A New, Eternal Body

If Christ was not resurrected, there is no point in being a Christian, as I Corinthians 15:29-32 points out.  “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?  And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.  If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.” 

Why be baptized in the name of Christ if he is just another dead body and no one will be resurrected?  Why would anyone risk their lives to teach about Christ if they have no hope for the future?  Paul himself repeatedly risked his life in shipwrecks and robbers, besides being arrested and forced to fight animals in the Roman arena for his beliefs.  Why would he do that if he knew Christianity was not true?

Parents quickly learn that their children’s friends influence their attitudes and behavior.  Unfortunately, many adults do not realize how much their associates influence their attitudes and actions.  Association with teachers and religious leaders who question the accuracy of the scriptures may weaken the faith of even the most dedicated Christian, and lead them into sin, as I Corinthians 15:33 warns.  “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”  To avoid getting caught up in the attitudes and sin of those around us, we need to focus on what God has said, realizing that even some of those in the churches do not know the Lord as I Corinthians 15:34 states.  “Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.”

Those who do not believe will frequently challenge our beliefs with leading questions that are intended to make us look foolish and unsure of what we believe.  I Corinthians 15:35 illustrates one such question which is intended to make one question the Lord’s return.  “But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?”

Frequently, questions designed to entrap people are intentionally designed to be very impossible to answer in a straight forward manner, often implying the basic premise is false.  Paul pointed out that the question was foolish, overlooking obvious facts, in I Corinthians 15:36-41.  “Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.  All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.  There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.  There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.” 

It is obvious that a seed is different than the plant which grows from it, and that different kinds of animals have different bodies.  Even the sun, the moon and the planets are different from one another, so the idea that one would be changed when they are resurrected seems obvious, as I Corinthians 15:42-50 tells us.  “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; 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.  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.   As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.”

Cells in our human body begin dying as soon as we are born, and eventually more cells are dying than are being reproduced, resulting in death.  To live eternally requires that the death rate can never exceed the creation of new cells, which will require major changes in our body.  Sin is the cause of that constant dying process, and must be changed if we are to survive in Heaven. 

Fortunately, God has made provision that even the bodies of those who are alive when he comes will have the necessary changes.  I Corinthians 15:51-57  is very clear about this.  “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.   For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Old Testament Law called attention to mankind’s sin, so that it could not be discounted.  Fortunately, as  Romans 8:1-2 tells us, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”  That changed spirit is free from the old attitudes and practices of sin, and will not corrupt the new body.  As a result, we don’t have to worry about messing up and losing our salvation and missing out.   We can be sure that we will receive the rewards God has promised, as I Corinthians 15:58 declares.  “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”