How Are the Dead Raised Up?
INTRODUCTORY WORDS
There are two rather startling questions asked and answered in the opening verses; that is, from 1 Corinthians 15:29-34
1. The first question, "What shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all?"
There are two ordinances in the Church baptism and the Lord's Supper. The one before us is that of baptism, and the question is asked, if there is no resurrection of the dead, then why are we baptized for the dead? That baptism is connected with the death and the burial of Christ, we have no doubt. In Romans it also tells us that we are baptized into His death; that is, when He died, we died.
The question before us suggests that if we are baptized merely for the dead, and there is no resurrection, then we with Him (apart from the resurrection), would have had to stay buried in the grave.
2. The second question is, "Why stand we in jeopardy every hour?" What the Holy Spirit is suggesting is that the Christian's life is always in peril, and death faces him at all times. To him, however, there is no need to fear, because of the certainty of the resurrection of the dead. For this cause Christians can face the terrors of death without a quiver without any feeling of jeopardy.
The Apostle next protests against the "no-resurrection adherents," by announcing the rejoicing which he has in Christ Jesus the Lord. He said: "I die daily," and yet, he rejoiced daily. Then the Apostle adds a third question.
3. The third question is, "What advantageth it me, if the dead rise not?" The Apostle says, "If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me," apart from the resurrection?
Christians were constantly in jeopardy, and were frequently thrown to the beasts. They gladly died for their Lord. They died, however, knowing that they should yet stand, in their bodies, before their Lord. If there is no resurrection Paul argued the uselessness of it all, and argued the world's conception; "Let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die."
4. Paul's great contentions.
(1) Paul first says: "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners." He throws this in, quickly, because the Spirit would have us to know that Christ did rise, and that we must not join the wicked in evil communications, but the rather suffer, if need be, even unto death.
(2) Paul also, through the Spirit, urges the saints to "Awake to righteousness, and sin not"; "for," (says he), "some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame."
When the Risen Christ, and the resurrection of saints become a vital doctrine to believers, then Christianity at once becomes the vital energizing power in life.
I. HOW ARE THE DEAD RAISED UP? (1 Corinthians 15:35-38)
There are two questions instead of one before us.
1. The first question is, "How are the dead raised up?" In answer to this question, a statement is made; "Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die." The Holy Spirit is enforcing the fact that resurrection presupposes death. Our Lord on one occasion said: "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone." It is death, and death alone, which makes possible resurrection life.
Death is the doorway to a fuller life. "That which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die."
2. The second question is: "With what body do they come?" The reply is simple: "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."
The conclusion is clear, as well as final. The body that is raised is not the body that dies. The body that dies is a body of flesh, and bones, and blood, for the life of this body is the blood; the body which is raised is without blood. All of this proves that the resurrection body is not the same as the body which is buried.
When wheat is sown, wheat is grown. If corn is sown, corn is grown. Thus, every seed has its own body a body bearing the image and likeness of the original body. We believe more than this is true. As the new grain is formed from the death of the old grain that is sown; so, likewise, the new body that is raised, is formed from the body that was sown.
What we are endeavoring to explain is that the resurrection is real, and that the same body which is sown, actually gives birth to the body which is raised, according to the power wherewith God is able to subdue all things unto Himself.
II. INDIVIDUAL PERSONALITY IN THE RESURRECTION (1 Corinthians 15:39-41)
1. Our new bodies will be distinct from all other bodies in the resurrection. Our key verses tell us "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." Thus, in the resurrection, there will be a distinctive kind of flesh for risen saints.
2. Our new bodies will carry a distinctive glory. 1 Corinthians 15:40 reads: "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, therefore, in the resurrection, a new glory, and perhaps the glory of one body will be distinct from the glory of another. 1 Corinthians 15:41 goes on to say; "There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars." Then there is added this significant statement: "One star differeth from another star in glory." One resurrection saint will differ from all other raised saints.
Individual personalities, as well as the individuality of faces, will be carried with us into the life to come.
III. VITAL DISTINCTIONS WHICH MARK THE RESURRECTION BODY FROM THE PRESENT BODY (1 Corinthians 15:42-44)
1. The present body is corruptible; the resurrection body is incorruptible. The word "corruption," here means a body which decays. Of the present body it is written: "Dust thou art, to dust returneth." The resurrection body will never see corruption. Only such a body could inherit an incorruptible glory.
In 1 Peter 1:3-4 we read that through the resurrection of Jesus Christ the saints were begotten again unto a lively hope. That lively hope anticipates an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for you.
2. The present body is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. Everything about the body which we now bear carries dishonor and shame. It needs to be constantly washed and cared for, clothed in every way. The new body is raised in glory,
3. The present body is a body of weakness; the resurrection body is a body of power. During all of our lifetime, we realize that we are dwelling in an earthly frame subjected to the ravages of disease. How wonderful it will be to have, in the Glory, a resurrection body foreign to all weakness, and clothed with all power.
4. The present body is a natural body; the resurrection body is a spiritual body. The body which we will have in the resurrection will not be a spirit-body, but a body adapted to spiritual life. It will be a body which is not carnal, but spiritual.
IV. THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE FIRST ADAM AND THE LAST ADAM (1 Corinthians 15:45-48)
1. The first man Adam was made a living soul; the Last Adam was made a quickening Spirit. This verse throws further light upon 1 Corinthians 15:44, which we have just considered, even the difference between our earthly, natural body, and our Heavenly, spiritual body.
1 Corinthians 15:46 goes on to tell us "That was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual." Thus it is that the two Adams describe for us two bodies. The body which we now have, is a body patterned after the body of the first Adam. The body which we shall have, will be patterned after the body of the Last Adam.
There are many Scriptures which establish this latter statement. We refer you to Philippians 3:20; Philippians 3:21
2. As is the earthy such are they also that are earthy: and as is the Heavenly such are they also that are Heavenly. 1 Corinthians 15:49 adds; "As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the Heavenly." It is a glorious privilege to observe the Lord Jesus after His resurrection, and during those forty days in which He appeared to many. His resurrection body, is a Divinely given clue to the body which we shall bear throughout all of the endless aeons of eternity.
We delight to see the Lord entering the upper room, "the doors being shut." We delight in hearing the Lord say: "A spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have." What varied suggestions to our new bodies, are here.
It is a pleasure, also, to observe Christ standing by the shore and calling out to the disciples, as He said: "Children, have ye any meat?" It throws light upon our resurrection body.
V. FLESH AND BLOOD CANNOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD (1 Corinthians 15:50)
1. We have before us the resurrection as a prime necessity. The present body cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God, therefore, stands distinct from the present earth life, which we now live.
Some of these differences we may know. For instance, everything which is of the earth is earthy; everything which is of the Kingdom of God is Heavenly. Everything which is of the earth is temporal; everything which is of the Kingdom of God is eternal. Everything which is of the earth is corruptible; everything which is of the Kingdom of God is incorruptible. Everything earthly is defiled; everything Heavenly is undefiled.
Nothing which is abominable, nothing which makes a lie, can enter into the Kingdom of God. "The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murders, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
2. We have before us not alone the power of God in changing the corruptible body into the incorruptible; but we have this power manifested through His shed blood, in changing the sinful life into the holy life. The deeds of carnality and the works of the flesh are indissolubly linked to the corruptible body. The righteousness of God, in Christ, which is the heritage of all saints, will be the life that will indwell the resurrection body.
The redeemed saints which John saw gathered before the throne, had washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb, therefore were they before the throne of God. Oh, the mighty power of the Cross of Calvary! No wonder in Heaven we will shout, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain."
VI. THE BREVITY OF THE RESURRECTION CHANGE (1 Corinthians 15:51-53)
1. The mystery of mysteries. There are many mysteries set forth in the Word of God, but here is the mystery that, to us, at least, is climactic. The Spirit puts it this way: "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed."
The hymn writer put it this way:
"Soon will the Saviour from Heaven appear,
Oh, what a promise! His Coming is near!
Saints will be changed in a moment of time,
Oh, what a Rapture and glory sublime!"
2. The rapidity of the change. The twinkling of an eye is brief, to say the least; and yet, we shall be changed even as rapidly as that.
The change will be more marvelous than that of the ugly scrub girl who, when touched with the fairy's wand, in fable lore, became the beautiful Cinderella. Our change will be real. The Apostle Peter said, "We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." This change will be the change whereby He, in His power, is able to subdue all things unto Himself.
With what rapture did the disciples, upon the Mount of Transfiguration, behold their Lord as He was transfigured before them! This transfiguration was a marvelous change. His face was white and glistening, and His raiment was shining white. So shall we, at His Coming, be changed.
VII. THE SHOUT OF VICTORY (1 Corinthians 15:54-58)
1. Death shall be swallowed up in victory. This is the promise of God. We know that the wages of sin is death, and that sin when it is finished bringeth forth death. At the Coming of the Lord, with the resurrection of saints, the great change will acclaim forever that death is conquered, and God in Christ is Victor.
2. The glorious shout. Here are the words which the Holy Spirit sounds forth as He sees the raptured saints changed, and death swallowed up in victory. How exultant! How overwhelming is the cry: "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"
Exultant days lie ahead; days of joy and rejoicing; days of unparalleled exultation. The Lord will descend from Heaven with a shout. At His shout, dead bodies will leap from their graves to be changed and indwelt by ransomed spirits. Living saints will simultaneously be caught up together with them at the shout. They too shall be changed. Then, as the dead and the living are upward caught, they, seeing their Lord in all of His glory, shall also shout the shout of victory.
3. The great thanksgiving day. When the believers in their resurrection and ascension and change realize that sin and death have been broken, then they will cry "Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
5. The final plea. It is written: "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."
It is not necessary for us to enlarge upon this. Nothing can baffle the ardor and enthusiasm of the saint who has caught the deeper and fuller meanings of the resurrection of Christ, and the subsequent resurrection of saints as set forth in 1 Corinthians 15:1-58
AN ILLUSTRATION
Death for the time being is the triumph of the enemy. There was no man in this country more used in bringing the knowledge of the truth of the Coming of Christ before Christians than Edward Irving. Mr. Irving had a beautiful little boy who died, and he went in beside the dead child and prayed God to avenge him of death. God showed him resurrection, and that is the triumph of Christ. The great success of the enemy has been to get Christians to look for death and not for resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:54).