What does Paul mean when he says, "not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon"?

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Paul was not longing that he would be "unclothed," that is, lose his physical body. Rather, he was desiring earnestly that his flesh and blood body would be clothed with his body of eternal life from Heaven.

This is an important concept. When we are new converts our goal is to go to Heaven when we die so we may enjoy the beauty and wonder of the spirit paradise.

As we mature in the Lord we begin to understand that God’s purposes are in the earth rather than in Heaven. God’s Kingdom is coming to the earth.

Our longing changes from desiring to rest in the spirit Paradise to that of being clothed with the indestructible power of resurrection life. We want to overcome every enemy of Christ in the earth and establish His righteous rule on the earth.

The earth and its peoples are the inheritance of the Lord Jesus Christ. Because they are Christ’s inheritance they also are the inheritance of the overcomer. We cannot possess our inheritance at the present time because we are dwelling in a sin-filled, corruptible, weak physical body.

When we are clothed with our body of righteousness and life we will be able to possess the earth and its peoples as God has ordained.