1 Corinthians 15

Wednesday, 1 April 2015

But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body. 1 Corinthians 15:38

As noted in the preceding verse, God originally created the trees and plants and each contained seed according to its nature. This was seen in Genesis 1:11, 12. Likewise, the other life which was described in the original creation account was “according to it own kind.” This included the sea creatures, the creeping things, the beasts of the earth, and even man. Each thing reproduces after its own kind.

This precept dismisses both a long-term creation and any sort of evolution. The trees were created, not evolved, and they were created as fully functioning and capable-of-reproducing because they bore their seed. The same is true with each form of animal life. Paul’s words bear this out. These things didn’t “evolve” into what they are. Rather, he says, “But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.”

And not only is this true at the original creation, but it is true with the resurrection. The form of the resurrection body is according to the pleasure of God. The same life that went into the ground as a seed will spring forth anew with the body that God chooses for it. Likewise, the same life of the person that was planted in the ground at burial will spring forth anew with the resurrection body that God has prepared for it.

Life application: 1) We will not “evolve” into a resurrection body. Instead, God has prepared one for us, and this is what we will wear in our eternal walk in His presence. 2) Whatever this body will be like, it will be wonderful. Be prepared to be amazed!

Lord God, if You have prepared such an intricate and marvelous body for me as I walk in this fallen world, then how much more magnificent will the body be that You have chosen for my eternal walk in Your presence! I long to be adorned in these eternal garments and to be clothed in Your righteousness. No fear here, great things lie ahead! Even so, come Lord Jesus! Amen.

Tuesday, 31 March 2015

 And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain. 1 Corinthians 15:37

Paul continues with his remarks concerning the resurrection body, using the analogy of grains in order to show the marvelous nature of what will occur. In this, he begins with “And what you sow…” Earlier in Chapter 3, he noted the process of planting and watering in regards to the gospel message. He now returns to that analogy once again with the sowing of grain. Even though he was a Pharisee, a tentmaker, and an apostle, he had a sound knowledge of the process.

In planting a garden or a crop, you will choose a certain type of seed to sow in hopes of a future harvest. But when you plant the seed, you aren’t sowing “that body that shall be.” Instead, all you are doing is putting seeds into the ground, “mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain.” One can discern between different types of grain, but it doesn’t mean that the grain itself will look like what the seed produces.

What goes into the ground may be small, brownish, hard, and somewhat round, but from it will come something soft, green, tall, and which produces leaves, flowers, and new grains. A completely different body comes out of the ground than what went into the ground. And yet, the original identity of the seed is completely preserved. This goes all the way back to the first chapter of the Bible –

“Then God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth’; and it was so. ¹² And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:11, 12

God ordained that things would produce after their own kind. Despite the seeds being completely different in appearance, the identity is not lost in dissolution. It is retained and yet it bears a marvelous new look. Such will be the case at the resurrection.

Life application: Though we may be planted ‘neath the clods of dirt today, we shall rise again in a glorious way.

Heavenly Father, time keeps heading forward and the years have consumed my youth. Soon enough I may be planted ‘neath the clods of soil, like a seed sown in a field. But that time of rest will be a short span in comparison to the eternal days I will see when You come to raise me once again. When I close my eyes, I will see corruption. When I open them again, I will see perfection. I cannot wait for Your plan to be realized. Even so, come Lord Jesus. Amen.

Monday, 30 March 2015

Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. 1 Corinthians 15:36

Paul’s words here are in response to the questions posited in the previous verse concerning the “how” and “what” of the resurrection. His answer is directed to those who would submit such questions in an attempt to trip up another, not specifically to someone who was merely curious about the matter. In other words, a person who asked those questions in a dismissive manner, attempting to show the illogical nature of a literal resurrection, is who Paul is responding to.

His answer begins with a mild rebuke, “Foolish one.” It is equivalent to saying, “O unreasonable!” And the choice of words is supported by his continued comment – “What you sow is not made alive unless it dies.” The word “you” is emphatic. What this means is that anyone who has ever planted a seed (or even anyone who hasn’t, but still understands what occurs when a seed is planted) should be able to understand that it is a comparable analogy to the resurrection itself. It is seen daily and is understood clearly. As pretty much every person knows what happens to a seed in this situation, then the “you” is to be understood as all people, including the deniers of the resurrection.

A seed remains a seed until it is used for some other purpose. If it is eaten, it is no longer a seed, but it becomes a source of nutrition for the one who ate it. But if the seed is stored, even for thousands of years, it remains a seed. Seeds have been found in Israel, China, and elsewhere that go back eons. When planted, they do what seeds are intended to do. First they break down (Paul notes that it dies) and then they come back up in a completely different state.

The body of the seed as a whole “dies.” It decays in order to become a source of food for the germ. In this, new life occurs. Paul is using this analogy, not because it is an exact representation of what occurs in the believer, but because it demonstrates that even in nature there is a comparable occurrence to what is taught concerning the resurrection. Jesus uses the same terminology in John 12 –

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” John 12:24

Life application: We can transfer all of the data on an old vinyl disc to a magnetic tape, to a CD, or even to a computer’s hard drive. The same music is retained even though it is in a different format. If we can do this with Tinker Toys, how much more can God ensure that all of what comprises us will be retained and restored as well! Have no fear that God has it all under control.

Lord, I have music which was once on vinyl records now stored on a computer’s hard drive. It is the same information and nothing was lost in the process. If we can do this with earthly elements in order to keep the music we enjoy alive, how much more certain is it that You can do it with all that comprises us. I have no problem in accepting that at the resurrection, I will still be me, but in an eternal body which will be able to make joyful music to You forever. I’m excited about what lies ahead. No fear here! Praise You, O God. Hallelujah and Amen.

Sunday, 29 March 2015

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

Thus far, Paul has spoken about the fact of the resurrection of the dead. It has occurred in Christ and so there is a precedent for it. If there is a precedent, then it logically follows that the resurrection is a natural outcome of being “in Christ” for the believer. Now that he has fully established this truth, he poses questions which had certainly been asked of him. From this, he will provide answers sufficient for our present state and future hope.

As the fact of the resurrection is established, the introduction of the questions moves to the manner and form of it. Concerning manner, the question is, “How are the dead raised up?” There are almost an infinite number of things that could go through the mind concerning this. How can the dead be reanimated? What about someone who got eaten by sharks, alligators, or worms? How could a person dissolved in a nuclear blast be re-gathered together and come alive again? What about those who died 2000 years ago? How can a person be resurrected after such a long time? Questions like this address manner in the resurrection process.

Next concerning form, the question might be, “With what body do they come?” Will the resurrected feel pain like we feel it now? Will we be able to fly? Will we be able to see in 3D? Will we need food to eat, sleep to rest, or exercise to stay fit? What about a child that dies… will he resurrect as a child? Will an old person remain old? Will we know one another? Will we have the same affections, likes, and dislikes?

On and on, we can posit questions concerning the form of the resurrection. This is especially the case because Paul uses the term “come” rather than “return.” If the manner questions are logically considered and answered (for example, cannibals who once ate Christian missionaries and later came to Christ themselves), the form questions necessitate “coming” rather than “returning.” In this, we can know that the body of the resurrection is the same in individuality, but not necessarily in material make-up. Paul will give explanations of this as he continues.

Life application: God has it all figured out. If He promises a resurrection for those who are in Christ, it will come about just as He promised… and it will be glorious.

Lord God, Your word tells us that heaven and hell really exist. Knowing this, I am certain that for those who have called on Christ this world is as close to hell as they will ever get. And for those without Christ, this world is as close to heaven as they will ever get. The hope for me lies in how wonderful it will be in comparison to the very best thing I have ever known. I am glad that I don’t have to worry about a comparison to the very worst thing I have ever experienced. Thank You, O God, for Christ my Lord who has made heaven possible once again. Amen.

Saturday, 28 March 2015

 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. 1 Corinthians 15:34

Paul now sums up the entire passage of 1 Corinthians 15 thus far. After this, he will head in a slightly different direction while still speaking of the resurrection. But here, after concluding his defense of the resurrection, he provides a stinging rebuke intended to keep the Corinthians (and thus us!) from heading down the path of doubt or heresy again.

In doing so, he begins with “Awake.” The Greek word is eknepho. It is used only this once in the New Testament and can be rightly translated as “sober up!” It is indicates awakening as if from a drunken stupor. When someone is tired, they may be naive about a matter but still able to think clearly. However, when in a drunken stupor, right thinking isn’t possible. He had given all of the evidences and defenses necessary concerning the resurrection. Now they needed to soberly process them.

He continues on with “to righteousness.” This is an adverb and so the thought is more appropriately rendered, “Sober up righteously.” He is asking them to come to a state of sound doctrine and to live by it. In order to do so, he further implores them by saying, “and do not sin.” The implication here (which should be taken as an axiom) is that bad doctrine is sin.

When one is presented with proper doctrine, and they either reject it or are unwilling to take the time to understand it, they err. Nobody will be able to say, “I just didn’t have time to learn the truth.” Man finds time for every unnecessary thing on earth, but fails to make time for knowing, fellowshipping with, and being obedient to his Creator. This is sin.

To confirm that “do not sin” is tied to proper doctrine, he next says, “…for some do not have the knowledge of God.” In particular, he is speaking about those in verse 12. There he said that “some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead.” As the resurrection is one of the principle doctrines of the faith, to believe such rubbish, or to teach it, is sin.

People come along all the time making unfounded statements about Christianity, either purposefully or out of incompetence. To listen to such people can only lead down Heresy Highway and then on to Apostasy Avenue. And so to be caught up in their lies shows a true dullness of mind. In order for them to realize this, he says, “I speak this to your shame.” He is speaking to the entire church at Corinth, but also to each individual. And because his words are recorded in the Bible, he is speaking to all churches and all individuals.

We are all individually responsible for our doctrine. It is true that teachers are more so (see James 3:1), but everyone should at least know the basics of the faith. When a cult comes knocking at the door, there should be enough knowledge of Scripture to tell them to beat it and stop teaching falsities.

Life application: What is of most value to you in this life? Everything we possess and everything we do is temporary and will eventually disappear into obscurity… except our relationship with the Lord. And the only way to properly understand this relationship is through knowing Scripture. If you aren’t reading it and studying it constantly, you are showing great disrespect to the Lord who gave it to you.

The most precious treasure I could ever own sits by my bed getting dusty. And yet I wouldn’t allow such neglect if my car was getting rusty. The book which holds all of the answers that I need; this is ignored for other things… I pass it by with speed. The word of God which will be opened on that great Judgment Day; it is carelessly overlooked so that I can play. Forgive me for such neglect; in my soul great sin I detect. Please O God help me get my priorities right; and to pursue Your word as my highest delight. Amen.