1 Corinthians Pt. 27

2 Questions -

1. How are the dead raised?

2. With what kind of body do they come?

He answers the 2nd question first.

With what kind of body do they come?

38 - A Body of God’s own choosing

39-42 A Body suited for its environment

exs:

a. Humans have a body now suited to this environment - to life on earth.

b. Animals have bodies suited for theirs.

Birds have bodies suited to fly.

Fish have bodies suited to live in water.

SUM: All of nature is crafted by God with existence and properties suitable for their environment and purpose.

42-49 So it is with the resurrection of the dead.

In the new heavens and the new earth we’ll need bodies suited for that environment and purpose:

Imperishable

Glorious

Powerful

Spiritual

Like the resurrected Jesus

2. HOW WILL THAT COME ABOUT?

Since we are not suited for the new environment to come…due to our present perishability - our mortality:

a. It is will and instant event - living Believers will be changed at the same time dead Believers are raised.

b. Transformation - we’ll be changed - from mortal to immortal as in the vss. above.

This will happen at His coming: vs. 23

c. All of life itself will be transformed. For even death will be utterly destroyed.

What makes death terrible is that it is the result of sin.

What makes death powerful is that God's law cannot be broken.

If these factors were not the reality, death (if death still functioned at all) would be the natural progression from this life into the next.

It would have no sting, only anticipation.

It would not bear the scars of disobedience but be a sweet entrance into fullness.

But death as we know it now must be overcome.

And praise God, Christ has overcome it, and WILL overcome it at His return and our resurrection.

CONCLUSION: Since this is the case -

a. Keep steadfast in the faith.

b. Don’t let anything impact you so as to move you from this hope.

c. Continue to abound in the work of the Lord: Do all you can to build up one another in the faith and in the image of Christ.

d. Being fully convinced that you will reap all His rewards in due time.