1 Corinthians
What Will We Look Like When We Are Resurrected?
1 Corinthians 15:35-58
July 27, 2003
Intro:
A. Colson’s Change
In July of 1984 Charles Colson was speaking at a Baptist gathering.
He told of his change from being an Episcopalian to becoming a Baptist.
He had considered a change dictated by his study of Scripture and his developing personal convictions.
But he did not want his change to be offensive to his dear friends who remained Episcopalian.
Not knowing how to approach the issue, he found himself avoiding his friends.
Then one day his fears were put to rest.
He encountered one of his Episcopalian cronies who assured him there was no problem with his change, but only benefit.
His encouragement to Church was, “When you left the Episcopalian Church and joined the Baptist Churck, you raised the intellectual level of both groups.”
B. Most of us have some uneasiness about change.
1. But there is a change that you are going to make that I know you’re going to like.
2. Today as we look at the end of the 15th chapter of 1st Corinthians, I want to ask the question, “What will we look like when we are resurrected?”
3. You may have a little uneasiness about it, but I guarantee that it will be the best change you have ever made.
4. It will all take place in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye.
5. So let’s look at what the apostle Paul told the Corinthians about our resurrected bodies, first…
I. Our Earthly Bodies Must Die
1 Corinthians 15:35-41 (NIV), But someone may ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?" 36 How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 39 All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. 41 The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.
A. Our earthly (our current, physical) bodies must die.
1. Paul begins this discussion about our resurrected bodies by saying that our earthly bodies (the bodies that we currently have) must die.
2. The bodies that we currently see must die.
B. Paul asks in verse 35, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?”
1. Paul has spent the previous 34 verses of this chapter proving that there is a resurrection.
2. He said that since Christ rose from the dead, we will too.
3. And after spending the first 34 verses of this chapter proving that there is a resurrection, Paul sets out to answer the question that everybody wants to know.
4. “So if there is a resurrection, what will we look like?
5. Many people are still a little nervous, even after realizing that there is a resurrection.
6. Even after believing Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead so that we can have life after death, there is often still a little uneasiness about it.
a. After all, this life is the only life we’ve ever had.
b. This world is the only place we have ever known.
c. This body is the only body we have ever known.
7. “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come”
a. When we are raised from the dead, what will we look like?
b. Will we look different than we do now?
c. Will we be able to recognize anybody after they have risen from the dead?
d. If my friends and children are in heaven, will we know each other?
e. What will we look like when we are resurrected?
C. The first description that Paul gives of our resurrected bodies is that our earthly bodies must die.
1. Paul refers to seeds in his explanation.
a. “What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.”
b. Our physical, earthly bodies must die.
c. “When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else.”
d. And anyone who’s ever been around a seed knows how it works.
e. We all know that in order for the seed to bring forth life, it must die.
f. In order for a plant to grow from the seed, the seed must die and break open.
g. From within the dead seed comes a new plant.
h. If we plant a wheat seed in the ground, the seed must die and break open before the new plant can emerge.
i. The seed is dead, but it is also certainly alive—it has been reborn.
j. And Paul says that our heavenly bodies will be much the same.
k. Our earthly bodies must die and be planted in the ground.
l. And when Christ returns and gives the command to come forth, new life will spring from our dead bodies.
m. All those in the grave will come forth with new life.
n. But our earthly bodies will die.
o. “God gives it a body as He has determined, and to each kind of seed He gives its own body.”
2. “All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another, and fish another. There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another.”
a. When we look around there are many, many, different kinds of flesh.
b. There are feathers, scales, shells, and skin.
c. Different things have different kinds of flesh that suit them the best.
d. There are indeed many kinds of flesh.
e. There are earthly kinds of flesh, and there are heavenly kinds of flesh.
f. Flesh that is suited to life on earth, and flesh that is suited to life in heaven.
D. And there are two different bugs that come to mind that I believe illustrate what Paul is talking about.
1. One of those bugs is the butterfly.
a. Most of you know that the Monarch butterfly begins as a woolly caterpillar.
b. The caterpillar spins a cocoon around itself and changes into a beautiful butterfly.
c. The woolly caterpillar gave life to a beautiful butterfly.
d. The woolly caterpillar was tied to the earth, but the beautiful butterfly can flutter gracefully above the earth.
e. The woolly caterpillar had to change in order to give life to the butterfly.
f. Is he still the same bug? Yes, but he has a different kind of flesh.
g. It’s not another bug that climbed into that cocoon.
h. It’s still the same bug, but it has a different kind of flesh.
i. The monarch butterfly signifies the kind of change that we will experience.
2. The other bug that comes to mind is the locust.
a. Not the Biblical locust, but what we call a locust today.
1) The Bible calls grasshoppers, locusts.
2) What we call grasshoppers today, the Bible calls locusts.
3) But there is another bug that we have today that we call a locust.
4) Some refer to it as a 17-year locust.
b. This bug spends the first 16 years of its life in a shell under the ground.
c. The locust has a hard shell type of flesh, much like a beetle.
d. But during its 17th year the locust emerges from the ground, breaks out of its shell and flies into the air.
e. It is a fairly large, green flying creature.
f. It is the one that rubs its wings together in the trees and lulls you to sleep in the summer.
g. It too was tied to the earth, but can now fly above the earth.
h. It left its old shell on the ground or the side of a tree and now has a new body.
E. And Paul says this is what will happen to us.
1. Our earthly bodies must die in order to give life to our heavenly bodies.
2. We will still be the same life; we will still be the same people.
3. But we will have a new flesh.
4. But who we are won’t change.
5. We may look different, but we will still be the same people.
6. You know that if someone close to you was burned beyond recognition, you would certainly still know them.
a. They may not be visually recognizable as the same flesh.
b. But you really aren’t close to them because of the way they look, are you?
c. You are attracted to who they are, not what they look like.
d. You are friends with people because of who they are, not what they look like.
e. If your friend or loved one were burned beyond recognition, you would still be their friend no matter what they looked like, wouldn’t you?
f. Does it really matter what we look like?
g. What matters is who we are!
F. Our earthly bodies must die, but we will still be who we are.
1. We can still recognize people here on earth without our eyes and we will certainly be able to do that in heaven.
2. Back in chapter 13 of this book Paul said, “Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (v. 12)
3. We will know fully, even as we are fully known.
4. Our earthly bodies must die, but will have life after death.
5. We will have new, heavenly flesh, but we will still be known.
6. Then Paul says that…
II. Our Heavenly Bodies Will Be Imperishable
1 Corinthians 15:42-44 (NIV), So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
A. Imperishable means not subject to decay.
1. About the only place we hear the word perishable is in grocery stores.
2. Those are things that will decay or rot or “go bad.”
3. Our earthly bodies are perishable, they will perish, decay, rot.
4. And Paul says in these two verses that our heavenly bodies won’t perish.
5. They won’t rot; they won’t decay; they will be imperishable.
6. They will live forever—without aging!
7. Now how many of you look forward to a body that doesn’t get old?
8. How many of you look forward to a body that doesn’t fall apart?
9. How many of you look forward to a body that doesn’t get sick?
10. How many of you look forward to a body that doesn’t have aches and pains?
11. If you could get used to a body like that, then Paul’s got some good news for you!
12. Your heavenly body will not perish!
13. Your earthly body will age, fall apart, and cause you lots of aches and pains.
14. But your heavenly body will be imperishable.
B. Our earthly bodies will perish.
1. We will sow our earthly bodies like a seed, and they will perish and undergo decay.
2. Our earthly bodies will be sown perishable, in dishonor, and in weakness.
C. But our heavenly bodies will be raised imperishable.
1. They will not be raised in dishonor, but in glory.
2. They will not be raised in weakness, but in power.
3. They will not be raised a natural body, but a spiritual body.
D. Our earthly bodies must die, our heavenly bodies will be imperishable, and now my incredibly, incredibly, intelligent point…
III. Our Heavenly Bodies Will Be Heavenly
1 Corinthians 15:44-49 (NIV), If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 48 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. 49 And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.
A. Our earthly bodies were created in the image of Adam
1. Adam was created to be an earthly being; he was actually created from the earth.
2. Adam was created to adapt to life on earth.
3. Adam was given a nose and lungs to breathe the air of earth.
4. Adam was given a mouth and a stomach to intake food from earth.
5. Adam was given a heart and a circular system to replenish itself with nutrients from the earth.
6. Adam was given a reproductive system to duplicate itself on the earth.
B. But our heavenly bodies will be created in the image of Christ.
1. Just are our earthly bodies are earthly, our heavenly bodies will be heavenly.
2. I told you that this was an incredibly intelligent point.
3. But even though it sounds a little silly, it is entirely true and it is entirely what Paul is saying.
4. Our heavenly bodies will be heavenly.
5. Just as these earthly bodies were designed for life on earth, our heavenly bodies are designed for life in heaven.
6. If there is no oxygen, then we may not need noses and lungs.
7. But whatever God has created the environment of heaven to be like, He has also created bodies that are suited to life in heaven that will never grow old, wear out, or get sick!
8. Just as these earthly bodies are earthly, our heavenly bodies will be heavenly.
C. And we can learn a few things about our heavenly bodies from some of Christ’s post-resurrection appearances.
1. After His resurrection, the Bible records that there were some things that were different about Him.
a. Matthew 28:9 records that the women on the morning after the resurrection grabbed hold of His feet and worshipped Him.
b. While Luke 24:36 records that Jesus just suddenly appeared in the midst of some disciples and verse 37 says, “They were startled and frightened, thinking they had saw a ghost.”
c. John 20:19 records that Jesus came through the wall of a locked room where 10 of the apostles were meeting.
d. And John 20:27 records that after doing the same thing again (only this time with Thomas present) that Jesus said, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.”
e. Then Luke 24:52 records that the resurrected Jesus went up to heaven on a cloud.
f. You see Jesus’ heavenly body was certainly a little different from earthly bodies.
g. I don’t know very many earthly bodies that can appear and disappear at will or that can ride on a cloud!
h. But notice that He could still be touched and He could still be recognized.
i. His heavenly body was different, but not totally different.
j. His heavenly body was heavenly; and our heavenly bodies will be heavenly as well.
IV. Our Heavenly Bodies Will Be Immortal
1 Corinthians 15:50-57 (NIV), I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- 52 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. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 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." 55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
A. Now, if that doesn’t make you want to jump and shout, your asleep!
1. We are gonna live forever! We’re gonna be immortal!
2. We don’t need no fountain of youth, we’ve got Jesus Christ!
3. We don’t need no fountain of youth to keep these old earthly bodies forever young.
4. We’re gonna have a heavenly body that will live forever.
5. We don’t need to keep these perishable bodies propped up on life support systems indefinitely because there is life after death!
6. This earth is a beautiful place and these bodies are nice, but oh what a difference heaven and heavenly bodies will be!
7. We don’t need to worry too much about keeping these earthly bodies alive because “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.”
8. We don’t need to worry too much about keeping these earthly bodies forever young because the perishable cannot inherit the imperishable.
B. And don’t you just love a mystery?
1. Don’t you just love trying to figure out what happened, who did it, and why?
2. The Bible is full of mysteries and one of the greatest ones is right here in verse 51.
3. “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed.”
4. We will not all die and lie in the grave forever!
5. But we will all be changed-- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
a. In a flash, we will all be changed from perishable to imperishable.
b. In a flash, we will all be changed from mortal to immortal.
c. In a flash, we will all be changed from earthly to heavenly.
e. In the twinkling of an eye, we will all be changed!
6. What a mystery!
a. That we can have eternal life.
b. That Christ died so that we can have eternal life.
c. That Christ paid the price so that we could have eternal life.
d. That Christ paid our debt so that we would be able to live in heaven forever!
e. What a mystery! Paul tells us a most wonderful mystery!
C. Then the prophecies of Isaiah 25:8 and Hosea 13:14 will come true!
1. “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
2. “Where, O death, is your victory?”
3. “Where, O death, is your sting?”
4. Doesn’t that just make you want to stand and shout, “Hallelujah?!!”
5. Doesn’t that just make want to do a little dance?!!
6. And if you’re not able to stand or dance you’re probably more excited about it than those of us who can!
7. Colleen your gonna dance too!
8. And we’re gonna be there to dance with ya!
9. And we’re all gonna see some of our loved ones there!
10. How can you not get excited about going to heaven?
11. “Where, O death, is your victory?” “Where, O death, is your sting?”
D. But please don’t misunderstand…
1. Death does have some power and some sting.
2. Verse 56 says, “the sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law.”
3. The wages of sin is death and eternal separation from God in hell.
4. It is only through Jesus that we can have victory over death… “thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
V. Our Earthly Bodies Must Be Ready!
1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV), 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.
A. Our earthly bodies must be ready for our resurrection from the dead.
1. Since we get to decide whether or not we go to heaven, we have to live our lives here on earth in such a way as to ensure our eternity.
2. The first thing we must do is believe.
B. But James makes it clear that just believing in God won’t be enough.
1. James wrote in chapter 2, verse 19, and “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”
2. James makes it clear that if we really believe in God, our lives will change.
3. James points out that even demons believe in God and it is obvious that demons aren’t saved from hell.
4. James is saying that just saying you believe in God isn’t enough.
5. James says big deal: you believe in God, “even demons believe that—and shudder.”
6. Even demons believe in God and are afraid of Him.
7. And James continues in the next verse by saying, “You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?”
8. You see if we really believe in God, our lives will change.
9. If we really believe in God, our actions will change.
10. Our faith either has action, or it is dead.
11. That’s what James says in 2:16, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”
12. And so where do we find appropriate actions that indicate that we are read? The Bible!
C. And Paul gives two of them in this last verse of 1 Corinthians 15.
1. First he says stand firm.
a. You’ll recall last week that I read Ephesians 6:13 to you which says, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
b. Don’t give up; don’t quit; Stand firm.
c. When you feel like you’ve done everything you can; when there’s nothing else left that you can do: stand firm!
d. You see we can’t start out on our Christian journey, then give up on it, and expect to find ourselves in heaven; we have to stand firm
e. And after we’ve done everything else, we’ve got to stand our ground.
f. Have you given up? Do you need to recommit yourself to Him?
2. Then Paul says the same thing James does, “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord.”
a. Are you working hard for the Lord? Is their action to your faith?
b. Is your earthly body preparing itself for heaven?
Conclusion:
A. [Taking the Sting, Citation: Adrian Dieleman, Waupun, Wisconsin. Leadership, Vol. 15, no. 1.]
A boy and his father were driving down a country road on a beautiful spring afternoon, when a bumblebee flew in the car window.
The little boy, who was allergic to bee stings, was petrified.
The father quickly reached out, grabbed the bee, squeezed it in his hand, and then released it.
The boy grew frantic as it buzzed by him.
Once again the father reached out his hand, but this time he pointed to his palm.
There stuck in his skin was the stinger of the bee.
"Do you see this?" he asked.
"You don’t need to be afraid anymore. I’ve taken the sting for you."
We do not need to fear death anymore.
Christ has died and risen again.
He has taken the sting from death.
B. Are you prepared for your resurrection?
1. Do you need to be saved and baptized?
2. Do you need to come and recommit yourself to standing firm?
3. Do you need to celebrate and praise God for your resurrection—TODAY?!!
