1 Corinthians 15:42-49

                                                         1 Corinthians 15:42-49

So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is 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. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.  Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.  But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual.  The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.  As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.  Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.

The resurrection means that things will change in a drastic and dramatic way.  God is on a mission to make all who believe and follow Christ to become like Christ.  As believers, we certainly have much to look forward to.  While death is difficult for all of us, the truths of this passage certainly help us face that coming reality with hope.

 

RESURRECTION IS TRANSFORMATION: According to Paul’s description, we have much to look forward to in the resurrection.  Our current bodies are described as perishable, dishonorable, weak, and natural.  Our resurrected bodies are described as imperishable, glorious, powerful, and spiritual.  This is the transformation we can look forward to because of Christ and His work for us on the cross.  As we grow older, the frailty and the temporary nature of our bodies becomes more and more evident.  These are simply the birth pains for the resurrected body that will be completely different.  It is certainly a blessed hope to be able to look at death as the birth pains of an eternal, glorious, powerful, and spiritual future.

 

RESURRECTION IS CONFORMATION: Just as our current natural bodies are similar to that of Adam and we have all descended from Him, our future bodies will be conformed to the image of Christ.  As I grow older, more and more people say I look like my dad.  I take that as a complement, but no matter how strong and impressive my dad may be, his “dustiness” is becoming more and more evident.  In my earthly father, I have a legacy that is an honor to strive to carry forward.  However, I am really looking forward to being conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ.  All the sinful desires, thoughts, and actions will simply be left in the dust.  All that will remain in our lives forever is the love, faithfulness, holiness, joy, glory, kindness, mercy, grace, wisdom, patience, self-control, piety, discernment, and … of Jesus.  Oh, what a glorious day that will be.

 

APPLICATION: Don’t live in fear of death.  Have great hope in the transformation that death will usher into our existence.  As we watch our believing family members and friends grow older, rejoice because we know what is coming for them.  Recognize that our joy will always be proportionate to our conformity to Christ.

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