Our New Bodies Adapted to Our New Surroundings
Truth Taught- Our earthly bodies are sown perishable and raised imperishable
As we begin this section of Chapter 15, we are introduced to some specifics regarding our resurrection bodies.
Paul addresses this issue by using natural analogies.
The first is that something can have two modes of existence. A seed is planted but from it God brings forth a plant which is different from the seed that was planted.
Then secondly, there are different types of bodies and each body is adapted by God for its own environment.
Thirdly, heavenly bodies that differ in glory.
Fourthly, the first Adam being a man from the earth and the Second Adam being a man from heaven.
By using these analogies, Paul is teaching that a body is created by God to be compatible with its environment. A fish lives in the water so its body is built by God to live in that environment. A bird lives in the trees and is built to fly. Adam was made to live on earth and had a body made for that purpose.
These examples are given to really teach us that bodies are changed by God to live in different environments, so there is a continuance and they are adapted to their environment.
Death results in the separation of the body and the soul. Our bodies go to the grave and our spirits go to the Lord. The separation continues until the resurrection: “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28–29). Right now the souls of believers who have died are in heaven. Someday their bodies will be resurrected and joined to their spirits, and they will enjoy the eternal perfection of body and soul.
Similarly, the bodies of unbelievers who have died are in the grave, and their souls are in hell. There will also be a day when the bodies of the ungodly will be raised from the graves and joined to their spirits. They will then stand, body and soul, before the judgment throne of God and will be cast bodily into the lake of fire (cf. Revelation 20:11–15).
Christians need not dread that judgment. There is no possibility of condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). We eagerly await the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23). “For in this [body] we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling” (2 Corinthians 5:2).
1 Corinthians 15:35–49 (ESV)
35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” 36 You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. 39 For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 40 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. 41 There 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.
42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is 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. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.
1. The Resurrection Body is a Transformed Body (15:36-38)
36 You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body.
The Corinthians felt in some way that the flesh was evil and that there could never be a resurrection of the body since it was what was wicked. Paul calls them fools.
Some translations highlight their wrong thinking by saying something like how foolish their thinking is when in reality the language is much stronger and the Apostle tells them that they are fools to think this way.
Psalm 53:1 (ESV)
1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity;
there is none who does good.
The fool is the person who claims there is no God. What makes them a fool is that they literally disregard the infinite amount of tangible evidence that is right in front of them every day. All their senses shout that there is God and yet they try so hard to not listen to the evidence and rather state that beyond all the general revelation that is everywhere they still don’t believe in God…they are a fool.
Paul uses this title for these people in Corinth that do not believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead. He uses it because there is massive amount of evidence and yet they still refuse to believe.
He’s going to explain to them that they are fools because they forget God is going to work as only, He can and their resurrection body will be different than their current body. It will be suited for its new dwelling place and God will do this.
He issues a number of examples showing similar things.
He explains that the resurrection is like a seed planted and in time it is given a new body by God and its new body is suited for its existence.
The bare seed is planted. It dies means it is buried in the ground. When we die our bodies are buried in the ground. For the seed has a germinating time and then God raises that seed and gives it a new body. The plant that emerges from the ground is suited for its new environment. For a plant it has roots and leaves to take in water and sunlight. It grows and eventually bears fruit.
John 12:24 (ESV)
24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
The resurrection body is a transformed body. It’s in God’s plan as a continuation of our current existence. It’s what God does for all who believe the Gospel and trust in Jesus Christ.
The seed does not look like the plant that springs forth. Our natural bodies do not look like the new transformed body God will give us.
2. The Resurrection Body is Created for Its Environment (15:39-41)
39 For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 40 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. 41 There 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.
Here, what Paul is telling the Church is that the body whether it is earthly or heavenly is made specifically for the environment in which it lives.
39 For not all flesh is the same,…Indicates the amazing variety in which God’s creation is comprised.
Notice first, there are earthly bodies of humans and of animals. The bodies animals have whether beasts, birds or fish are all created differently based on where they live. Beasts walk upon the earth. Birds fly through the air. Fish swim in the water. The point is all three different types of animals possess bodies specialized to live is a certain place. Fish can’t fly and birds don’t swim. God can and does create special bodies for special dwelling places.
Then he writes…40 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another.
Here we see that there are two different types of bodies for humanity. There are earthly bodies which we all currently possess and there will be the heavenly bodies which we will receive at our resurrection.
Then there are different heavenly bodies in the sense of sun, moon and stars. Each one is different from the next and each is different in glory.
So, we see again that there are different bodies for different environments. Not only has God created them different, He has also created them to differ in glory.
3. The Difference Between What is Sown and What is Raised (15:42-44)
42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is 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. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
After Paul has established the fact that God creates different tpes of bodies for different types of existence and in differing environments, he then showed us that these differing bodies vary in glory. Now he’s going to show us how our glorified bodies will be different from our current bodies.
A. Our Resurrected Bodies are Eternal
What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable.
The difference is durability. Our new bodies will not be subject to decay. We will not age. We will not grow old. There will be no sickness, no decay in our glorified existence.
Psalm 103:14–16 (ESV)
14 For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
1 Corinthians 15:54–55 (ESV)
54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
B. Our Resurrected Bodies Possess Glory
43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory.
Mankind was originally created to honor God. However, because of sin and the fall we dishonor God. In our resurrection bodies we are moved from dishonor to glory. Our capacity to honor God will be greatly enhanced when sin is removed.
Even the most faithful Christian dies showing the dishonor that sin brings. We are sown in dishonor but raised to glory. We are raised to glorify God the way He intends.
C. Our Resurrected Bodies Possess Power
Here the contrast is between weakness and power. We are sown in weakness and raised with power.
Here is a verse that will no longer be true for us…
Matthew 26:41 (ESV)
41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
We will not get tired. We will not wear out. Our flesh will no longer be a magnet for sin. We will be strong without the ravages of sin.
D. Our Resurrected Bodies Will Be Made for the Spirit Realm
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
Here is something amazing. Currently, our spirits live in earthly bodies. Our earthly bodies are wonderfully made for life on this earth. But there is a day coming when our spirits will no longer dwell in earthly bodies but in spiritual bodies. In our new bodies our spirit and body will be perfectly formed to live in the new heavens and new earth in the very presence of Jesus Christ…God can create bodies suitable for our new existence.
4. The First Adam and the Second Adam (15:45-49)
45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.
Here is the pinnacle of Paul’s explanation as he further answers the question how are the dead raised and with what type of body will they possess?
So, here the contrast is between Adam and Christ.
Adam and Eve had natural bodies which would have lived forever as long as they ate of the Tree of Life. Once sin entered the world then they were forbidden to eat of the Tree of Life. If they were able to eat of it, they would have remained alive in their decaying sinful bodies. So, it was God’s mercy that removed them from the Tree of Life.
We have inherited Adam’s natural body… we are all in Adam.
47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust
As we come to Jesus by faith, we are counted as being not in Adam but in Christ. He becomes our head, not Adam. So because of the work of Christ, we are now made ready to receive our spiritual bodies.
46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual.
In order to receive spiritual bodies, our earthly bodies must be committed to the ground. Like Adam being formed from the dust, our bodies must return to the dust.
As with everything in the Christian Life, it all centers around Jesus Christ, the Gospel and the power of God. You cannot raise yourself no more than you can save yourself. That’s why we must trust Jesus Christ in this life while our spirit is connected to the earthly body. Jesus, the Spiritual man took on an earthly body so that He could save all who trust Him in their earthly bodies. Jesus gave His life to save all who believe. He was raised given a spiritual body as proof for all those with earthly bodies. Trust in Christ in this life and you will be raised to a new life with a new body created by God to live in an environment where there is no sin and where there is a glorious Savior.
One theologian had this to say…
So the graveyards of man become the seed plots of the resurrection and cemeteries of the people of God become through heavenly dew the resurrection fields of the promised perfection. For believers, our earthly bodies will become spiritual bodies made ready to meet and live with our Savior.
Resources Used:
1 Corinthians by John MacArthur
1 Corinthians by Gordon Fee
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