Raised For Glory — (1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50)

Big event today. Talking about death/dying or the super bowl?

There is a genuine fear/apprehension of talking about death. Avoiding a subject we can't escape doesn't change the outcome?

First Starbucks cafe Seattle (1971) — World wide (2020) 32, 660

(S2) — What about Death Cafes? The idea is to learn how to make the most of your life through a greater awareness of and preparedness for end of life.

Why would someone go to a Death Café?

Linda Potter, a pastor’s wife was drawn to the Death Café by personal tragedy. In four years, she lost an aunt to brain cancer, her father to colon cancer and a nephew to drowning. As she grieved these losses, she asked herself and others the question, “How do you want to live, knowing you are going to die?” She discovered that “as we become more comfortable in talking about our death, we become more alive in our living.”

(S3) — For the believer, death is a natural step on the path toward eternal life with God…but still a chat about life's end over coffee and a muffin may not be everyone's cup of tea.

What if we could lessen our fear of dying with a greater understanding of what God has prepared for those who die in the Lord — Resurrection?

The more we know about our future beyond death, can help us to be more alive in our living!

— Paul’s message to the people of Corinth...

1 Corinthians 15:42 (NLT)

It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever.

WE WILL ALL DIE! BUT WE DON’T ALL HAVE TO DIE! — In Resurrection we are raised to glory!

BIBLES — NOTES — PRAYER

Some had doubts about the idea of the dead rising — Zombies? Yikes!

Kid — Visit local grave yard

(12-23) — Paul makes a case that the resurrection is possible — Jesus

(S4) — Those who still have questions… The Resurrection of the Body

1 Corinthians 15:35–36 (NLT)

But someone may ask, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?” 36 What a foolish question!

Having questions is not the problem? We are naturally curious aren't we?

Funeral — Death from the other side

Theirs like ours is only a limited view — Lazarus

“Paul must first convince them that their natural bodies are not conducive to a non-earthly plane of existence; that is, Christian belief in resurrection does not mean resuscitation or recomposition of a decomposed corpse.1

(S5) — NO ZOMBIE WALKING HERE

How foolish can man be who observes the daily miracles of nature but cannot believe the miracles of the supernatural (cf. Matt. 16:1–4). WBC

Their question What kind of bodies will they have? Does conjures up all kinds of images

Young/old? Shape/condition? Look like Me or Arnold Schwarzenegger? Will we know each other? Hey Joe...

(S6) — Paul points them to what is most important to know about the resurrection of the body. Remember he did meet the risen Jesus!

1 Corinthians 15:47–49 (NLT)

Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man.

First truth about the resurrection of the body —

I. YOU WILL NOT LOOK LIKE YOU...

...You will bear the image of, take on the likeness of Jesus! All the more reason to strive to live like Jesus in this life!

1 Corinthians 11:1 “And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.”

Ephesians 5:1-2 “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.

(S7) — 2nd truth about the resurrection of the body

II. YOU WILL BE CHANGED...

He uses a metaphor to make his point clearer...

1 Corinthians 15:36–37 (NLT)

When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first. 37 And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting. 38 Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have. A different plant grows from each kind of seed.

Just as the seed dies (Buried), this earthly body must be die! Only then can it be fully what it is intended to be! This is not easy to grasp...

Acorn...can you see a giant oak? — A tiny seed...see a plump red juicy tomato.

The bodies of those who die in Christ are all like the seed…in waiting for the resurrection. To be transformed. To be restored into the image of God — Genesis...

What happens till the resurrection? A different lesson. Our souls go to be with God — Sinner on the cross — Today you will be with me in paradise

(S8) — At the Resurrection your body will change — Be transformed

1 Corinthians 15:42–44 (NLT)

Our earthly bodies will be raised to live forever. 43 Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. 44 They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.

What does that change look like?

1. They will LAST FOREVER!

Imperishable — Complete Protection from DECAY and DESTRUCTION. Nothing can harm them.

Anti-aging Cream — Coloring your hair — Botox —

Job — Satan defeated —

Matthew 10:28 “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

2. They will be COMPLETELY will be HEALED!

The natural body is CORRUPT — The spiritual body is INCORRUPTIBLE.

Our hurts, shame, guilt, sorrows brokenness and sinfulness will be gone

Funeral — We thank you that their sins are forgiven and their suffering is past.

The resurrected will forever be immune to sin. Everything we do is pleasing to God!

3. What was WEAK is made STRONG!

Paul perceived weakness not in the sense that we might think...

Grown men don’t cry — Poor as weak — Those with lesser abilities

Weakness, as a form of disobedience or slavery to the desires of the natural body. Unable to withstand temptation. He spoke of his own troubles...

Romans 7:14-15 “The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.”

The resurrected will be strengthed in the power of the Lord

2 Corinthians 12:9 “Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”

4. The PHYSICAL is made SPIRITUAL!

(S9) — The natural…what is destructible, corrupt, weak, is emboldened by the spirit of God in them!

1 Corinthians 15:45–46 (NLT)

The Scriptures tell us, “The first man, Adam, became a living person.” But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit. 46 What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later.

The resurrected in the spirit of God, will be fully spiritual. Imperishable — Healed — Strong — Full of the Spirit. They will be raised for glory!

Should we look forward to the resurrection of the body? But what about till then? While I still have this body...

We are not like that now, but we can posses the glory of God in part!

1 Corinthians 15:40 (NLT)

There are also bodies in the heavens and bodies on the earth. The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the glory of the earthly bodies.

How can being comfortable about death help us to live more alive with the time we have? Through the life-giving of the spirit of Jesus in us.

As we are, we may not be imperishable but we can be protected - JOB

Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord;

We will still no pain and even suffering, but God is our portion our healing provider.

Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”

We will still sin, but we do not gave to be slaves to sinful ways

Romans 6:18 “Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.”

We will at times find ourselves weak but can have the power of god’s strength in us

Philippians 3:21 “He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power…raised jesus from the grave

We will remain physical, but can live with the spirit of God in us

Acts 1:8 “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere

(S10) — Good news — We are all like seeds…waiting to not only be raised in glory... but living today raised for glory!

YOU WILL NOT LOOK LIKE YOU...YOU WILL BE CHANGED…A change that can start to happen now

Romans 12:2 “ Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person

ETERNAL — HEALED — STRONG — FILLED with the SPIRIT

1 Corinthians 15:45 (NLT)

The Scriptures tell us, “The first man, Adam, became a living person.” But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit.

Resurrection Cafe’s

WE WILL ALL DIE! BUT WE DON’T ALL HAVE TO DIE! In Jesus we are meant to LIVE