Immortality!
-19-
I Corinthians 15:35-58
As we begin this last section of chapter 15, I just want to comment on verse 33 … Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."
Paul has just given some very solid teaching about the resurrection. He has expressed shock that some among their ranks were actually teaching that there was no such thing as a resurrection from the dead.
So in verse 33 he is addressing where they might have picked up such twisted teaching. He is saying that they have been hanging around with the wrong crowd. Bad stuff gets picked up. Does the same thing happen in our time? Definitely. It makes a huge difference who you 'tune in to'. Every kind of teacher under the sun is 'out there'. Do not listen to someone who has 'an axe to grind' as the saying goes. When someone addresses a topic by writing a book or producing a series ...it is because he feels he has something unique to share, … something that will really 'grab you'. Be safe. The 'Old, old Story' does not need embellishing. New is not better when it comes to God's word.
So Paul says “Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.” (34 NIV)
In verse 35 we pick up with the 'resurrection doubters' mockingly commenting on the appearance of a 'raised' person. To support their viewpoint they have been making the resurrection look ridiculous. “Ugh! What would they look like!”
How foolish, Paul says.
He proceeds to give a very simplistic illustration. The seed obviously dies. He mentions a seed of grain such as wheat. With a seed that small it is very likely that people never stopped to pull up the plant to examine the original seed. If they ever experimented with 'sprouting' seed, intentionally, they would be able to see what happened to the original seed. But in any case, they would get the point, and that is, that from out of the buried seed comes new life. He calls the new life 'a body'.
Paul then adds the next thought; There are many different kinds of bodies in addition to plants. He lists human, animal, fish and birds. So now that he has them thinking somewhat 'broadly', he jumps to an even broader picture. He says some bodies pertain strictly to this world, this earth. The reference is to terrestrial in many versions. The other main category of bodies is celestial. Heavenly is another word for Celestial. Bodies that are not of this earth.
Next Paul jumps to one other illustration; The differences between planets and stars. What Paul may be trying to get across here is different from his first illustration. A single seed dies and it comes up new. Earthly bodies die and celestial ones don't. But in this illustration he is talking about varying degrees of brilliance. This may be a hint that when believers die, they may come back with bodies that differ from one another in degrees of brilliance1. Most likely it simply is pointing out God's unique ability to allow for all kinds of glory in heaven. Angels are there. Various other beings are described as being around God's throne in heaven2. The saints of God in their glorified bodies will be there. Perhaps each of these is unique in the glory with which they shine.
As Paul goes on to explain what a resurrected body will look like, he goes back to the seed planting illustration. In verses 42 – 44 he talks about this. He used four words to describe a dead body. Corrupt, dishonored, weak, natural. The opposite is so beautiful: incorruptible, glorious, powerful, Spiritual!
Paul's final example is biblical in verses 45 to 49. Adam was made from the dust of the ground. Even though it is said that he was made in the image of God, yet this 'difference' is important. Jesus is called the second Adam, and even though 24 Chromosomes may have been supplied by Mary … the remaining 24 did not come from the earth. Scientifically and biblically we actually have no evidence if Mary supplied any chromosomes at all. In this unique case they may all have come from the Holy Spirit, although I am not sure how that would work.
In verse 50 Paul makes a very clear and special statement. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. This statement, like all of the Bible, comes directly from God. In other words, a resurrection is not only possible, it is essential. Without it no one arrives in heaven.
I want to share a statement of Jesus that He made to the disciples when he appeared to them after His resurrection. He appeared in a body. It had the same wounds that it had when He was taken off of the cross, only now the wounds were healed to point of being scars. I am not saying that we will bear the same wounds and scars that we have now, I am only point out that Jesus did.
Why did Jesus body still have that scars? I can see a few possibilities. For one, the key word would be reminder. At the communion table we read, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” (1Co 11:26) The bottom line is that we remember His death. We must never forget His death. When Jesus appeared to the 11 disciples after His death, they recognized Him, but thought that He was a spirit or a ghost. Why? Because at this point they are not thinking resurrection. They are thinking 'failure'. Jesus failed to be the deliverer that they had hoped for. They wanted to be freed from the Romans, and it looked so promising … but then they killed Him. Failure. So, in their minds, Jesus is dead … but “Perhaps we are seeing His ghost” they thought.
Jesus proved that He was indeed raised from the dead. He did this in a couple of ways. First, He had retained the wounds in His hands and in His side and in His feet. When we read the account of the disciples seeing Jesus for the first time we notice that they did not recoil in horror over his bloody face and back. There is no mention that He still appeared that way. Nor is there any mention that the wounds in His hands and feet looked 'unhealed'. His body was new and restored … but it retained the scars to prove that it was really Him. And the scars will be seen when we get to heaven. Not to prove that it is really Him … but so that we can remember His death. That death was for us. It was your sin and mine that killed Him. It would be easy for us to forget that . We may even WANT to forget that. But being made to remember it will help to keep us humble. The opposite of humility is pride. God hates pride.
Secondly Jesus proved that He was really raised from the dead by encouraging them to actually touch His body. He made this interesting comment: " Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." Lu 24:39
Did Jesus say that a spirit does not have flesh and blood? No. Why did He not use that expression like Paul does here in First Corinthians? (Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God). The reason that Jesus says, Flesh and bones, rather than flesh and blood is because He was not a flesh and blood person standing there in front of them. He shed His blood, all of it, for the sins of the world. He took our sin … into His blood, and shed it for us.
So now, in resurrected form, he has a flesh and bone body.
Thirdly Jesus proved that He was really raised from the dead by asking for some food.3
Now verses 51 – 52.
Allow me to put some 'possible' words into Paul's mouth by tying in verse 1Co 15:12 (¶ Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?) with verses 50 - 52
He may be saying, “Some of you are saying there is no resurrection. To you, the whole point of the Christian life seems to be, be kind to your neighbor, feed the hungry, speak out against violence, promote fairness and honesty… etc, etc, but what you standing for is so temporary. It is totally worldly. This world is passing away. You need to get a heavenly perspective. And you cannot make this world to be heaven on earth. That will never happen. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven. There has to be a change in your bodies to get to heaven.
And here is how that change happens. You will die. But you will not stay dead. To be absent from your body is to be present with the Lord. And then one day your 'sleeping' body will be changed. In a moment, like the blink of an eye.
When? When the angel of God sounds the final trumpet. In that instant your body will become immortal. (53) In that moment the death penalty that Adam brought on all of us … will be taken away (54-57). This is victory in Jesus! On the cross Jesus said, “It is finished”. For us the final victory will be experienced at that great family reunion in the sky!
Until then? 1Co 15:58 ¶ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
1Daniel 12:3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
2Revelation 4:4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.
Revelation 4:4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.
Revelation 5:11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,
3 Luke 24:41.
Paul has just given some very solid teaching about the resurrection. He has expressed shock that some among their ranks were actually teaching that there was no such thing as a resurrection from the dead.
So in verse 33 he is addressing where they might have picked up such twisted teaching. He is saying that they have been hanging around with the wrong crowd. Bad stuff gets picked up. Does the same thing happen in our time? Definitely. It makes a huge difference who you 'tune in to'. Every kind of teacher under the sun is 'out there'. Do not listen to someone who has 'an axe to grind' as the saying goes. When someone addresses a topic by writing a book or producing a series ...it is because he feels he has something unique to share, … something that will really 'grab you'. Be safe. The 'Old, old Story' does not need embellishing. New is not better when it comes to God's word.
So Paul says “Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.” (34 NIV)
In verse 35 we pick up with the 'resurrection doubters' mockingly commenting on the appearance of a 'raised' person. To support their viewpoint they have been making the resurrection look ridiculous. “Ugh! What would they look like!”
How foolish, Paul says.
He proceeds to give a very simplistic illustration. The seed obviously dies. He mentions a seed of grain such as wheat. With a seed that small it is very likely that people never stopped to pull up the plant to examine the original seed. If they ever experimented with 'sprouting' seed, intentionally, they would be able to see what happened to the original seed. But in any case, they would get the point, and that is, that from out of the buried seed comes new life. He calls the new life 'a body'.
Paul then adds the next thought; There are many different kinds of bodies in addition to plants. He lists human, animal, fish and birds. So now that he has them thinking somewhat 'broadly', he jumps to an even broader picture. He says some bodies pertain strictly to this world, this earth. The reference is to terrestrial in many versions. The other main category of bodies is celestial. Heavenly is another word for Celestial. Bodies that are not of this earth.
Next Paul jumps to one other illustration; The differences between planets and stars. What Paul may be trying to get across here is different from his first illustration. A single seed dies and it comes up new. Earthly bodies die and celestial ones don't. But in this illustration he is talking about varying degrees of brilliance. This may be a hint that when believers die, they may come back with bodies that differ from one another in degrees of brilliance1. Most likely it simply is pointing out God's unique ability to allow for all kinds of glory in heaven. Angels are there. Various other beings are described as being around God's throne in heaven2. The saints of God in their glorified bodies will be there. Perhaps each of these is unique in the glory with which they shine.
As Paul goes on to explain what a resurrected body will look like, he goes back to the seed planting illustration. In verses 42 – 44 he talks about this. He used four words to describe a dead body. Corrupt, dishonored, weak, natural. The opposite is so beautiful: incorruptible, glorious, powerful, Spiritual!
Paul's final example is biblical in verses 45 to 49. Adam was made from the dust of the ground. Even though it is said that he was made in the image of God, yet this 'difference' is important. Jesus is called the second Adam, and even though 24 Chromosomes may have been supplied by Mary … the remaining 24 did not come from the earth. Scientifically and biblically we actually have no evidence if Mary supplied any chromosomes at all. In this unique case they may all have come from the Holy Spirit, although I am not sure how that would work.
In verse 50 Paul makes a very clear and special statement. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. This statement, like all of the Bible, comes directly from God. In other words, a resurrection is not only possible, it is essential. Without it no one arrives in heaven.
I want to share a statement of Jesus that He made to the disciples when he appeared to them after His resurrection. He appeared in a body. It had the same wounds that it had when He was taken off of the cross, only now the wounds were healed to point of being scars. I am not saying that we will bear the same wounds and scars that we have now, I am only point out that Jesus did.
Why did Jesus body still have that scars? I can see a few possibilities. For one, the key word would be reminder. At the communion table we read, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” (1Co 11:26) The bottom line is that we remember His death. We must never forget His death. When Jesus appeared to the 11 disciples after His death, they recognized Him, but thought that He was a spirit or a ghost. Why? Because at this point they are not thinking resurrection. They are thinking 'failure'. Jesus failed to be the deliverer that they had hoped for. They wanted to be freed from the Romans, and it looked so promising … but then they killed Him. Failure. So, in their minds, Jesus is dead … but “Perhaps we are seeing His ghost” they thought.
Jesus proved that He was indeed raised from the dead. He did this in a couple of ways. First, He had retained the wounds in His hands and in His side and in His feet. When we read the account of the disciples seeing Jesus for the first time we notice that they did not recoil in horror over his bloody face and back. There is no mention that He still appeared that way. Nor is there any mention that the wounds in His hands and feet looked 'unhealed'. His body was new and restored … but it retained the scars to prove that it was really Him. And the scars will be seen when we get to heaven. Not to prove that it is really Him … but so that we can remember His death. That death was for us. It was your sin and mine that killed Him. It would be easy for us to forget that . We may even WANT to forget that. But being made to remember it will help to keep us humble. The opposite of humility is pride. God hates pride.
Secondly Jesus proved that He was really raised from the dead by encouraging them to actually touch His body. He made this interesting comment: " Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." Lu 24:39
Did Jesus say that a spirit does not have flesh and blood? No. Why did He not use that expression like Paul does here in First Corinthians? (Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God). The reason that Jesus says, Flesh and bones, rather than flesh and blood is because He was not a flesh and blood person standing there in front of them. He shed His blood, all of it, for the sins of the world. He took our sin … into His blood, and shed it for us.
So now, in resurrected form, he has a flesh and bone body.
Thirdly Jesus proved that He was really raised from the dead by asking for some food.3
Now verses 51 – 52.
Allow me to put some 'possible' words into Paul's mouth by tying in verse 1Co 15:12 (¶ Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?) with verses 50 - 52
He may be saying, “Some of you are saying there is no resurrection. To you, the whole point of the Christian life seems to be, be kind to your neighbor, feed the hungry, speak out against violence, promote fairness and honesty… etc, etc, but what you standing for is so temporary. It is totally worldly. This world is passing away. You need to get a heavenly perspective. And you cannot make this world to be heaven on earth. That will never happen. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven. There has to be a change in your bodies to get to heaven.
And here is how that change happens. You will die. But you will not stay dead. To be absent from your body is to be present with the Lord. And then one day your 'sleeping' body will be changed. In a moment, like the blink of an eye.
When? When the angel of God sounds the final trumpet. In that instant your body will become immortal. (53) In that moment the death penalty that Adam brought on all of us … will be taken away (54-57). This is victory in Jesus! On the cross Jesus said, “It is finished”. For us the final victory will be experienced at that great family reunion in the sky!
Until then? 1Co 15:58 ¶ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
1Daniel 12:3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
2Revelation 4:4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.
Revelation 4:4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.
Revelation 5:11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,
3 Luke 24:41.