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1 Corinthians 15:40–53 (ESV)
We are nearing the end of our series on “Being God’s People.” This is sermon 24 out of 25 for our series through 1 Corinthians. Daniel will deliver our final sermon in this series next Sunday.
I’d venture to guess that you’ve heard parts of this particular scripture passage read many times in your life—most likely at funerals, even more specifically at graveside services. It is a glorious inspired passage to bring comfort at the death of a friend or loved one.
Today, though, I encourage you to think about you as we read and study these verses. I don’t especially mean to think of your own death, though the young Jonathan Edwards in the early 18th century did make one of his resolutions about it. Resolution #9 says:
- Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.
Death is not the main subject of Paul’s instructions to the Corinthians today. Rather, he wants us to deal with the reality of the resurrection of the body.
I don’t know how you begin evangelistic conversations with others. You could begin with creation, asking “where does all of this come from?” You could begin with a moral question: “Where does our sense of right and wrong come from?” You could jump right into the historical question of the person of Jesus of Nazareth.
In my early days as a Christian, as I was attempting to learn how to talk to others about Christianity, I most often began with the simple question, “What do you believe happens to you when you die?”
After all, many people who will never ask a philosophical question about morality, or a religious question about deity will wrestle with the question of their own death and what happens next. This is a universal human question.
This is one of the primary questions that anyone’s worldview must answer.
I was curious what some atheists might say about this question. Here are some thoughts from an article at the Huffington Post.
For all the talk of rationality, intellectual honesty, and objectivity we engage in as atheists, this is one of the most uncomfortable questions we have to wrestle with. What can we offer as a substitute for the emotional comfort religion offers believers in facing their own death, or that of their loved ones? What should we say to our believing family and friends when they are acutely grieving these losses?
The author then goes on to quote an excerpt from Aaron Freeman about why you'd want a physicist to speak at your funeral:
You want a physicist to speak at your funeral. You want the physicist to talk to your grieving family about the conservation of energy, so they will understand that your energy has not died. You want the physicist to remind your sobbing mother about the first law of thermodynamics; that no energy gets created in the universe, and none is destroyed. You want your mother to know that all your energy, every vibration, every Btu of heat, every wave of every particle that was her beloved child remains with her in this world. You want the physicist to tell your weeping father that amid energies of the cosmos, you gave as good as you got.
And you'll want the physicist to explain to those who loved you that they need not have faith; indeed, they should not have faith. Let them know that they can measure, that scientists have measured precisely the conservation of energy and found it accurate, verifiable and consistent across space and time. You can hope your family will examine the evidence and satisfy themselves that the science is sound and that they'll be comforted to know your energy's still around. According to the law of the conservation of energy, not a bit of you is gone; you're just less orderly. Amen.
Christianity has a very different answer, and much more reason to hope.
Daniel helped us last week by demonstrating that the resurrection is not an optional part of Christianity. Without the resurrection of Christ, we would still be dead in our sins and without hope. In fact, our lives as Christians would make no sense.
Paul is answering a more specific question in our text this morning. We’re not sure exactly what the Corinthians were thinking about this, but Paul begins this section with the questions:
These are the questions we will attempt to answer with Paul today.
Our four points today are:
Father, we acknowledge you as the Sovereign creator and sustainer of all that is. Your name is Holy, Holy, Holy. You were before all things. You uphold all things by the word of your power. You are worthy of our adoration, obedience, trust, and love.
Thank you for granting us life, and our very breath. Strengthen us to live each day, but especially this day to your glory.
Help us today to grasp the heights of what you have planned for us. Strengthen our faith by the hearing of your word today.
Amen.
1 Corinthians 15:35–41 (ESV)
We do need to acknowledge that this passage (or even the entire Bible) will not likely answer every question we might have about death and resurrection.
The Corinthians seemed to have some objection to a physical resurrection, specifically how a resurrection body actually would work. This isn’t that far from what modern questions we might ask about resurrected bodies. Bodies decompose and see corruption. Many in history have been lost to fire, to war, to the sea. How exactly can these bodies be resurrected?
Paul’s answer has two parts.
One part of the answer is that God is able to make many different kinds of bodies. He reminds them of the Genesis account of creation. Verses 39-41 point us to the 6th, 5th, and 4th days of creation, how God was able to make man, beast, bird, and fish of different kinds.
In vv. 40-41, he tells us that God also knows how to make heavenly bodies as well as earthly bodies. We might think “terrestrial” and “celestial” here—the sun moon and stars.
If God is able to make all of these out of nothing, by his word, can he not also create resurrected bodies?
In other words, there is no issue of power or ability. God is able to do this.
The second part of Paul’s answer is that the resurrected body is connected to the person that died. His image is that of sowing a seed.
1 Corinthians 15:36–38 (ESV)
You plant a bare kernel of a seed into the ground, and God causes that seed to come out of the ground as the plant, or bush, or tree. The plant that comes out of the soil is not disconnected from the seed—in a real sense, it is the seed in its fuller form. In the same way, when we die and the receive our new body, it is very much “us”—it is not random or disconnected from who you are in body and soul.
This isn’t some strange reincarnation where you become something that isn’t you. Your resurrection body is very much you, just as the plant from a seed is the plant.
This particular analogy that Paul is using points out one of the ways our thinking may be skewed from reality. We, by default, consider this life—our present—the most real thing, and our future eternal life as the shadow, as the afterthought. But with the bare kernel and the body in Paul’s analogy, it’s clear that our current, earthly body and existence is merely the precursor of the magnificent reality that is to come.
This made me think of the familiar Lewis quote from Mere Christianity where he says “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world” (181). As I was looking for that quote by Lewis, I came across another.
There have been times when I think we do not desire heaven, but more often I find myself wondering whether, in our heart of hearts, we have ever desired anything else ... tantalizing glimpses, promises never quite fulfilled, echoes that died away just as they caught your ear. But if ... there ever came an echo that did not die away but swelled into the sound itself—you would know it. Beyond all possibility of doubt you would say, “here at last is the thing I was made for.”
- C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain, p. 152.
We were made for something more than this fallen, broken life we have now. But the resurrection body we receive will be what we were meant to be—it will be me, it will be you, not as a shadow, but as the fulness.
Next, we will explore some of the ways our resurrection body will be different.
1 Corinthians 15:42–49 (ESV)
Paul continues the “sowing” analogy and moves into a series of comparisons from the old to the new. He’s answer the question of “what kind of body would we need to thrive in the new heavens and new earth.”
| Now | Then |
|---|---|
| perishable | Imperishable |
| dishonor | glory |
| weakness | power |
| natural | Spiritual |
| Dust | Heaven |
| First man Adam | Last Adam |
We tend to think of our resurrected body as merely being the best earthly version of ourselves. We debate things like “What age will our resurrection bodies be?” Age doesn’t appear as one of the contrasts here. There isn’t “old” and “young.”
This could also be translated as “corruptible” and “incorruptible.” The idea has to do with breakdown or deterioration or corruption. If you’ll remember Peter’s argument in at Pentecost, he argues for the resurrection of Jesus as being a fulfillment from Psalm 16:10 that God would never let his holy one see corruption (Acts 2:27).
Our resurrected bodies will not suffer degeneration or deterioration. They will never “go bad.”
Disgrace, shame.
Sickness, disease, incapacity.
Power.
The resurrection completely swallows up the broadest and deepest effects of the fall of creation and humanity.
- Roy E. Ciampa, Pillar New Testament Commentary, 813.
The point here is to point out that our bodies are “fleshly” in a sinful sense, here, just that they are earthly. This is not the same natural/spiritual contrast that we saw early in Paul’s letter, referring to their behavior and motivations. This goes farther than that.
The contrast is not being a disembodied spirit, but to have a spiritual body. Our current earthly bodies are enlivened by the breath of life, but our future bodies will be enlivened by the Holy Spirit of God.
We see this in verse 45.
Paul is looking back to the creation account in Genesis. God made Adam out of the clay.
Right now, our bodies are made of earthly, terrestrial stuff. Our future bodies won’t be limited in this way. It is difficult for us to even imagine a body that is our body that does not have the earthly limitations that we have.
The last comparison here has to do with our connection to the First Adam and the Last Adam. Paul is clearly looking back to Genesis 2.
Genesis 2:7 (ESV) — then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
All mankind is born “in Adam.” In him, we inherit our fallen, sinful nature, as well as the guilt of sin.
What does he mean by “Last Adam?” Just as all those born in Adam inherit his nature, so those who are “in Christ” also inherit his nature because he puts in us his “life-giving spirit.” Paul is emphasizing why the full humanity of Jesus is required in order for him to be our substitute. We inherit his righteousness, his reward, and one day, will be made like him in our resurrection bodies.
Romans 5:18–19 (ESV) — Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
One of the difficult realities of the Christian life is the already-not-yet conundrum. Once we come to faith in Christ, there are realities that become true of us, yet the working out of those realities happens over our whole lives, and is not finalized and completed until the return of Christ.
Even though we are in Christ now by faith, we are still awaiting something.
Romans 8:23 (ESV) — And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
One of the promises that we must remember as believers is that this process of change and transformation will be completed in us. We call this process “progressive sanctification.” It begins at conversion, but continues until we are given our glorious bodies at the resurrection.
This was God’s plan from even before our salvation.
Romans 8:29 (ESV) — For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
It is accomplished through the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.
Philippians 3:21 (ESV) — who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
This process of change is empowered in us even now through the power of the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV) — And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
We’ve seen that our resurrection bodies will still be us, and that they will be different and better than our earthly bodies. Now let’s see what Paul says about when we will be changed.
1 Corinthians 15:50–53 (ESV)
Here is perhaps the most familiar section of this passage. Paul is actually answering two different questions here. First, how will this change happen for those who have not died? Second, when should we expect this change to take place?
Having explained many of the ways that our resurrection bodies will be different from our earthly ones, Paul reiterates here that “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” Our current earthly bodies are not made to endure our heavenly, immortal existence.
Think all the way back to Jesus’ first beatitude at the Sermon on the Mount:
This is our inheritance in Jesus, but our current earthly bodies are not sufficient to handle it. Therefore, we all must have new bodies.
One of the dilemmas for the 1st century Christians (and many since) is wrestling with the timing of the return of Christ. We aren’t surprised to find confusion in the church today about it, but sometimes we are surprised to see confusion among the early Christians in the New Testament. Many of them believed that Jesus would return in their lifetimes, and that could raise a lot of questions about the resurrection.
“If we haven’t died, how will we experience the resurrection from the dead?”
Paul’s answer is that this is one of the mysteries of our salvation. We will not all sleep (die), but we will be changed.
The mystery is not the resurrection generally, but that the resurrection happens even to those who are alive when the Lord Jesus returns. And, those believers are not left out of the resurrection promise. It will happen “in a moment” (ἄτομος), in the twinkling of an eye. This is the smallest amount of time possible. Our main experiences with spiritual change are often slow and grueling. At this moment, the change will be complete and instantaneous.
When should we expect all of this to happen?
What is this trumpet that Paul is referring to? Jesus talks about it in Matthew 24 when he is teaching on the last days.
Matthew 24:29–31 (ESV) — “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Paul also expounds on these words of Jesus even more in his first letter to the Thessalonians.
1 Thessalonians 4:15–18 (ESV) — For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Make sure you read “sleep” as a euphemism for death and not some strange doctrine of “soul sleep.” When we die, our souls go to be with the Lord immediately, awaiting the resurrection of our bodies. See 2 Cor 5:6-8 or reflect on Jesus’ saying on the cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).
One question that came to my mind in this study was about the resurrection of non-believers, of the unjust. I won’t say much here, but would point you to the Trinity Confession of Faith, chapter 34.
See TCOF 34.3
1 Corinthians 15:54–5 (ESV)
Death is not the end, and death does not get the final word.
Death is swallowed up in victory. It doesn’t feel that way, though. Death and sorrow, pain and suffering feel more real. Today feels more real.
Stretch your faith to consider that future day of resurrection. This is not inventing a religious make-believe to ease the suffering of this world and its sorrows. It is simply acknowledging the reality of God and eternity.
Certainly the refrain of God’s elect in heaven will resound with this theme of victory. But the victory is no less certain today than it will be on that day. Is there anything more that God could do to make this victory sure or certain? There is not. It is fixed. Unstoppable. Guaranteed. As soon as Jesus rose from the grave, this resurrection was sure.
Therefore, we should give thanks to God now for what he is going to do for his elect.
What a great place for a “therefore.”
Philip challenged us several weeks ago in his call to worship that our lives should look different because of the reality of the resurrection. This challenge is right here in the text.
We are usually steadfast and immovable in all the wrong things, just plain stubborn. We refuse to abandon our opinions or positions or pride.
But, what if we were as stubborn to stay faithful, to hold to God’s promises, to serve others, to submit ourselves to him completely?
This isn’t fitting God’s agenda into the nooks and crannies of your life. This is going all in. This is living like eternity matters, as though God’s Kingdom is what really matters. Are we excessive and overflowing in our attention to the work of the Lord?
To put this into action this week, I’m asking you to have three conversations.
Perhaps this afternoon, or sometime this week. As yourself the question, “How would I live differently if I lived with my future resurrection in view?”
Again from Jonathan Edwards in his resolutions:
- Resolved, that I will live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.
- Jonathan Edwards, Resolutions
Also, “Am I resting in the hope that I should have in Christ for the resurrection?”
We tend to steer our spiritual conversations toward sanctification and how we should work hard to change for God’s glory.
Look for an opportunity this week to bring the reality of the resurrection body into a conversation with another believer?
Finally, ask someone this week about what they believe about life after death? Do they ever think about it?
Pray that God would allow you to share the hope of eternal life with someone.
Here are some other recent messages.
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