What a marvelous passage of scripture to explore in 1 Corinthians 15, as Paul teaches the Corinthian church about resurrection. I can’t help but appreciate the time he spends on Adam and Christ. Many may feel it is “unfair” that sin entered the human race through one man. They act as if we are not all subject to making the same type of sinful mistake as Adam. But for those who are looking for “fair”, take heed, it is not fair that Christ died and through Him, we all will be made alive through resurrection… but it is glorious and abounding in grace. It is more than we deserve by a standard of “fair”. Praise God that He is not “fair” in our eyes. Everything will be in subjection to Christ, including death itself.
Resurrection is fundamental to the Christian faith. Without the resurrection, we would not have the hope of eternal life with the Father. It should affect our whole worldview in terms of living for the short term of this earthly life or living with eternity in mind… which I admit is hard for me to do in my day-to-day activities.
How interesting for Paul to explore what the heavenly body will be like. People can get distracted by some things which are not of primary importance. Do we need to know what kind of heavenly body we will receive to know we should follow and obey the Father? No. But some can get so distracted they miss the point. Paul highlights the expectation that when it is time, at Christ’s second coming, those that are His will be raised into heavenly bodies. The bodies are different from our earthly bodies and glorious reflecting heaven rather than earth.
The Order of Resurrection
20But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, 24then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 27For HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. 28When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.
29Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them? 30Why are we also in danger every hour? 31I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, LET US EAT AND DRINK, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE. 33Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” 34Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.
35But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?” 36You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies; 37and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own. 39All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish. 40There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. 41There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.
42So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 43it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45So also it is written, “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. 47The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. 48As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. 49Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.
Praise the Father that He is not “fair”! Praise Him that we are raised through Christ who was first raised. Praise Him that we can look forward with eternity and heaven in mind and new heavenly bodies once the old ones have gone and Christ returns.
As a side note, when we perish we go to be with the Lord immediately (assuming a true believer and follower of Christ). Scripture indicates we get our heavenly bodies when Christ returns. In the meanwhile I suppose we are with Him in spirit alone and without body. I don’t claim to have it all figured out, but I know the One who does and I choose to follow Him.
Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ
Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.