NEW BODIES!! Return to 1st Corinthians Main Menu

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1 NEW BODIES!! I Corinthians 15:35-49 Return to 1st Corinthians Main Menu When it comes to the resurrection of our bodies, it seems that we have more questions than answers questions that nag and boggle our minds. For example: What about babies...will they be raised as infants or adults? What about the brain-damaged or deformed persons? What about those who have experienced violent, tragic deaths, like those who have been blown-up, crushed, dismembered, or lost at sea? What about people who have been cremated; some whose ashes have been carried away in the wind. How will God resurrect these people? Roger Williams, the founder of the Rhode Island colony: when they were going to rebury him, they discovered a strange thing had happened to him when they dug his body up. They had buried him under an apple tree. The root of the apple tree had penetrated the head of his coffin, and, in fact, Williams' head. The root had driven its way through the spine, wrapping itself around the vertebra. When it got to the hips of the skeleton, it separated and one root went down one leg and one root went down the other, right to the ankle. Well, it got even more complicated than that. The chemicals and minerals of his body and bones were absorbed by the roots, which were transferred to the fruit of the tree, and the people who ate the apples, without realizing it were eating. How is God going to handle that?!? This passage begins with two questions: How are the dead raised up? and With what body do they come? Sometimes people ask me questions concerning the future and the after-life. They ask because they really want to know the truth. But these questions were not being asked by sincere believers in Christ who wanted to know the truth. These questions were being asked by people who were trying to undermine the Christian faith. They were asking the questions like this: Oh, you believe in the resurrection, do you? Well, tell me, how are the dead raised up? Why that's silly. In fact, it's impossible! You say, Preacher, how do you know that's the way they asked the questions? Notice 15:36 Thou fool means without mind or mindless. These folks asked those 197 questions because they did not have a mind to understand the things of God. The natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned.

2 Three things I want us to look at: I. The Illustrations of Resurrection Bodies 15:35-41 Let me begin by sharing a statement from Warren Wiersbe: Resurrection is not Reconstruction! No where does the Bible teach that at the resurrection, God will put together the pieces and return us to our former bodies. There is continuity (it is our body), but it will not be the same body. Paul uses three illustrations to teach about our resurrection bodies. He uses Seeds, 15:37-38; Flesh, 15:39; and Planet. The How part of the How are the dead raised is developed the same way in all three illustrations Seeds, Flesh, Planets so we will look at only one illustrations Seeds. Three words describe the resurrection process: Death, Different, and Distinctiveness. A. Death 15:36 The word die literally means to die off. Somewhere, sometime, Someday, and somehow we all die off. Life will cease to exist as we know it in this body. The word does not speak of someone that has ceased to exist. It speaks of those who are not living in this present world, as you and I are now living. The implication being that they are still living. They live, but live in different conditions than we do on earth. It is the Soul of our loved ones that is in heaven at the present. From all I can understand, their soul possesses a BODILY FORM and they still retain their individuality and identities. They are known by others, walk, talk, have emotions, etc., except they are spirit-beings. They left their body behind on earth. If you were to open their grave you will find the remains of their body still there. They continue to live but in different conditions and in a different environment. Paul tells us that one day, at the resurrection, they will once again indwell their bodies. The word quickened (verse 36) means to make alive. Paul is talking about the body being made alive. To put it simply, one day our bodies will live again. A seed appears to be a dead thing. It is hard and inanimate. A seed does not breath or have a heartbeat. 198 John 12:24 most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. Our physical body must die to give life to our spiritual body. When a seed is planted in the ground, it decomposes as a seed. It must cease to exist in its original form as a seed before it can come to life in its final form as a plant.

3 God says of man in Genesis 3:19, For out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return. B. Different 15:37 Both in the growing of crops and in the resurrection of bodies, there is a difference in the original and the final forms. The seed loses its identity as a seed and becomes more and more like the mature plant. When you plant corn seeds, the plant that comes from the seed is very different from the seed itself. When Jesus was raised from the dead, His resurrection body was quite different. He looked somewhat the same. He was recognizable, but He was no longer limited by time, space, or material objects. He appeared and disappeared. He came into rooms without opening doors. When we are raised from the dead, we will be the same, yet very different too. I John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Springtime is a wonderful testimony of the future resurrection. We put flower bulbs in the ground and in a few weeks, up comes the plant that produces a beautiful flower. The flower comes from the seemingly dead bulb; it is the same but different. Every spring we see things that seem so dead, begin to sprout new life. Trees that were bare, now are beautiful. Grass that was brown, now is green. Flowers that seem to have died, now are blooming. This is His design. C. Distinctiveness 15:38 Though a seed changes radically in becoming a mature plant, it remains the same life form. A wheat seed does not become a stalk of corn. It is a different form, but has the same life. When Jesus was raised from the dead, He was very different, but He was still Jesus. His disciples knew Him. They recognized His Voice. His face, hands, and feet were identifiable to them. 199 In the same way, our bodies will die and change forms, but they will still be our bodies. II. The Improvements of Resurrection Bodies 15:42-44 The second question; With what kind of body do they come forth? The human body is described by Paul in some vivid words: Perishable verse 42; Dishonored verse 43; weakness verse 43; Earthly verse 48; Mortal verse 53.

4 None of these are pleasant words. None give gracious descriptions of our natural bodies. From the moment we are born, we start the journey toward the perishing of the body. It is just a matter of time until the body of every person dies. It is perishable because it has been stained with sin's pollution. Paul then uses a series of words to describe what the resurrection body will be like and to show how different it will be from the natural. Imperishable verse 42; Glory verse 43; Power verse 43; Heavenly Verse 48; Immortality verse 53. Paul gives us four sets of contrast in which our glorified bodies will be different from our earthly bodies. A. Out bodies are sown in corruption; raised in Incorruption 15:42 Pertains to Durability The word corruption describes decomposition. It is also translated Perishable. We understand what that means. We buy products that are perishable. Milk is perishable. After a few days it turns sour. Fruit and vegetables are perishable. If we don't use them they will spoil or rot. Bread will mold. Many products have an expiration date. So it is with the human body. It is corruptible, perishable. We have a build-in expiration date. Psalm 90:10 The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. From the moment we are born we begin a process of wearing out, deterioration, and breaking down. 200 Let's see how many of us are already beginning to fall apart: How many of you wear glasses...are loosing hair...have false teeth...wear hearing aids? Many of us are cursed by the four B's: Baldness, Bulges, Bifocals, and Bunions. Our new body will never break down, wear out, or deteriorate. The process of decomposition will be no more and throughout the ages of eternity they will remain the same. Our new bodies will know no sickness, decay, deterioration, or death. B. Our bodies are Sown in Dishonor; Raised in Glory 15:43a Pertains to Value and Potential The word dishonor indicates the present sphere in which our bodies now exist. This world we live in is in a fallen state and the evidence is all around us. Each of us live in an environment and atmosphere of corruption. We are born in sin; we all

5 struggle with sin all the days of our life; we die in sin. One day our imperfect, dishonored body will be raised in glory. Throughout eternity our new immortal bodies will be honorable bodies, perfect for pleasing, praising and enjoying the Creator who made them. C. Our Bodies are Sown in Weakness; Raised in Power 15:43b Pertains to Ability We are weak not only in physical strength and endurance, but also in resistance to disease. Our earthly bodies are fragile. Our new bodies will be raised in power. No longer will we have to say, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41 D. Our Body is Sown a Natural Body; Raised a Spiritual Body 15:44 Pertains to the Realm of Existence Our natural bodies are suited for and limited to the physical world. The new body of the believer will be raised a spiritual body. Our spirits now reside in earthly bodies, but one day they will reside in spiritual bodies. In every way we then will be spiritual beings. In both spirit and body, we will be perfectly suited for heavenly living. III. The Image of Resurrection Bodies 15: Paul compares Adam to Jesus. Jesus is the prototype, the first edition, the earlier version of the resurrected body! Adam became a living being, but Jesus is a life-giving spirit. Through Adam we inherit sin and physical death. Through Jesus we inherit righteousness and eternal life. These bodies that are born perishable, dishonored, weak, and natural will be raised as bodies that are incorruptible, glorious, powerful, and spiritual. Philippians 3:21 Christ will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able to subdue all things to Himself. I John 3:2