42 “So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 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. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
Paul draws four contrasts between our natural body and the resurrection body:
It is sown in corruption but raised in incorruption.
It is sown in dishonor but raised in glory.
It is sown in weakness but raised in power.
It is sown a natural body but raised a spiritual body.?
15:42
So also is the resurrection of the dead.
Having argued the difference and newness of the resurrection body, Paul now contrasts the resurrection body with the natural body. Resurrection bodies will be as unique as all the contrasts seen in previous verses. Our resurrection body will be unique and different from other resurrection bodies.
The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.
The word “sown” refers to burial. We put the human body into the ground (interment) just like a seed, but God raises it to incorruption (imperishable). Our present bodies are subject to disease, aging, and death. Our resurrection bodies are not subject to corruption or death. God will replace corruption with incorruption in the resurrection body.
1 Pe 1:3-4, 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
15:43
It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory.
When we put the human body into the ground, it dishonors the body. There is nothing noble about death. We put dead bodies out of sight because they rot and decay. However, God raises the body to glory and honor. We will change from a flawed state to a complete state. Our flawed bodies will become like the glorified body of the Lord Jesus (Php 3:21). Throughout the eternal state, our resurrection bodies will honor the Lord because they will be free from the sin capacity.
It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.
The body is at the point of ultimate weakness when it dies, but it is much more powerful in its resurrection body. Our body succumbs to disease because it is weak. The fact that a diseased body rises from the dead demonstrates God’s power in raising something so corruptible.
15:44
It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
The word “natural” is soulish – an organism animated by the soul. Our present bodies function by the auspices of our soul (mind, emotions, and will). God designed these present bodies only for this life. Our current body is natural, while the resurrection body is spiritual, designed for eternity, and suited for living in God’s presence.
There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
The natural body has animal life as the animating principle. However, God fits or adapts the spiritual body for eternity. It is a body wholly designed for eternity.
PRINCIPLE:
God designed our resurrection body for eternity.
APPLICATION:
The resurrection body comes from the natural body that died. This new body will not succumb to disease and decay. The resurrection body is grander than a reanimation of the present body; it is a complete glorification of the old body. The soul dominates our entire body before the resurrection. After the resurrection, the spirit dominates the body completely. It will never know sickness or pain, will never grow old or die. It will never again submit to death. It will not yield to lusts again. It will never tire, and there will not be a need for the night. Our bodies will not stay buried; the casket is not final. The word “cemetery” means sleeping place. The body sleeps temporarily in the cemetery until the resurrection. Those who know Christ will rise in the first resurrection; those who do not know Him will rise in the second resurrection.
2 Co 5:1-2, 1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,
There is nothing in the Bible about the transmigration of the soul. There is nothing about coming back as a monkey. Christians will instantaneously go to be with the Lord at death.
2 Co 5:8, We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
Thanks for the reply. Okay, I checked out this new info: 1 Corinthians 15:42 "So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 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. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body."
~~ "It is raised in GLORY"~~ this is clearly talking about God's chosen~! Unrepentant sinners will surely not be raised in GLORY~!
So do you have anyhing else?
James, I simply replied to your point that the body is not immortal, clearly it is.
Great truths on life eternal. Thanks to Grant Richison. I desire to receive your monthly messages.
Are there any issues with being cremated?
Shirley, cremation is debated among evangelicals. There are no clear statements in Scripture about it but here is an argument against it: https://www.equip.org/articles/is-cremation-christian-/
Pastor Grant,
Thank you for this very clear explanation. I do have one question though. As our bodies wait in the grave, our souls are with the Lord – is this correct? As Paul said, “Absent from the body, present with the Lord.” And as Jesus said to the criminal on the cross, “I assure you today you will be with me in paradise.” Thanks.
May, you are correct that our bodies await in the grave. One day, however, the believer’s body will join his or her’s soul and spirit at the Rapture of the church. Start studying with this site https://versebyversecommentary.com/1-thessalonians/1-thessalonians-413/ and then move to the end of the chapter to see a major passage on the Rapture.
I actually have a question about Luke 20:34-36 which says this. >
Jesus replied, “Marriage is for people here on earth. But in the age to come, those worthy of being raised from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage. And they will never die again. In this respect, they will be like angels. They are children of God and children of the resurrection.
(You don’t have commentary on Luke.)
This Scripture is only talking about physical death. Believers will never die again physically. That means the only other option is that the unsaved will die again: physically.
I don’t see any other way of understanding this Scripture because it is certainly not talking about spiritual death. And there are only two kinds of death.
The Scripture on this page is similar because we can see that ONLY the saved will receive immortal, imperishable bodies. And since the unsaved will not be getting those immortal bodies, then it stands to reason that they will die again with non-immortal (perishable) bodies. Or could you explain this another way?
Martha, my comments on the parallel passage to Luke in Matthew can be found here: https://versebyversecommentary.com/2009/02/23/matthew-2223f/
Dr. Grant, that Scripture is NOT AT ALL the same! I have no idea why you referenced that biblical text.
Martha, my comments on the parallel passage to Luke in Matthew can be found here: https://versebyversecommentary.com/2009/02/23/matthew-2223f/
2 Corinthians 5:1 says we are getting immortal bodies, but it does not say when.
2 Corinthians 5:1
For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Furthermore, 1 Cor. 15:52-54 says this.
52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written WILL come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
1 Cor. 15:52-54, as far as I can see, very clearly proves that believers will get their new immortal bodies when Christ returns! That’s what it says in plain, easy-to-understand English.
So would you please read very carefully what I wrote to you before? >>>
I actually have a question about Luke 20:34-36 which says this.
Jesus replied, “Marriage is for people here on earth. But in the age to come, those worthy of being raised from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage. And they will never die again. In this respect, they will be like angels. They are children of God and children of the resurrection.
(You don’t have commentary on Luke.)
This Scripture is only talking about PHYSICAL DEATH. Believers will never die again PHYSICALLY. That means the only other option is that the UNSAVED will die again: physically.
I don’t see any other way of understanding this Scripture because it is certainly not talking about spiritual death. And there are only two kinds of death.
The Scripture on this page is similar because we can see that ONLY the saved will receive immortal, imperishable bodies. And since the unsaved will not be getting those immortal bodies, then it stands to reason that they will die again with non-immortal (perishable) bodies. Or could you explain this another way? I don’t see how that would be possible. But I am still waiting for your answer to that question!
Martha, I only wanted to show you by that hyperlink that I did have a commentary on a parallel passage to Luke 20:34-36.
It is important that you understand the main point of 1 Cor 15 that the believer will receive a GLORIFIED body, that is, that body will have the wonderful dynamics mentioned in the chapter. The non-Christian who goes into a Christless eternity will not be glorified, although his body will last for eternity.
Non-Christians will experience a bodily resurrection, but they will face “the resurrection of judgment” (Jn 5:29). There will be a resurrection of both the just and unjust ((Acts 24:15; cf. Matt. 25:31–46; Dan. 12:2). Thus, all men will live forever in resurrected bodies but Christian bodies will be “glorified” (Phil. 3:20, 21.).
Martha,
You said,
“1 Corinthians 5:1 says we are getting immortal bodies, but it does not say when.
Reply: 1 Thess 4:13f gives the time of the resurrection of the believer’s body—at the Rapture.
You said,
The Scripture on this page is similar because we can see that ONLY the saved will receive immortal, imperishable bodies. And since the unsaved will not be getting those immortal bodies, then it stands to reason that they will die again with non-immortal (perishable) bodies. Or could you explain this another way? I don’t see how that would be possible. But I am still waiting for your answer to that question!
Reply: Agreed.
You asked about,
2 Corinthians 5:1
For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Reply: Go to my studies beginning with 2 Co 5:1 and following.
You said,
Furthermore, 1 Cor. 15:52-54 says this.
52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written WILL come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
Reply: Verses 52ff explain what will happen when Christ comes for the saints (1 Th 4:13f).
You said,
1 Cor. 15:52-54, as far as I can see, very clearly proves that believers will get their new immortal bodies when Christ returns! That’s what it says in plain, easy-to-understand English.
Reply: Agreed.
You said,
This Scripture is only talking about PHYSICAL DEATH. Believers will never die again PHYSICALLY. That means the only other option is that the UNSAVED will die again: physically.
Reply: Agreed