THE BEAUTY OF THE RESURRECTION

1 Corinthians 13

BACKGROUND

Two weeks ago: the vast evidence… Last week: the ugly alternatives…

If the dead are not raised, LET US EAT AND DRINK, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE. 1 Corinthians 15:32

BACKGROUND

Two weeks ago: the vast evidence… Last week: the ugly alternatives… Tonight: the beautiful reality…

THE BEAUTY OF THE RESURRECTION

But someone will say, "How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?“ 1 Corinthians 15:35

Two Issues:1. “How are the dead raised?”2. “What will we look like?"

THE BEAUTY OF THE RESURRECTION

1. “How are the dead raised?”

“You fool!” 1 Corinthians 15:36

THE BEAUTY OF THE RESURRECTION

1. “How are the dead raised?” Does God even exist?

The fool: “No way!” An extreme position of faith… A problem of the heart…

The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God.” Psalms 14:1

THE BEAUTY OF THE RESURRECTION

1. “How are the dead raised?” Does God even exist? God’s pattern: from death to

resurrection.You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies; and 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. But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own. 1 Corinthians 15:36

HOW’S THIS POSSIBLE?

Start with a seed• I

t’s not the “real” thing

• It’s not even alive!

The seed dies• Buried in

the ground

• The shell must rot away

Real Thing sprouts• It looks

different!• But it’s

the same, in a way

You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies… 1 Cor. 15:36-37

THE BEAUTY OF THE RESURRECTION

1. “How are the dead raised?” Does God even exist? God’s pattern: from death to

resurrection.

Potential Life

THE BEAUTY OF THE RESURRECTION

1. “How are the dead raised?” Does God even exist? God’s pattern: from death to

resurrection. He creates bodies with different

glory.There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. 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. 1 Corinthians 15:40-41

THE BEAUTY OF THE RESURRECTION

1. “How are the dead raised?” Does God even exist? God’s pattern: from death to

resurrection. He creates bodies with different

glory. Different bodies with different effects.

the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; 1 Cor. 15:40-41

“The glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another.”

“Glory” is a measure of “radiance” or

“power”

“Glory” is a measure of “radiance” or “power”

Earth: not much “radiance”

“There is one glory of the sun…”

“There is one glory of the sun…”

“There is one glory of the sun…”

“and another glory of the moon…”

Lunar eclipse, from NASA

“and another glory of the moon…”

Harvest moon

“and another glory of the

moon…”

“and another glory of the stars…”

from Nova

“for star differs from star in glory…”

Super-Novafrom Nova

God adds a touch of “Glory” to His creation…

THE BEAUTY OF THE RESURRECTION

1. “How are the dead raised?”2. “What will we look like?"

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, 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. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 (NASB95)

THE BEAUTY OF THE RESURRECTION

1. “How are the dead raised?”2. “What will we look like?"

A significant contrast:Perishable

Imperishable

Dishonor

Glory

Weakness

Power

Natural

Spiritual

THE BEAUTY OF THE RESURRECTION

1. “How are the dead raised?”2. “What will we look like?"

A significant contrast: Patterned after “The Second Adam”

So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. 1 Corinthians 15:45-49

THE BEAUTY OF THE RESURRECTION

1. “How are the dead raised?”2. “What will we look like?"

A significant contrast: Patterned after “The Second Adam”

“Life-Giving Spirit” We are meant to contain the life of God.

Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 1 Corinthians 15:50

RESURRECTION: THE RESULT?

1. We can’t imagine the glory and beauty…

2. But we will be like him.3. Co-Heirs, co-workers, co-gloried?

4. More glory than the angels!Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 1 John 3:2

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ…glorified with him

Rom.8:16-17

“What is man, that you remember him? or the son of man, that you are concerned about him? “You have made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, and have appointed him over the works of your hands; you have put all things in subjection under his feet."… Hebrews 2:6-8

RESURRECTION: THE IMPLICATIONS?

1. There will be a significant change!2. Death will be swallowed up in victory!

Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;

RESURRECTION: THE IMPLICATIONS?

1. There will be a significant change!2. Death will be swallowed up in victory!3. Your life is not in vain!4. Therefore “take it easy, enjoy!”Therefore, my beloved

brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58

RESURRECTION: THE IMPLICATIONS?

1. There will be a significant change!2. Death will be swallowed up in victory!3. Your life is not in vain!4. Be steadfast, immovable,

5. Toil for a future!

…always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58

"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:20-21