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Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.I.J.W.Oakley (27-6-1999 Guisborough Evangelical Church)
Now Paul deals with the problem
of the resurrection body. N.B. the sequence of events – at death the spirit
goes to be with the Lord. Then at the second coming the spirit is reunited with
a new body, the resurrection body, which is like Christ’s resurrection body.
The Corinthians had a problem with this. The very idea was the cause of scoffing
by the Greeks at Corinth, who accepted that the spirit lives on, but not the
body. C.f. Paul at Athens – when he spoke of the resurrection of the dead,
some of them sneered, though others wanted to hear more.
How can the body be raised? It
disintegrates into the dust, or in some cases is destroyed by fire, or drowns in
the sea, and many other ways a body is destroyed. What kind of body could come
into being in these circumstances when it does not exist after a while? This was
not the only problem for the Greeks. C.f. the Sadducees, unlike the Pharisees,
also denied the resurrection, and this is still a problem to modern men. Even
some Christian theologians accept the spirit lives on, but think the “bodily
resurrection” is only figurative way of saying the personality comes to its
fullest after death, and nothing more.
But Paul – who is fully aware of what happens to a body after death – still insists on bodily resurrection. The redemption of Christ affects the whole man – body as well as soul. Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out (John 5:28). The Bible teaches that we enter the eternal state as a complete individual in soul and body. The after life is far more glorious than this, and to be enjoyed in a body suitable to the situation.
Now in dealing with future
resurrection at the Lord’s return, it is vital that the present body dies
first. Paul compares this to the harvest, where the seed must die in the ground
before the harvest will come. A grain of wheat falls to the ground, it dies, and
from it comes a green shoot – it is alive again. It is not the same grain
which was planted, but a plant has come which is derived from it. This is an
amazing miracle, by which a new vigorous and beautiful plant or fruit comes from
a small grain which entered the ground and died. Unless a grain of wheat
falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it
produces many seeds (John 12:24).
So it is with the resurrection
body. It will not be ours till this present body dies. There is always grief at
a funeral, but it is a help to remember this is an essential step if the dead
are to have a new body like Christ’s. It is an essential condition, for
flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50).
Yet, though the body dies, there is some link and connection between old and new
bodies, as with the seed and the plant which comes from it. There is difference,
but also continuity.
There is difference in opinion
whether or not this is the case in human beings. Some say that an indestructible
kernel or germ of each body is kept by God at death. Tertulian claimed the new
body would come from the teeth of old body. Others say the link is that the same
personality would be in both the old and new bodies. This is not an insuperable
problem. Our body will have changed 10 times by the time we are 70. We are the
same body – yet different – from infancy to old age.
Paul does not try to explain
this, but note that we are dealing with God the Father, maker of heaven and
earth, creator of the universe, who maintains it with wonders and marvels, who
raised Christ from the dead, so surely He is able to deal with the small problem
of making a new body from our old bodies.
When Jesus was dealing with this issue posed by His opponents, He said they were mistaken because they did not know the Scriptures or the power of God (Mark 12:24). He who made bodies for life on earth is well able to make new bodies fitted for heavenly existence. God made different creatures on earth – men, beasts, birds, fish – and different bodies for heaven – angels and glorified men, and also the sun, moon and stars. All very different. So He is able to make different bodies for us. Physical ones for this life; spiritual ones for future heaven.
What will this new resurrection body be like? Evidently
it will retain human form. If the appearance of body changed we should cease to
be ourselves. If a bee changed into a horse, it would no longer be a bee. Jesus
was still in human form after His resurrection and ascension. He was recognised,
though not always immediately. Stephen and John saw Him in human form.
Our new bodies will be glorified
likenesses of what they were on earth. Hence human recognition. Even before the
resurrection of Jesus, Moses and Elijah were recognised as such on the Mount of
Transfiguration. If the cup of happiness is to be full, and if every tear is to
be wiped away, there must be recognition and reunion, else our happiness will
not be complete.
Yet, though there is a link with
the present body, there are also differences. The new body will be superior and
more glorious than the present one. The body that is sown is perishable, it
is raised imperishable (1 Corinthians 15:42). The present body is subject to
death. The minute we begin to live, we begin to die. Weaknesses of bones, grey
hair, declining strength, spectacles and hearing aids – proof that the body is
perishable. Even in the grave the process of corruption continues. But our new
bodies will be incorruptible and imperishable. There is freshness, vigour and
charm about them. They cannot die, therefore reproduction will not be necessary
to maintain the race. Hence the end of the marriage relationship. There will be
no hospitals or undertakers in heaven. We will not be singing “Change and
decay in all around I see.” There will be no disease, decay, pain, suffering
or deformities. Instead, beauty, freshness and vigour which will never decline
or vanish.
It is sown in dishonour, it
is raised in glory (1 Corinthians 15:43). There is nothing more pathetic
than a corpse. There is nothing we can do with it except bury it. People go to
elaborate lengths to preserve it, yet it remains lifeless and powerless. The
believer’s body is to be fashioned like Christ’s glorious one. To John at
Patmos, Christ’s appearance was so dazzling that John fell at His feet as one
dead. So we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is.
It is sown in weakness, it is
raised in power. Even at fullest vigour, there is much weakness in the human
body. And far less efficient than the human mind. In proportion to size, the ant
can carry a heavier load than a man, a grasshopper can jump the equivalent of
120 feet of human’s jumps, and the robin’s eye can see much further and
better. The dog’s ear can hear things a man cannot. But the resurrection body
will be raised in power. Like Jesus’ body, which was seen and touched, it
could appear and disappear. He did take food, but it was not necessary. He could
move rapidly, no longer subject to the limitations of space and gravity. He
ascended to heaven after walking from Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives.
It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body (1 Corinthians 15:44). The present body is adapted to our present life in all aspects. It is unlike the supernatural life of the future. The spiritual body will be suitable for the world to come, the perfect instrument of the Holy Spirit. There will be perfect worship, service and love in the next life. No longer under the power of the fallen nature. Thomas Boston said, “Strong without meat and drink. Warm without clothes. In perfect health without medicine. Fresh without sleep – for we shall serve Him in His temple day and night.”
The present body came from the
first Adam. It is of the earth. But the last, or second, Adam is a life-giving
spirit, from heaven. The first of a new race of spiritual men. As we have borne
the image of the earthly man, so we will bear the image of the man from heaven
(1 Corinthians 15:49). This is possible because of the power of Christ – He
can produce this mighty change. The Lord Jesus Christ, by the power that
enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly
bodies so that they will be like his glorious body (Philippians 3:21).
The resurrection body of Christ is a pattern for our resurrection bodies. This body will be ours in the new world, and it starts to exist at the second coming. The body of Christ was glorious and powerful, not under the limitations of time and space, untouched by exhaustion and pain, full of heavenly energy. When he shall appear, we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2).
As new creatures in Christ, we have a new outlook on
everything including death. To the unbeliever, death is a terrible tragedy. To
the believer, death is a necessary stage to richer and fuller life hereafter.
The avenue to more congenial spiritual environment with the Lord. We need not
mourn for the departed as those without hope. They are with the Lord now in
spirit and will be raised on the last day.
There will be recognition and
permanent reunion. Benjamin Franklin wrote his own epitaph: “The body of
Benjamin Franklin, printer (like the cover of an old book, its contents torn out
and stripped of lettering and gilding), lies here – food for the worms. But
the work itself shall not be lost for it will (as he believes) appear once more
in a new and elegant edition, revised and corrected by the author.”
Franklin’s words well describe the resurrection body which God promises all of
His children.
We have a glorious future ahead
of us if we are in Christ. It is something to praise God for. Meantime, we
respect the present body, for it is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
To the unsaved – one day you
will also have a body which is immortal. But it will not be glorious; it will
not be like Christ’s glorified body. Outward appearance will reflect the state
of your heart. Some will wake to shame and everlasting contempt (Daniel
12:2), to an existence of weeping and gnashing of teeth in outer darkness. These
bodies will be horrible. A wretched soul and body will be united, and will wish
it had stayed in the grave. What we sow, we reap. So seek the Lord now.
“Once
born, twice to die;
Twice
born, once to die.”
