Bodily Resurrection - Pt. II

Paul is going to continue his discussion on that the body matters for one day there will be a bodily resurrection. There were people in Corinth that did not believe in resurrection and that the body did not matter. Paul is going to expound more on a bodily resurrection, which is a vital part of our faith.

So some things to remember as we look at our passage today.

(Insert Matters of faith-1 picture here)

Paul is addressing a matter of faith not a verifiable fact.

How can you express the inexpressible; to describe the indescribable; he much like John in Revelation is trying to put into words what has been revealed through the Spirit to him.

We, as we look at this section are looking at and grasping concepts, principles.

We have established that this is going to be a resurrection and it is vital to our faith, but what kind of body in the resurrection is being addressed by Paul as best he can in terms we can try to understand. He gives us a few principles to try to grasp what we cannot know as a verifiable fact.

He uses an analogy of a seed (vv.37-38)

A seed is planted, dies, is resurrected and changes in the resurrection

He uses that we are not all the same, each has a body and will each be raised as a body (vv.38-41)

God gives, God will raise as He chooses.

He then uses in life there has been, is a development from the first Adam (Gen2:7) to the last Adam is far more (v.44)

(Transition) there is still more conceptual things to grasp before going into the passage. Paul addressing the question about the resurrection still had more to say about physical and spiritual resurrection.

Physical and spiritual resurrection:

The present body is corruptible; future body incorruptible (v.42)

The present body is in dishonor; future body in glory (v.43)

The present body in weakness; future body in power (v.43)

The present body is natural; future body is spiritual (v.46)

(Transition) So, now with some groundwork laid, here is what I intend for this morning.

How are the dead raised (vv.35-41)

How will it be when raised up (vv.42-49)

Mystery of the resurrection (vv. 50-58)

Time and Lord willing to summarize 1Cor15

How are the dead raised

Giving a defence. Paul continues to make a defence for the resurrection. May we take a faith journey about resurrection (Gen22:4-10) and our passage this morning.

Definition of resurrection: A dead body coming back to life (Rom8:11, 23; 1The5:23)

Without resurrection there is no redemption of sins

A great example of resurrection faith (Gen22:4-10)

Abraham was willing to offer Isaac as an offering to God knowing he was the “seed” so what does that prove? - believed in resurrection

(Transition) now understanding resurrection faith as exampled by Abraham let’s now look at Paul and his continued defense in a resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:35–36 NASB95

35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?” 36 You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies;

1 Corinthians 15:37–38 NASB95

37 and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own.

1 Corinthians 15:39–40 NASB95

39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another.

1 Corinthians 15:41 NASB95

41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Gleaning from the scripture:

Question: In (v.35) there are two related questions, but look at Paul’s response in (v.36) what does he call them? And why?

He calls them fools

They are acknowledging a resurrection by asking the question.

Question: Paul gives an illustration in (vv.36-38) what is the item of the illustration?

A seed that is changed and it changes when it does and comes back

Question: In (vv.39-40) Paul uses some other comparisons, can you see them?

Flesh of men and flesh of beasts; also birds (v.39)

Heavenly bodies and earthly bodies; as well as the glory of each.

Question: Continuing with glory fond in (v.40) he gives other glories that differ from one another (v.41) what are the differing glories?

Makes us think back to creation, for he uses: Sun, moon, and the stars

(Transition) keeping in mind who Paul is dealing with, mostly Christians, with Corinthian culture views, some from Jewish heritage, some with a Greek heritage

So when we see the questions posed in (v35) This is what Paul is dealing with

1 Corinthians 15:35 The Message

35 Some skeptic is sure to ask, “Show me how resurrection works. Give me a diagram; draw me a picture. What does this ‘resurrection body’ look like?”

The Corinthians in general believed in reanimation (coming back to life in some form)

The Jews some believed in resurrection (Pharisees, etc.) and others did not (Sadducees)

The Greek mindset- dualism- body bad, soul good.

Paul calls these views foolish, or calls them fools and you can see that by how he addresses the issue in (.37-38) and more to glean from (vv.38-40) too

Gleaning some resurrection concepts:

Things are sown one way; raised another (illustration of seed) (v.37)

God gives a body as he determined (v.38)

Each body is different (vv.39-40)

(Transition) All we have to do is look at creation and we are all different; in the resurrection too we will be different. Now we get too look at some principles of the difference in the physical and the spiritual as we get to our next section.

How will it be when we are raised up?

Paul gives some good contrasts that should be a great encouragement to the believer who has promised eternal life!

1 Corinthians 15:42–43 NASB95

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;

1 Corinthians 15:44–45 NASB95

44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

1 Corinthians 15:46–47 NASB95

46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. 47 The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven.

1 Corinthians 15:48–49 NASB95

48 As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Gleaning from the scripture:

Question: How is everything sown according to (v.42)?

Everything is sown in perishable body.

Question: Look at the contrasts (v.42-44) can you see them, what are they?

Perishable body raised imperishable

Dishonorable raised in glory

Weakness raised in power

Natural body raised in Spiritual body

Question: What is the contrast in (v.45)?

First Adam a living soul; last Adam a life-giving spirit.

Question: There is an order of things in (vv.46-47), what is the order?

Natural then spiritual

Natural man from earth, second man from heaven

In (vv.48-49) though we are born earthy, we are still marked with the heavenly. Does this remind you of original creation? It would to the Jewish Christians who are in Corinth.

Something else to notice in (v.49) is the word “we.” After drawing all the comparisons he brings up the point to the church that while we bear the marks of the flesh, we, as Christians bear the marks of the heavenly too.

(Insert - what will it be like picture here)

Again, how will it be when we are raised up?

The perishable (beauty, health, glory, etc.) will be replaced by the imperishable (that which is perfect and does not fade) death no longer will have hold (hold on we will talk on that more in a few minutes)

The dishonor (our sinful nature) will be raised in glory (the completed perfected work of Christ that makes us spotless and without blemish; to truly be the glory of the Father).

Weakness (our works, our power that falls short of God’s glory) will be replaced by power (power of God’s love that is perfected in you)

The natural (our physical body as we are) will be raised a spiritual body (what it will be like we do not know, but we know we will be like Him - (1Jn3:2-3; not on the outline, just have them note it down)

1 John 3:2–3 NASB95

2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

First Adam (a living soul) then replaced by the last Adam (life-giving; eternal spirit)

First man from earth (dust of the earth) the second from heaven (our spiritual body, to our spiritual home)

Our present body is a natural body, our future body will be a spiritual body, from imperfection to perfection. We are imperfect vessel of the Holy Spirit now who are being perfected and one day will be perfect.

(Transition): now this leads us one last section.

Mystery of the resurrection

Paul has established the necessity of the resurrection in chapter 15. He continues to present information that is beyond factual data, “that defy’s language and baffle expression” (quote from William Barclay there) so may we delve into this section with some concepts and knowledge that we can glean fro the scripture together.

1 Corinthians 15:50–51 NASB95

50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,

1 Corinthians 15:52–53 NASB95

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 will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1 Corinthians 15:54–55 NASB95

54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

1 Corinthians 15:56–57 NASB95

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.

1 Corinthians 15:58 NASB95

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Gleaning from the scripture:

Question: What does Paul say cannot inherit the kingdom of God (v.50)?

He says flesh and blood cannot

Question: In looking at (vv.51-52) how long will the changed take?

In the twinkling of an eye.

Question: What are the changes that have to transpire according to (v.53)?

Perishable put on imperishable

Mortal put on immortality.

Question: What is the realization we are to have when the things transpire (vv.53) that we see in (v.57)?

God gives us victory through Jesus Christ

Victory over sin, victory over death.

Question: Paul gives the church some direction in (v.58) what are the directions?

Be steadfast, unmoveable, abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing what you do, your work, is not in vain, but in the Lord

(insert- victory through Jesus picture here)

some concepts to consider from our passage

We the mortal, the corruptible, the perishable are not it to enter the kingdom of heaven on our own. We are equipped for life and godliness in our body but not for all eternal we still need our final salvation.

Paul drives home the point that man need not fer the change, fear death for death does not have hold on the believer, for death is swallowed up in victory! Fear is cast out, banished, in God’s perfect love.

Paul gives instructions due to the promises given on what to do with the information.

While our bodies are important parts of us, they are not all of us, we are made up of body, soul and spirit and God deals with all part.

Our resurrected bodies will be perfect, no longer subject to death, disease or weakness.

So, be courageous when it comes to death knowing the victory we have in Christ Jesus.

Our final salvation is coming one day, so in the interim may be get busy with the work of the Lord.