The Hope of the Resurrection

I. The Present effects of the Resurrection

A. It validates the influence of dead believers

B. It gives meaning to suffering for Christ

C. It awakens the believer to righteousness

II. The Manner of the Resurrection Body

A. Like a Seed, “Death” unlocks a new form

The analogy of the seed is established in v.35-38. The seed “dies” by being put in the ground, and then grows up into something else entirely, a whole plant. The dead believer is also put in the ground at death, and also rises in a different form entirely

This analogy is expanded in v.42-44.

It is sown in corruption - the old body that dies is subject to decay and death; the new body is immortal

It is sown in dishonor - we hide and bury our dead. Why? because death is dishonorable and disgusting. To preserve the honor of the dead person we bury them. But the new body is not subject to death and therefore not subject to the dishonor of decay.

It is sown a “natural body” - the old body is literally the “soulish” body ψύχικος. It is not a body composed of soul, but a body suited for the use of the soul. Another name for that is “life.” in other words, our present bodies are suited for an earthly life. Therefore the “spiritual body” is not a body made of spirit (that’s a contradiction). It’s a body suited for the use of the Spirit. Meaning the great things that God through his spirit wants to do through us are currently impossible. Our bodies are not suited for the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Moses discovered this when he asked to see God’s glory, and was told that it would kill him to see it. God wants people to see his glory very badly. Why therefore are we so poorly suited to glorifying God that we cannot see that glory in full without it killing us? Our new bodies will be suited for the tremendous weight of glory that the Spirit of God will work through us.

B. Like Stars and Creatures, the resurrection body is different

Flesh of animals is different; sun, moon, and stars differ in brightness; the grandure of the stars is different from that of nature on earth.

So also the resurrection body differs from the natural body. This doesn’t talk about what it is made of, but its glory or beauty. the resurrection body is a completely different kind of thing - it’s still material. An immaterial body is a nonsense idea. But it is different like the flesh of animals is different from the flesh of men; like the brightness of the sun is different from the brightness of the moon.

C. Like the First Adam, The Last Adam imparts his image

Paul quotes from Genesis 2:7 when God made Adam, he breathed into his nosttrils the breath of life, and man became a living being. This is why our body is suited for the use of the soul. God made us a body suited for life. But this was not God’s ultimate end for mankind.

God made man in his own image; accordingly Adam reproduced in his own image Gen 5:3 . This is how reproduction works. Adam could only impart the kind of existence he had himself, thus just as he was made of dirt, so are we.

But Jesus was given a resurrection body, of a different character than earthly bodies. It could still be touched, he could still eat, if he wanted to. But it was a different mode of existence. Because our hope of resurrection is “in Christ” all who are in him similarly obtain the same image, the very same kind of body. Just as he now has a body capable of not merely seeing, but radiating the full glory of God, so also we will have the very same kind of body.

III. The transformation of the Resurrection Body

A. Why the transformation is necessary

B. When the transformation occurs

C. What the transformation accomplishes

It accomplishes the defeat of death. Death exists because we all sinned in Adam. Sin produces death because God declared a law, that the sinner must die. As Adam sinned, he cursed the whole human race, and also imparted a corrupt tendency that means that all of us also commit personal sins. thus the cycle of death can never be broken as we are. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory.