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Thoughts Archived > The Resurrection Body

1 Corinthians 15:15-58
21 Sep 2008

 


September 21, 2008


 The Resurrection Body


 1 Corinthians 15:15-58 


  


The Resurrection Body

35 But someone may ask, "How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?"36 What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn't grow into a plant unless it dies first.37 And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting.38 Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have. A different plant grows from each kind of seed.39 Similarly there are different kinds of flesh—one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish.

  40 There are also bodies in the heavens and bodies on the earth. The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the glory of the earthly bodies.41 The sun has one kind of glory, while the moon and stars each have another kind. And even the stars differ from each other in their glory.

  42 It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever.43 Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength.44 They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.

  45 The Scriptures tell us, "The first man, Adam, became a living person."* But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit.46 What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later.47 Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven.48 Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man.49 Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like* the heavenly man.

  50 What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.

  51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

  54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die,* this Scripture will be fulfilled:



"Death is swallowed up in victory.*

55 O death, where is your victory?

  O death, where is your sting?*"



56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

  58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.


 


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Psalm 50


A psalm of Asaph.

1 The LORD, the Mighty One, is God,

  and he has spoken;

he has summoned all humanity

  from where the sun rises to where it sets.

2 From Mount Zion, the perfection of beauty,

  God shines in glorious radiance.

3 Our God approaches,

  and he is not silent.

Fire devours everything in his way,

  and a great storm rages around him.

4 He calls on the heavens above and earth below

  to witness the judgment of his people.

5 "Bring my faithful people to me—

  those who made a covenant with me by giving sacrifices."

6 Then let the heavens proclaim his justice,

  for God himself will be the judge.    Interlude



7 "O my people, listen as I speak.

  Here are my charges against you, O Israel:

  I am God, your God!

8 I have no complaint about your sacrifices

  or the burnt offerings you constantly offer.

9 But I do not need the bulls from your barns

  or the goats from your pens.

10 For all the animals of the forest are mine,

  and I own the cattle on a thousand hills.

11 I know every bird on the mountains,

  and all the animals of the field are mine.


12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you,

  for all the world is mine and everything in it.

13 Do I eat the meat of bulls?

  Do I drink the blood of goats?

14 Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God,

  and keep the vows you made to the Most High.

15 Then call on me when you are in trouble,

  and I will rescue you,

  and you will give me glory."



16 But God says to the wicked:

"Why bother reciting my decrees

  and pretending to obey my covenant?

17 For you refuse my discipline

  and treat my words like trash.

18 When you see thieves, you approve of them,

  and you spend your time with adulterers.

19 Your mouth is filled with wickedness,

  and your tongue is full of lies.

20 You sit around and slander your brother—

  your own mother's son.

21 While you did all this, I remained silent,

  and you thought I didn't care.

But now I will rebuke you,

  listing all my charges against you.

22 Repent, all of you who forget me,

  or I will tear you apart,

  and no one will help you.

23 But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.

  If you keep to my path,

  I will reveal to you the salvation of God."


 


Todays references were from 2005 Tyndale House Publishers New Living Translation.  All rights reserved.


 


LET US PRAY


 


My Prayer for the Children 


Dear God,


When it rains, let me be reminded that you are baptising the animal kingdom.


When it is windy, let me hope and expect that the Holy Spirit is raising up a mighty nation of believers.


And when it snows, may it show they are blanketed in your arms.


And when the sun shines, I will know your love is embracing them.


Holy Heavenly Father God,


Jesus, Lord and Saviour of the Universe,


Holy Spirit, Comforter and Teacher to all...


Thank you this day for the enormity of your love.


All creatures wait for the second coming of man.


Amen


 


This prayer has been copyrighted by Melinda R. Norstad 2003 and cannot be copied or used for any purpose other than personal private prayer without permission.  All rights reserved.  Contact via this website.


 


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