What will our resurrection bodies be like? In this passage the apostle Paul gives us the most detailed information about this intriguing subject that we have in Scripture!

Teaching Notes:

Our Resurrection Bodies

1 Corinthians 15:35-49

Intro:

· Paul began chapter 15 by explaining the gospel and describing its life-transforming power in both the Corinthians and in his own life 15:1-11.

· Next (vs.12) he mentions that there were some in Corinth who were saying there was no resurrection of the dead, no doubt because of the influence of the Greek philosophy of the day which said that matter was evil and spirit was good. Thus, they could not conceive of the concept of bodily resurrection. So, Paul tells them what the implications are if there is no resurrection of the dead (Christ not raised, preaching is vain, your faith is vain, we are false witnesses, your faith is worthless, you are still in your sins, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished, we are of all men most to be pitied) 15:12-19

· Then Paul describes the Order of Resurrection. Christ will resurrect His people, destroy His people, and then hand over the kingdom to His Father. 

· Then last week we saw the difference should make in our lives.  It should give us a concern for the salvation of the lost, a willingness to endure hardship for the gospel, and a resolve to shun false teachers. 

· Today, in 1 Cor.15:35-49 Paul gets into the nitty gritty of what our resurrection bodies will be like. He asks 2 related questions in vs.35, and then goes on to answer those questions in vs.36-49. 

1.  Question #1:  “How are the dead raised?” (1Cor.15:35)

Here Paul is voicing the criticisms of the skeptic who felt it was absurd to believe in resurrection.

Answer:

1)  In the same way plants are raised (vs. 36-37).

You fool! – this expression seems very harsh to us, but is the usual word in the OT to refer to someone who lives an ungodly life because they fail to take God into account. This skeptic is only thinking on a natural level. He has failed to bring Almighty God into the picture!

That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies: the seed must dissolve and disintegrate and crack open before it can send out shoots of new life. So also, the body must die, dissolve and disintegrate before it can enter upon a new mode of existence.

You do not sow the body which is to be:  if you want to plant tomatoes, you don’t uproot an entire tomato plant and bury it under ground! No, you plant a tomato seed. Death, rather than preventing quickening is the necessary prelude to quickening. Likewise in resurrection there is Difference and Continuity:  Difference in that our resurrection bodies will not be the same as our present bodies. A wheat grain does not look anything like a wheat stalk. Likewise our resurrection body will be vastly superior to our present body. Continuity in that a wheat grain will always produce a wheat stalk, not a tomato plant or corn stalk. It is the same life that is in the seed that also exists in the mature plant.

2) Through the Power of Almighty God (vs.38)

But God gives it a body just as He wished: the dead are raised by the power of God, that’s how! Never make the blunder of not taking account of God. Though the idea of bodily resurrection may seem impossible and even absurd, nothing is impossible with God!

2.  Question #2:  “With what kind of body do they come?”

Answer: 

1) the kind of body suitable to dwell in heaven (vs. 39)

All flesh is not the same flesh: there is the flesh of men, beasts, birds, and fish. Each kind of body is designed to dwell in their own habitats. Men to walk the earth, beasts to live in the wild, birds to fly through the air, and fish to dwell in water. What is Paul saying? The dead will be raised in a kind of body that is suitable for their new habitat – heaven. Our present bodies are designed for 14 pounds per square inch. We can only travel in outer space or in the depths of the sea with pressurized suits. Our present bodies are designed to take in 78% oxygen, 21% nitrogen, and 1% assorted gases – thus, we are earthbound. But our glorified bodies will be free from these restrictions and perfectly suited to dwell in our eternal homes! 

2) the kind of body capable of greater or lesser glory (vs.40-41)

Heavenly bodies…earthly bodies: Paul has just listed some kinds of earthly bodes in vs.39. Now he is going to talk about heavenly bodies – sun, moon, stars. Heavenly bodies have greater glory (radiance) than earthly bodies. Even among various different heavenly bodies, the degree of glory varies. Dan.12:3; Mt.13:43. Perhaps this points to the variations in rewards in glory depending on our faithfulness right now. Not everyone will shine with the same intensity in heaven. Though all will be supremely happy in heaven, some will have greater capacity for enjoying heaven. Every cup will be filled, but some cups will be bigger than others.

3) the kind of body that is imperishable, glorious, powerful and spiritual (vs.42-44)

Perishable…Imperishable: this means our new bodies will never get sick or die.

Dishonor…Glory:  dishonor refers to the present bodies of our humble state (Phil.3:21). There is nothing glorious about a dead body. However, this same body will be raised glorious. They will have no wrinkles, scars, marks of age, be overweight or traces of sin.

Weakness…Power:  with the coming of old age weakness increases until death strips a man of all power whatever. Our glorified bodies will not be subject to these weaknesses, but will have powers we can’t even conceive of now. Jesus’ body could appear and disappear, and ascend straight into the sky!

Natural…Spiritual:  our resurrection bodies will be transformed from natural bodies to spiritual bodies. The Scripture does not say our present bodies will be revivified or reanimated. Indeed, they can’t be, because most bodies that have died have totally dissolved into the earth, and have been taken up by plants. But God will give us a new body that is no longer natural, but spiritual. Some have said that “spiritual body” proves we will not have a material existence. But the word “spiritual” is not implying a non-material existence. It is implying a non-fleshly existence! “Spirit” and “flesh” are constantly contrasted in Scripture. Our new bodies will not be under the domination of our sinful flesh, but instead will be controlled by the “spirits of the righteous made perfect” (Heb.12:23).

4) the kind of body that the resurrected Christ rose with: (vs.45-49)

First man, Adam…last Adam:  Paul picks up the analogy between Adam and Christ from 15:21-22. When God breathed into Adam the breath of life, he became a living being or soul. When God raised Jesus from the dead He became a life-giving spirit. In other words, Jesus is able to impart spiritual life, and does so to all His elect (Jn.5:21). The Jehovah Witnesses teach that Jesus was only raised spiritually, but not bodily. However, Jesus ate real food, and prepared a real breakfast. Mary Magdalene clung to a real body. Thomas put his hands into real wounds. No, Jesus was raised with a real material glorified body, but it was a spiritual body, just as ours will be!

The spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual:  this can refer to 3 different things. Adam, the natural came first in human history, then Jesus, the spiritual Man. We are born into this world as natural beings, then we are born again and become spiritual beings. We first receive natural bodies at physical birth, and then receive spiritual bodies at the resurrection.

Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly:  there are 2 men, Adam and Christ. Adam is from the earth, Christ is from heaven. All those who are descended physically from Adam bear his image – a natural body. We have borne Adam’s image in our bodies. But those who are descended spiritually from Christ will bear His image – a resurrected, glorified, spiritual body. 

Life Application: 

1. Look Forward to Glory! Rev.21:3-4. This is God’s promise to you, believer! No more death, mourning, crying, pain. Just endless joy, happiness, peace, love, delight, and enjoyment! Long for this! Look forward to it! Dream of it!

2.  Use your bodies now to prepare for eternity!  If there will be different degrees of glory depending on our faithfulness now, be faithful! 1 Cor.6:20 – “glorify God in your body!” How are you using your body now? Rom.6:12-13. Is it an instrument of unrighteousness or of righteousness. Do you use it in God’s service, for His pleasure, or for your own fleshly lusts and pleasures? Present it to God! Dedicate your body to His service – Rom.12:1

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