Paul links the resurrection of the body from death to the regeneration of all things:
Romans 8:19-25:
"The earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creation was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, That the creation itself shall also be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."
Matthew 19:27-29:
"Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life [zoe aionios]."
Luke 18:29-30:
Then Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, there is no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of God's kingdom who will not receive many times more in this age - and in the age to come, eternal life [zoe aionios]."
Paul wrote that this is "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5).
Paul is not talking about a so-called "spiritual regeneration of a 'dead' human spirit", but about baptism into Christ, because by the Spirit of God we have been:
* buried with Christ [sunthapto] in baptism, wherein also all of us are
* risen with Christ [sunegeiro] through the faith of the operation of God, who
* has raised Christ [egeiro] from the dead, - and we,
* being dead in our sins and the uncircumcision of our flesh, he has
* quickened together with Christ [syzoopoieo], having forgiven us all trespasses."
(Colossians 2:12-13)
So Paul says,
"If then ye be risen with Christ [sunegeiro], seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life [zōḗ] is hid with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is our life [zōḗ], shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:1-4).
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