Bible Study Materials

1 Corinthians 15:35-58

by Paul Choi   04/06/2014  

Question


The Glory of the Resurrection

(We shall be like Jesus)

1 Corinthians 15:35-58

Key Verse: 15:49

  1. Read verse 35-36. Why might people ask these questions? In these verses how does Paul explain the principle of resurrection?

 

 

  1. Read verses 37-41. How is the seed that is planted different from the body which grows from it?  In these verses what does Paul want to say about the glory of resurrection?

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Read verses 42-44a. What is the contrast between the natural body and the spiritual body?  Read verses 44b-49. How are the two Adams different? What promise does God gives us? (49) What does this mean?

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1.  Read verses 50-54. What is the mystery? Why is it necessary to be changed? What happens to those who belong to Jesus when he comes again? Read verses 55-58. What is the great victory? With this assurance of victory how must we live? (49,57,58)


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Message


THE RESURRECTION BODY

(The Glory of the Resurrection)

1 Corinthians 15:35-58

Key Verse 15:49 “And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.”

  Good morning! A year ago in my neighborhood, a business building was being remodeled with a luxurious interior design and expensive exterior stones. I was curious what kind of business would open. It opened as a spa and nail salon. Many women, young and old, visit there in order to take care of their physical bodies—their fingernails, toenails, skin, and so on. In fact, health businesses related to our physical body are very diverse and popular. These days bio-industries are becoming more promising. I heard that Samsung began to invest in the biotech-industry. Careers related to the medical field are still very attractive. Some of us work in the hospitals, and some students among us study hard in order to enter medical school. In universities, fields of study and research concerning the human body are popular. Missionary Esther Lee struggled hard to memorize all the parts and structures of the human body in order to pass her anatomy class. Peter Pei has a big bio-chemistry test tomorrow which may affect his GPA for medical school. There are many prominent medical doctors, PhDs, specialists, experts, and nurses in the medical fields who study and take care of our physical bodies. But I have never heard about PhDs for our resurrection body or spiritual body. Those who write a PhD dissertation for about our resurrection body should be awarded a Nobel Prize.  

  Today we’ll study about our future resurrection body. Last week we studied that Christ Jesus was indeed raised from the dead and became the firstfruits of our resurrection. (15:20) Jesus died for our sins and rose again from the dead. Through his resurrection he completed the work of redemption. Through his resurrection Jesus conquered death. Through his resurrection Jesus guaranteed our own resurrection at the last day. We will rise again as our Lord Jesus rose again from the dead. (23) The day of our resurrection should be spectacular and glorious.  But today’s passage addresses some people in the Corinthian Church who refused to believe in[B1]  Jesus’ bodily resurrection.  Influenced by dualism in Greek philosophy, they denied bodily resurrection. They asked, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” (35) These questions are not only for them, but also for us. We are curious about how we will be resurrected, and with what kind of body we will appear. Will our dead body walk around here and there like a zombie? How about those whose bodies are decomposed or cremated? How will they be raised?

   How did Paul answer them? Paul called them ‘you fools,’ rebuking their ignorance about the power of God and about the resurrection body. In order to explain the resurrection body, Paul pictures the life of a plant. He compares our physical body to a seed and our resurrection body to the plant[B2] . He said in verse 36b. “What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.” We plant a seed in the ground. We don’t plant the body itself, but a seed. As time passes by, the seed decays in order to give birth to a new life. Its shell decomposes and a fresh plant sprouts. In the same way, our physical body is buried in the ground and a new body, a resurrection body, comes out. Our physical body is the seed of our resurrection body. Death is the prerequisite for resurrection. As our physical body is necessary for our resurrection body[B3] , so death is necessary for our eternal life. We Christians consider death as preparation for new life in God’s kingdom.  Death is not the end of everything, but rather, a new beginning for eternal life.

  In verses 37-41, Paul says that as our physical body has one type of form and glory, so our resurrection body also has its own form and glory (splendor). Paul continues to explain the glory of the resurrection body with the contrast between seeds and plants. A seed itself, whether it is of a flower or a fruit, is not attractive. A seed is just small and round. But the plant which comes out of the seed looks gorgeous, revealing its own unique beauty and scent. In springtime in St. Louis, many beautiful flowers, such as magnolia and dogwood blossoms, entice bees and butterflies. As each creation body is different one from another, so its beauty and greatness is also different. Fish have their own body and beauty. Birds have another. Their beauties and greatnesses[B4]  are very diverse and unique. The beauty of the heavenly bodies such as the sun, moon, and stars is different from the beauty of the earthly bodies such as mountains, meadows, and rivers. Day and night each season, they reveal the glory of God and the splendor of his work of creation. Likewise, as each natural creature has its own body and glory, the resurrection body has also its own body and glory. The beauty and glory of the resurrection body is not comparable to that of any bodies in this world. It is amazingly beautiful and glorious.

  In verses 42-44a, Paul now explains the nature of the resurrection body. How is our resurrection body different from our physical body? Look at verses 42-44a. “So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 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…” Our physical body is weak and fragile. It is also perishable like grass. So Jesus said that our flesh counts for nothing. (Jn 6:63)  Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting. (Pro 31:30) As years go by, our physical body becomes weak, sick, and old. We can’t boast about our physical body. We can’t trust it, either. But, our resurrection body is very different from our physical body. It will be strong, healthy, glorious, and immortal. There will be no sickness, weakness, or aging of our resurrection body. Paul said that the body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 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. What a glorious change for our resurrection body! Because of this living hope for our resurrection body we face tomorrow. Because of this glorious resurrection body we overcome death. Amen.

  In verses 44b-50, Paul answers why we need a resurrection body. He says that our body will be changed into a spiritual body fit to live a new life in God’s kingdom. Look at verses 44b-49.  “If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.” The first man Adam became a living being. This means that we received a natural body from Adam who came from the dust of the earth. We are physically descendants of Adam. However, the last Adam, Jesus Christ who came from heaven, gives us a spiritual body. Jesus gives those who believe in him a resurrection body through his death and resurrection. Through his resurrection from the dead, Jesus became the firstfruits of resurrection. Jesus’ resurrection gives assurance of our resurrection. Thus, Jesus became a life-giving spirit to those who are redeemed by his blood.

  Look at verse 50. “I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.” Here, flesh and blood indicates our natural body or physical body. This verse means that we cannot enter the kingdom of God with our present physical body. Our body should be changed into a new body, an imperishable resurrection body which is fit to live in the kingdom of God. We need a ‘Spiritual Metamorphosis’ for eternal life in heaven. In the life cycle of a butterfly, a caterpillar has to undergo the process of metamorphosis in order to become a butterfly. A caterpillar cannot fly. It needs to be changed to a new structural form in order to fly. In the same way, our natural body should be changed into a new spiritual body adapted to [B5] new life in God’s kingdom. Our life on this earth is like the life of a caterpillar, which crawls, bumps,[B6]  and eats. When we are raised, we will fly like butterflies in the blue skies of heaven.

  Let’s go back to verse 49. What does it mean that we will bear the likeness of the man from heaven? It means that we will be changed to be like Jesus. Our resurrection body will inherit Jesus’ glorious resurrection body. What is Jesus’ resurrection body like? We catch a glimpse of the glorious image of his resurrection body through his transfiguration on the Mount. Jesus was transfigured before the eyes of his disciples. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. (Mt 17:2) Jesus was raised with his body, which was gloriously transformed. His body was also mysterious. The Risen Jesus appeared to the sorrowful Mary and wiped the tears from her eyes. (Jn 20:18) The Risen Jesus appeared to the fearful disciples and breathed peace to them. He also ate bread and fish together with two of his disciples in Emmaus. (Lk 24:30)[B7]  The Risen Jesus was beyond time and space. He suddenly appeared before his disciples in a room with locked doors. His resurrection body was also recognizable. His followers eventually recognized the Risen Jesus.

  When we are resurrected, we will bear the image of Jesus. We will inherit characteristics of Jesus such as his holiness, righteousness, compassion, gentleness, humbleness and so on. What a glorious day is when we become like Jesus! How blessed we are when we are clothed with the image of Jesus! Amen.

  Now, Paul explains what will happen to those who are alive when Jesus comes again. How shall they be raised? Paul calls this a ‘mystery’. Look at verses 51-53. “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.” Here, Paul compares death to falling asleep. (15:20) To Christians who have resurrection faith, death is like falling asleep. When we are tired, we need sleep, right? When we wake up from that sound sleep and open our eyes, we will find ourselves in a new world, different from this world, which is the kingdom of God.

 Everything on this earth takes time to be changed. It takes a few weeks for a caterpillar to become a butterfly. However, when we are changed, it will take a less than a second. While our eye is blinking, we will be changed. We’ll find that we have a different body in a different world.

  We’ll be changed at the last trumpet. The sound of the trumpet indicates Jesus’ second coming. When Jesus comes again to this world, we will be lifted up like helium balloons and meet Jesus in the air face to face. It will be a glorious and victorious day for those who belong to him. It will be a horrible judgment day for those who do evil and reject the truth. (Ro 2:8)

  Lastly, Paul concludes this chapter with the proclamation of victory over death and admonishment for the believers. Look at verses 54-57. “When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” When our bodies are changed, when we are resurrected, death will be gone. The word ‘death’ will disappear from this earth. The Risen Jesus swallows up death and that’s it. Death is the wages of sin. Like a poisonous sting, sin causes us to die. God’s law demands powerless sinners to meet its standard. Death seems to reign over the world.  But God does not allow death to have the final victory. Let’s read verse 57 again. “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Our final victory belongs to Jesus. God gives us the final victory over the power of death through our Lord Jesus Christ. We will reign over death forever with our Lord Jesus Christ.

  What should we do with resurrection faith? What did Paul want the believers to do as final victors? Look at verse 58. “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” Since the final victory is ours, we must stand firm. We must not let anything move us. Let our sickness, low grades, and even death neither move us nor separate us from the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ro 8:39) Jesus wants us always to give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord. Always, not sometimes; fully, not partially.  This is because we know that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. All our sacrifice, effort, and sufferings for the Lord will be rewarded. Amen. May God bless our Easter Bible Conference abundantly so that we all may experience the power and glory of resurrection.  Amen.  


 [B1]“Believe” takes as its object either a communication or an event with a verb. For example, “I don’t believe ghosts” implies that when a ghost talks to me, I think it is lying. If I want to communicate my opinion that ghosts don’t exist, I could say either “I don’t believe in ghosts” or “I don’t believe ghosts exist.”

 [B2]Here, I would use “the” instead of “a” because it’s a specific plant, i.e. the plant that grows from the seed you just mentioned. It’s not just any plant.

 [B3]How so? Surely those whose physical bodies were cremated will receive resurrection bodies. I don’t disagree, but I think this needs more clarification.

 [B4]Here I would use the plural because you’re talking about different kinds of beauty and greatness, not just different magnitudes of the same type of beauty.

 [B5]Or “to inherit”

 [B6]Caterpillars bump?

 [B7]Luk 24:13  Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.

Luk 24:28  As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther.

Luk 24:29  But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.

Luk 24:30  When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.

Luk 24:31  Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.

It seems like they had already reached Emmaus, when they sat down for a meal. Also, Jesus doesn’t seem to have eaten on this occasion, nor were any fish mentioned. Perhaps it would be better to reference to John 21.


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