The Form of the Resurrection Disputed: "With what body do they come"? (vv.35-49, cont)

The change of bodies - Divine vitality (vv.42b–49)

The text tells us of the change that is necessary to make our present bodies like Christ's body of glory. It also continues the picture of sowing seed. Our bodies are to be sown at death, in the soil, just like seed. Indeed, there is a fourfold repetition of the word "sown". I remain convinced that God's preferred method of disposal of a human corpse is burial and not cremation. Every example and positive statement in Scripture is in favour of burial. Where bodies are burned in the Old Testament it meets with divine disapproval. In the New Testament, it is associated with persecution or eternal judgment.

A change to our eternal condition (v.42b)

Sown in corruption - fit for the grave, disease, death, decay, decomposition and dust. Raised in incorruption - fit for the glory, immune, immortal and imperishable. Our blessed Lord's body saw no corruption even in the grave (Ps 16.10).

A change to our external condition (v.43a)

Sown in dishonour, humiliation, wrinkles, scars, marks of age, effects of sin. Raised in glory, honour, no spot, no wrinkles, nor any such thing. The process may be illustrated by the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a beautiful, brilliant butterfly.

A change to our internal condition (v.43b)

Sown in weakness, fragility, sickness, tiredness, frailty, old age, infirmity, yielding. Raised in power, flawless, with strength to worship and serve continuously for there is no night or sleep in heaven.

A change to our natural condition (v.44)

Sown a natural body, a body of flesh and blood; soul driven. Raised a spiritual body, a body of flesh and bone; spirit driven.

The existence of a soul-driven body pre-supposes the existence of a spirit-driven body. Christ's resurrection body and ours will be similar. They will be physical, recognisable, flesh and bone, bloodless, not limited by time or space, able to eat though this is not a necessity.

A change to our federal condition (vv.45-49)

A change in representative headship – first and last Adam (vv.45-46)

The principle of origin (v.45). There was no man before Adam. God breathed into him "the breath of lives" and man became "a living soul" (Gen 2.7).

Adam had a soul-governed life. His natural body transmitted life to succeeding generations by the process of reproduction.

Christ was the last Adam; there will not be another head of race. Christ has a spirit-governed life. This life-giving Person imparts life to His race by the process of regeneration and resurrection: "Because I live, ye shall live also" (Jn 14.19). Adam was infused with life. Christ imparts life. Adam transferred life but Christ creates life.

The principle of order (v.46). The natural comes first in time, namely Adam. The spiritual comes afterwards, namely Christ. Is there a more general principle here? Just as Adam came before Christ, the natural came before the spiritual, so Cain came before Abel, Ishmael before Isaac, Esau before Jacob, Saul before David and Israel before the Church.

A change in racial headship – first and second man (vv.47-49)

Notice the contrast in each of these verses:

Between our former lord, Adam and our present Lord, Christ (v.47).

Between our former life, earthy and our prospective life, heavenly (v.48).

Between our former likeness, earthly and our prospective likeness, heavenly (v.49).

We shall be like Christ morally, in resurrection (1 Jn 3.2). We shall be like Christ physically, in resurrection (Phil 3.21). Bearing "the image of the heavenly", is expressed by Paul in Romans 8.29, as "to be conformed to the image of His Son" (8.29). Heaven is to be populated with those made like God's beloved Son.

The Form of the Resurrection Disputed: "How are the dead raised up?

Divine Victory (vv.50-58)

An impossible task – "cannot inherit" (v.50)

How do you transfer living saints to heaven when they have "flesh and blood" bodies? How do you transfer the dead saints to heaven when their bodies have corrupted in the grave? The next verse provides the answer.

An incredible transformation – "all be changed" (v.51)

What a mystery (secret) has now been revealed! Not all the saints will experience death. Some will still be alive at Christ's second coming. But all the saints, alive or dead, will experience a supernatural change at His advent.

An imperious trumpet – "the last trump" (vv.52-53)

The "last" trumpet in Jewish and Roman culture declared the need to break camp and to "forward march". This is the same trumpet as in 1 Thessalonians 4.16.

The change is instantaneous, "In a moment" (v.52); literally, "in an atom of time". The atom was the smallest, indivisible particle of matter known to man. Here, it is time and not matter that is described: "In the twinkling of an eye". What rapidity! What speed! Quicker than the blink of an eyelid. When God moves, He does things quickly and completely.

The change is imperative, "must" (v.53). For the dead saints "this corruptible must put on incorruption". For the living saints "this mortal must put on immortality". When does this change take place? At the rapture.

An inspirational triumph – "victory" (vv.54-56)

When - the signal of victory (v.54a). Once the departed and the living saints have been changed. What next?

Then - the citation of victory (v.54b). "Death is swallowed up in victory" (Is 25.8).

"O Death, O Grave" – The Song of Victory – (vv.55-56). This early Christian hymn is based on Hosea 13.14.

"O death, where is thy sting?" The living saints will never experience the sting of death for they will be raptured and changed. Not for them, passing through the article of death (v.55).

"O grave, where is thy victory?" The saints who have died will not remain in the grave indefinitely. As certainly as Christ is alive, leaving behind Him an empty tomb, so certainly will the bodies of departed saints be resurrected, changed and raptured.

"The sting of death is sin." If there had never been sin, there would have been no death. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Rom 5.12). Sin is the root cause of death.

"The strength of sin is the law." If there had been no law then evil would never have borne the character of sin, "Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression" (Rom 4.15).

Death and the grave swallow up the body. Sheol (Heb) and hades (Gk) receive the soul until the Cross, after which believers' souls go directly to be with the Lord. The spirit returns to God who gave it (Eccl 12.7).

The believer, body, soul and spirit, will be complete in heaven. Such is the triumph of the death and resurrection of Christ the Redeemer. Death is "swallowed up" and "destroyed" this grand chapter declares. Little wonder that it closes on a note full of thankfulness and praise.

An impassioned thanksgiving – "thanks be to God" (vv.57-58)

Thankfulness expressed in praise (v.57)

We are presented, in this verse, with both the author and the agent of the victory: God and our blessed Lord Jesus Christ. How can we remain unmoved or silent in the face of such stupendous achievement?

Thankfulness expressed in practice (v.58)

If I am genuinely grateful then such truth should affect both my belief and my behaviour.

My Belief I am to be "steadfast", settled in my belief, my confidence in the truth of the bodily resurrection of Christ and of Christians.

I am to be "unmoveable", steadfast in my conviction, so that I will not be moved by false teaching about these matters. I must not be shaken by every wind of false doctrine that blows.

My Behaviour

"Always abounding." We are expected to be on duty at all times. There is no holiday season in Christ's service. There ought to be a fulsomeness about my service. It is not to be beggarly or begrudging but bountiful.

"Work…labour." "Work" expresses the deed done. "Labour" indicates the effort expended and the perspiration raised. "Not in vain in the Lord" indicates that my labour is to be of the highest quality. My Master deserves nothing less. My service should be subject to the control of the Lord. I submit fully to Him in all matters of life and service. Similar language is to be found in Colossians: "Grounded and settled" in the faith 1.23; "Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving" (2.7).

Concluded.