges themselves. That self-judgment is free-will. When people sin they judge themselves: I can either sin or not sin knowing full-well that sin leads to death!
In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just. Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. (Isa 1-3, 7-8, 21)"In this day" is when God judges. We know what we deserve, and if we judge ourselves with God's metrics, we know that we miss the mark (Mat 7:1-4). Mercy is when God dismisses the evidence when we admit the truth and are sorrowful. Grace is giving reprieve when we deserve punishment. Because only God is good, He will be more merciful than a human judge will ever be. All the evidence is against us, but God favors us because He loves us so!
If we say that we are without sin, we condemn ourselves with our lies! (1 John 1:10). Thus, confession, as we look at ourselves in truth, sets mankind free from penalty (John 8:32). Not only can sinners damn themselves by not looking at their lives in true Light, but they submit themselves to merciful judgment if they see the Truth from God's Light.
If we judge fairly, then God is more favorable toward His judgment. If we look to God in Heaven with bright eyes, we can know the Truth. Living the truth leads to salvation. Living a lie leads to damnation. For those who look to God for Truth, they are in safety. Review the vision from the prophet Isaiah (above).
God's city - the City of God - has walls and bulwarks. No one can enter therein without special privileges. Truth allows any to enter in through its gates. For the Jews there are twelve gates for the twelve tribes, but Jesus is the Gate which even allows them to enter the walls of that city.
When sinners look for truth and find it, they can see God through that transparent sea between the world and Him. That is regeneration, and for all practical purposes, their minds and hearts are within the walls of the City of God. They are safe in that sense even though their bodies are not yet there. Those certain of the truth and do God's will have the assurance of salvation so much so that in their minds, they are already saved!
God will come and judge everyone, even Christians. For some whose name is not in the Book of Life (safety for those who have trusted God) they will await the Great White Throne Judgment. For those who are born again, both the living and the dead, they will be caught up with Jesus and taken to Heaven! Right then is when God judges them. Wise people will prepare for that day because it can come any moment. As in the days of Noah, people will again judge themselves by not electing to enter the "gate" (door) to safety (the ark). The City of God is the final "ark"!
In order to be safe, we must trust in God for salvation. Ironically, God must trust in us as well: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" (from the passages above). Perfect peace is what we call regeneration. It occurs after sinners are born again. In order to maintain that perfect peace, minds must be stayed on Him. Faith is trusting in Jesus for regeneration. Steadfast faith are minds stayed on God.
It takes faith to be born again and even greater and constant faith to maintain perfect peace - safety behind the bulwarks and walls of that great City. Those walls are the hedges which Satan acknowledges that God puts around those who are faithful (Job 1), not only for the moment but stayed on Him!
At the Great White Throne Judgment, God will judge everyone so that they fully understand the crime, punishment, and reward. For some their "reward" will be eternal damnation. For others a divine compliment before an eternal reprieve: Well done good and faithful servant!
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