Our Resurrection Pt. 2

1 Corinthians 15:35–58 NASB95

But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?” You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies; 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. But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own. 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. There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. 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. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 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. So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will 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 will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 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. “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 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.

INTRO: How much thought have you given to our resurrection?

If you were here last week, we looked at the importance of our resurrection in relation to our faith, our future, and our daily function. I pray that this past week, you have reflected upon how you can live in light of our resurrection. That was part 1 of 2. Today, we look at the second part where we will examine the mystery of our resurrection.

Look with me at v.35, where Paul anticipates the questions from the church. (READ)

So there are 2 questions:

HOW are the dead raised?

WHAT will this new body be like?

Now, these aren’t bad questions. In fact, many of you have probably day-dreamed about this resurrection event and what it might look like. I’ve talked to several folks who ask if we will immediately be reunited with loved ones or if we would know everyone. Someone asked if we were going to have name tags… Well, Scripture doesn’t really give us that kind of information.

Others have focused more on the miraculous… maybe you’ve pondered about what you will look like: will we have belly-buttons? Will we have that full head of hair? Will I finally have that six-pack instead of my dad-bod?

In the midst of our ponderings, it doesn’t take long to lose sight of God and instead focus on our own desires or, like the Corinthians, who let their own objections and limitations cloud their understanding of God’s power.

These folks, when considering the resurrection, were thinking about the dead bodies that they buried just getting up and wondering around like some sort of Sci-Fi Zombie movie. “Can these dry bones live?” Paul recognized their obstructions in understanding, which is why he responds to his own question, “You fool...” (36a)

This might better be translated, “You just don’t see it, do you? You lack the understanding, so listen up...”

So in the next several verses, Paul explains 3 important truths about the resurrection that help us grasp the mystery and help us to be confident in our striving through this life.

So, if you picked up a bulletin, I invite you to make use the the sermon guide as we explore “Our Resurrection, Part 2”

The first truth that we need to grasp is:

Our Resurrection is the Fullness of the Harvest (36-49)

Paul puts the cookies on the bottom shelf for the Corinthians by using an agricultural metaphor. If you remember last week, we learned that Christ is the first fruits of the harvest. He was raised, and so you and I will be too. But Let me read 36-37 again (READ)

Essentially, Paul points to their fields and explains the resurrection in terms they can understand. Now you all might not be farmers, but stay with me.

You wouldn’t take a watermelon seed and plant it expecting for a watermelon seed to pop up out of the dirt, would you? NO! You expect a watermelon plant with watermelons on the vine!

So also, these bodies we have now are like seeds, not the full fruit. Look at v.38 (READ) - If God can give a body to every seed planted in the ground, how much more can he transform our bodies!

In this way, our resurrected bodies will be a major upgrade to what we have now. (Can I get an Amen?!!?)

Let’s look at 4 ways our bodies will be different:

Verse 42 (READ)

These bodies are perishable- they die. Our new bodies are imperishable!

No death or sickness, no sorrow or mourning! Y’all - everyone in heaven will be in a good mood all the time! That’s amazing!!

Verse 43a (READ)

These bodies are sinful, broken. But our new bodies will be raised in glory!

No sin means we will not wrestle with temptations- we will not slip and fall into lust or pride, but instead we will perfectly honor our Lord always!

Verse 43b (READ)

These bodies are weak and fearful. But our new bodies will be filled with power as we reign with Christ over all creation.

Look here- you won’t be afraid of snakes or spiders in heaven. All creation will be under the dominion of Christ and his co-heirs, us.

Verse 44 (READ)

This is a bit more tricky to explain. Natural vs. Spiritual.

This is not to say that we will not have physical bodies. The resurrected Christ still has a physical body - he ate, touched people, etc.

Rather, Paul contrasts Adam as the original image-bearer of God who failed and Jesus, who is the perfect image of the invisible God. (v. 45-49) Let me read these again (READ)

Here’s the point here: Now we are imperfect image-bearers, like Adam; but in our resurrected bodies, we will be perfect image-bearers of God.

Paul drives this contrast home in the next few verses, comparing Adam and Jesus. Adam was human first- made from the dust and life breathed into him. Jesus is eternal, thus He took on flesh and gave life to all who will trust in Him.

The mystery of our resurrection is revealed in our new bodies as we will be the fullness of the harvest… God’s harvest! Given the nature of Christ- heavenly and eternal.

The next truth of this mystery is that

Our Resurrection is the Fulfillment of God’s Plan (50-53)

It is in these few verses that Paul explains the necessity of the resurrection in order for God’s promise to be fulfilled. Look at v. 50 (READ)

The promise of God- in the OT and NT, is that His people would be heirs to His Kingdom. Going back to Abraham, God made a promise of blessing and inheritance, this foreshadowed Christ, as Abraham’s Seed.

In Jesus’ earthly ministry, He proclaimed the Kingdom of heaven and in John 14, testified that He is the way, the truth, and the life.

Paul helps us to see what should be obvious: The Kingdom of God is eternal and perfect- thus we cannot inherit this promise in our current condition. Adam and Eve were evicted from Eden, and you and I are banned too so long as we are in sinful flesh. Even though we are forgiven now, we are still mortal and broken.

THUS, according to God’s perfect plan, we all will be changed.

Look at v. 51-52 (READ)

So, according to Paul’s teaching:

New bodies are not just for those who died, but for those that are alive at Christ’s return also. This is good news- if Christ returns before we die, we who are Christians get new bodies too!! - This was evidently something some in the Corinthian church worried about.

The resurrection and giving of new bodies will happen quickly and at God’s command. (How fast is a twinkling of an eye?)

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 NASB95

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

This is all necessary and part of God’s perfect plan so that we can inherit His Kingdom. - (READ v. 53) This is not about having super-human abilities, it’s about existing perfecting in the presence of our perfect King.

And because it is part of His plan, it is certain. Thus, we can and should anticipate this day. The trumpet WILL sound and the dead will be raised and those who remain WILL BE CHANGED!

Discuss: What does it mean in verse 50 that, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God..”?

Our resurrection is the fullness of the harvest and the fulfillment of God’s plan. Finally, we see that

Our Resurrection is the Final Victory (54-58)

Here we see Paul again point to the OT promise of the resurrection in Isaiah 25:8.

Let’s read v. 54-57 again. (READ)

Sin ushered death into the world, and since the days of Adam humanity has fallen to death generation after generation. Who can escape death?

ILL: How much money do we spend trying to extend our life? How many people have searched for the fountain of youth? Look, here’s the reality: 100% of the people who were born 150 years ago are dead. Unless Christ returns beforehand, we will experience death as well.

BUT - When Christ returns, and the dead are raised and we all have new, upgraded, imperishable bodies, then we will see that Christ has abolished his final enemy, death. (15:26).

We will live for eternity in this victory.

I want you to look at these words again- “Oh, death, where is your victory? Where is your sting?”

Look, when Christ returns, all that death accomplished will be undone. And we as believers will have the opportunity to trash-talk death.

Death will be thrown into the lake of fire while we stand and say, “How you like me now, death?!?!”

Actually, what Paul points us to in v. 56 is that we already have this victory secured in Christ. We can sing today, O Victory in Jesus, my savior forever...”

- It’s just a matter of His timing as to His exercise of this final victory.

It’s important that we note that God is not slow about His return, but patient, giving every opportunity for the church to testify of the Gospel and for sinful men and women to repent and join the victory. (2 Peter 3:9)

So, we must ask, “What does all this mean?”

Look with me to v. 58.

Now, the Corinthian church, and many of us as well, find it hard to not fall into the temptations of the world. Living the Christian life is a battle. At times, we might even wonder if it’s worth it. But, the resurrection assures us that it most definitely is.

Verse 58 says, Therefore my beloved brethren… (and sistren)

Be steadfast - hold firm to the Word of God, specifically the Gospel including the resurrection

Immovable - Don’t be discouraged by unbelievers. God warned us that much of the world would reject the Gospel and messengers of it. But you, don’t be dragged into false teachings, societal pressures, etc. No matter how persuasive they may be, no matter how frightening the response, stand firm in the hope of Christ.

Abounding in the work of the Lord - God’s design is first and foremost that the world would come to know Him. Our priority must be the Gospel- proclaiming it, modeling it, praying for God’s Spirit to guide our steps and to give us boldness and clarity.

Matthew 5:16 NASB95

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Knowing your toil is not in vain- the work of the Gospel is difficult. It’d be easy to entertain the masses. It’s not hard to preach a message of affirmation and permissiveness. We could just preach popular or trendy topics or we could just be affirming of every idea and that’d be easy. But the work of the Gospel is difficult. It’s offensive and people don’t like it. But when someone grasps the message, repents and gives their life to the Lord, their whole eternity is changed!!

Scripture teaches that when a sinner repents, the whole angel army in heaven rejoices! Why? Because the victory has been proclaimed in their life!

Folks, I want to leave you to reflect upon this: How will your tomorrow look because you understand the mystery of the resurrection?

Will you live boldly for Jesus? - IS God calling you to the mission field?

Will you live gratefully for the promise He is working out in you?

Will you rejoice in His victory?

Discuss: What does it mean in verse 56, “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law...”?