39 “All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. 40 There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.”
Paul now answers the second question of verse 35 – “With what body do they come?” Assuming there is a resurrection, what is the nature of the resurrection body? Paul answers this question in verses 39-49.
15:39
All flesh is not the same flesh,
Now Paul argues from biology or zoology. There is an amazing variety of earthly bodies, but not all flesh is of the same kind. No flesh mutates into another form of life. Each species has its own identity and suitability for each entity.
but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.
Paul now turns to animal life to distinguish different substances of flesh: men, animals, fish, and birds. Since there are different organizations among bodies and different kinds of bodies among animals, there can be different types of human bodies – a natural body and a glorified body.
15:40
There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
The illustration now changes from biology and zoology to astronomy. The same is true with celestial bodies (heavenly bodies) – they differ in brightness. Terrestrial bodies are earthly bodies. There is a marked difference between heavenly and earthly bodies. Heavenly bodies shine, but earthly bodies do not. The glory of mortal human bodies is different from that of immortal human bodies.
15:41
There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.
There is a difference in the luster of celestial bodies. The sun shines with much greater brightness than the moon. Sun glory originates its brightness; moon glory is a reflected light. There are billions of stars, and none of them identical. There is glory, but there is individuality. In heaven, each of us will have his own personality. No two people are alike, and God likes it that way. Man wants uniformity, but God wants diversity. Every snowflake is different.
PRINCIPLE:
Our glorified body is perfectly suited for heaven.
APPLICATION:
Not all bodies are alike. Human bodies are not like bird bodies. Since there is a vast array of bodily forms suited for many kinds of existence, God created the resurrection body for an eternal existence.
Oh, we have a wonderful future. What marvelous things are ahead for the child of God! Death, sickness, and disease will all be gone. We groan in this body (Ro 8:23), but the glorified body awaits us – no more artificial limbs, no more false teeth, no more glasses, and no more toupees! We do not yet possess everything Jesus bought for us on the cross. Each of us will retain our identity in our resurrection body. We will maintain our personality, albeit minus the sin capacity. I will know you, and you will know me.
Excellent, Grant! What a glorious thought of what heaven and eternity will be! (I almost want to break out in song but my wife will be disturbed!) We need to focus our every waking efforts toward winning hearts for our Lord.
I sometimes get to thinking over Col 1:9-10 and thoughts drift to juxtaposing ‘bearing fruit with every good work’and our ‘increasing in the knowledge of God’ which will go on for eternity. Then my mind drifts to the believer’s condition of being able to win and lose rewards. Sorry to wax on, Grant. Your work is so important to me–but I do go on. (Just ask my wife!)
Love the interpretation by the writer of “man wanting uniformity but God wanting diversity”.
1 Corinthians 15:41
“There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.”
Consider this and consider the evils of one word governance and how all are to be “the same”.
Consider the current 1-stop shop approach to medicine right now. The belief we can fight disease, treating all bodies the same. Consider the singly glorified vaccine by our leaders. No other way. Only the vaccine.
Consider our medicine that tests on animal bodies in the attempt to understand human bodies. Are you are a rat?
The physical and spiritual body are unique to understand but they not separate in experiencing God here on Earth. The physical realm is the door to exercise free will to God. To choose Him. Each day, each moment. To walk according to the Spirit, not the Flesh.
Do not be fooled. Trusting only in the physical uniformity of man IS trusting against the expansiveness of God.
Let those who have ears……
Understand.
It is possible to be Risen spiritually AND walk the Earth physically.
Jesus Christ exemplified this truth Himself after His Resurrection.
God chooses our time to depart the Earth, even after being born again. Even though you are taught to believe you can do something physically to avoid it.
You say you do, but do you REALLY believe?
Or do you fall back to the Earthly realm in fear, seeking safety in the promise of the “herd”?
Hows that working out?
Tares and Wheat.
God is Good. All.The.Time.
Trust Him.
How do you know that heavenly bodies shine & earthly bodies don’t. And how did you figure out that we will retain our identity in our resurrection body and maintain our personality and you said I will know you and you will know me – how can you say this when God says the former things we see won’t remember – please explain
Jim, the contrast is between bodies of astronomy (“heavenly”} and bodies within the present dimension (“earthly”); earthly bodies do not exist in immortality, but in mortality (“it is appointed for man once to die”). This is the explicit statement of the passage.
Secondly, we know our future resurrected bodies will be like the resurrected body of Christ (Philippians 3:21). The resurrected body of Christ was recognized by people of His day; He ate and fellowshipped with His disciples.
See my study on Revelation where the former things we will not remember is the evil and pain that we experienced on earth.