The Resurrection of the Believer pt 2

One of the precious questions that sometimes comes up following the death of a loved one is something like, “Will I be able to recognize them when I get to heaven?”.

This is an honest and curious question that doesn’t have an explicit answer in scripture, but in today’s passage the Apostle Paul will reveal a beautiful mystery that offers hope and wonder for those know Christ as their Savior.

Resurrection: What kind of body?

1 Corinthians 15:35-41.

read between the lines- what question is Paul answering with a rebuke?

zombies? :)

Mystery #1- our body is like a seed

1 Corinthians 15:37 “37 And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain.”

Allos- another of the same kind

heteros- another of a different kind

pen or pencil

Mystery #2- natural vs. spiritual (Glorification)

Adam- dead clay, given breath of life, sinned and brought death to all mankind

Jesus (last Adam)- virgin born, died and resurrected to give life to all who would believe

1 Corinthians 15:21 “21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.”

Mystery #3- we will bear His image

1 Corinthians 15:48–49 “48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.”

What was Jesus’ glorified body like?

he had a tangible, physical body

retained scars

he ate-

Luke 24:36–43 “36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them.”

trans-dimensional- John 20:19.

recognizable ~- John 21:12

What will our body be like?

1 John 3:1–3 (ESV)

1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

what does it mean to purify one’s self, and why?

Mystery #4- Our Great Hope

1 Corinthians 15:50–57 “50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

What would it look like to you or me, if we lived lives in view of this resurrection hope?

strength for today

bright hope for tomorrow

blessings all mine, with ten-thousand beside