So also is the
resurrection of the dead.
The body is sown in
corruption,
it is raised in
incorruption.
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.
There is a natural
body,
and there is a
spiritual body.
1 Corinthians 15: 42
-- 44
Paul in the
previous verses has taken the time to teach us that it is God who orders the
world according to His dispensation and His economy, for with God nothing is
impossible, except that which is not according to His will. Paul having the necessity to address those
who speak against the possibility of man being resurrected is now addressing
that there are various bodies with various glory. And that while some things must die before there is a new life so
to this is true with man, for man must die, and as God has given to the plants
to regenerate and come alive, so to man will be brought back to life after
death. A person who does not have this
hope of life after death is in actuality living a tragic and fatalistic
life. For a person to have such a view
allows them to do what ever they feel is right in their own eyes, and are only
philanthropic because it makes them feel as though they do have some good
within themselves. This type of
fatalistic attitude has led men to do all sorts of horrendous things against
other men. While philanthropy is a good
thing in most cases, and we need to be philanthropic, it is the motive that God
judges, that is, our hearts. Paul in
writing to the Corinthians and having to address this doctrine, or even this
curious doubting, is instructing the Corinthians, that when he first came to
them he taught them that God would resurrect His children. The bodies of the dead, when resurrected,
will be fitted for heaven, and as there are various glories in this world there
will be a variety of glories among the bodies of the dead in heaven. Now, if a person does not believe in God, or
that God created, then they do not believe that God has the Divine power to
raise the dead. Those doubters
question, whether or not, God can form the various people, and not then be able
to raise the dead, for they are questioning God, even the very existence of
God. Doubting places us in an unhealthy
state physically or emotionally and to overcome that poor physical or emotional
health there is a striving and a wanting for thrills. Those things going on in the Corinthian church, the
thrills were replacing their need to just walk as Jesus walked. God never tells us: "Be
spiritual," rather "to walk before Him." (John 12:35). Error begets error! When
we are seeking thrills then we will be led to counterfeit the Holy Spirit. When this occurs our emotional life is led
to an inordinance affection and the destruction of morality. If this occurs in a spiritual spiritual
domain so that we insist on getting thrills, and as some so eagerly seek that
is to mount up with wings, then the end result is the destruction of
spirituality. The reality of God's presence
is not dependent on any one thing. It
is dependent upon the determination to place in the highest priority our Savior
the Lord Jesus Christ. When we place
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our God in the highest priority in our lives
then when we read that we will be resurrected with an incorruptible and
immortal body, we believe it, and hold this truth so that our lives become conformed into the image a Jesus Christ as we become one with Him. Think upon this God has revealed to us our
resurrected and immortal life: "And
God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death,
nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be
no more pain, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21: 4). Paul as this: "And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living
being." "The last Adam became
a life -- giving spirit. However, the
spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of
dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven" (1 Corinthians 15 45 -- 47). When God resurrects His children, the bride
of Christ, then shall those resurrected have bodies that are purified and made
fit to be perpetual, perfect. The
Almighty power of God who is able to create all things in the first place, so
that in the second place is able to raise His children incorruptible, glorious,
lively, spiritual bodies, and this He can do from the ruin of death. For God who can do all things that are
possible can raise our bodies suited for that which He intended for them, for
God will not be thwarted from His reason for creating in the first place. God is the author, the Resurrection, the
Life, and is the source of all spiritual life and holiness, and is our supply
to wait for Him, to believe upon Him by the Holy Spirit. Think upon this; we will be change in the
twinkling of an eye when Jesus Christ comes on the last day to take His bride
home with Him. This being true and how
ought we live until that day?
In the LORD all the descendents of Israel
shall be
justified, and shall glory.
Isaiah
45: 25
Today draw near to God
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