The Glory of the Resurrected Body
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Because of the length of this morning’s Scripture text, I am going to read the text as I come to it.
As we learned last week, there were some in the Corinthians church who were denying the resurrection of believers, some even denying the resurrection of Christ. In the opening verses of this chapter, Paul warns that such a denial undermines our union with Christ and consequently our salvation, saying:
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
Having reminding them of the consequences, Paul now addresses their objections:
Rationalistic and Naturalistic Objections
Rationalistic and Naturalistic Objections
We find their objections in v. 35:
But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?”
As you can see, there were two main objections to the possibility of a body resurrection. First, “How are the dead raised?” and second, “With what kind of body do they come?”
We are all familiar with the phrase, “Dust to dust, ashes to ashes”. After death our bodies return to the earth. If our bodies no longer exist, according to the logic of this world, how can God raise no existent bodies?
The second objection is based on the fact that even given perfect health, the ravages of time will eventually wear out our bodies. For example, after hundreds of years, our teeth and joints would wear down to nothing. Eternity is forever, and earthly bodies are not capable of existing forever.
From a worldly perspective, these objections make a lot of sense, but Paul calls such thinking “foolishness”:
You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain.
Sown in Dishonor/Raised in Glory
Sown in Dishonor/Raised in Glory
Paul’s answer is simple, the resurrected body is a radically different type of body than our present body. Paul used the vary familiar analogy of a seed and plant. Although there is some correspondence between a seed and the plant it becomes, they are radically different. The seed has to die, in other words it has to cease to exist for the plant itself to exist. We see this point being made in vs. 50-53:
I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.
The best way to see this change is by comparison and contrast, and this is exactly what Paul does:
So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
Our earthly bodies are perishable, dishonorable, weak and natural.
Our resurrected bodies will be imperishable, honorable, powerful and spiritual.
What does Paul mean by a “spiritual body”, is he saying, as many believe that we will spend eternity as immaterial spirits? No! By spiritual Paul means that our resurrected bodies will be animated by spiritual means, not earthly. This is clear from what Paul says next:
Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
After God breathed the breath of life into Adam, he became a living being, that is he was sustained by air, water and food; just as all other earthly creatures. Prior to His resurrection, Jesus’ earthly body was sustain by physical nourishment, just like we are. However, after His resurrection, Jesus’ resurrected body was sustained by His divine power. In John’s gospel, we find these words of Jesus:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.
After His resurrection, Jesus ate and drank; but He did not need to in order to sustain his resurrected body. His new body was sustained directly by His divine power. After our resurrection, will be directly sustained by His power as well! According to Romans 6:5, our resurrection will be like His and according to Philippians 3:21, he “will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.” This is why Paul says in our text:
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. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.
Notice in verse 48, that Paul says believers are already “of heaven”. This is consistent with the rest of the New Testament, our union with Christ is so complete, that in God’s eyes we are already citizens of heaven! Although with physical eyes it seems that we are citizen of the earth, we need to learn to view reality from the perspective of God. This brings us to the last point:
Live Confidently in Light of the Resurrection
Live Confidently in Light of the Resurrection
As is the practice of Paul, having made the theological point, he now moves to the application:
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
First, Paul tells us that in light of our resurrection, we should be steadfast and immovable. Here he is referring to the fact that in this controversy over the resurrection that was taking place in Corinth, some had moved way from Apostolic message concerning the resurrection. However, the application of this truth is not limited to just the doctrine of the resurrection, but all the doctrines contained in Scripture. Just consider the many doctrines that are being debated in the Church today. They are not item of debate because Scripture has changed, but because we have! We have become worldly in our thinking, just as some of the Corinthians had. Sometimes the truth hurts. We must stop playing games. In light of the resurrection, we need to be steadfast and immovable!
The second application Paul gives is that in light of the resurrection, we should be “always abounding in the work of the Lord”, and he gives a reason for this, “knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” Although, as we have learned in our text today there will be a radical difference between our present earthly bodies and our resurrected bodies, there is a relationship between the two, just as there is a relationship between a seed and a plant. What we do in and with our bodies now matters. Our service to the Lord now will reap a harvest latter. We find this exhortation throughout the bible, but especially in the New Testament. For example:
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.
As citizens of Heaven we do not have to wait for our resurrection to live like resurrected saints. According to Ephesians 1:19-20, the same power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in every believer now!
If we look at our physical bodies and earthly abilities, what do we see?
We see dishonor, weakness and mortality. Everything we do according to our natural abilities is destined to perish. No wonder so many people are depressed and discouraged!
If we look to our resurrected bodies and the divine power at work in us, what do we see?
We see honor, power and immortality! Everything we do in Christ is destined to remain forever! What an encouragement and incentive!
Consider all the great men and women of history. In light of the resurrection, all their labors and accomplishments are in vain!
Now, consider the most lowly Christian, all they do in Christ will remain forever and ever!
Brothers and sisters, doctrine matters. The doctrine of the resurrection is not only necessary for your eternal life, but it is necessary for making this life full and meaningful. Let us therefore, be “steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.”