The 5^th question – the resurrection (4 things)

• 1^st – How does the resurrection work… vs. 35-38
  • Paul anticipated the next two questions – since there is a resurrection… vs. 35
    • First – how can something that is dead – come back to life…
    • Second – what kind of body will we have once we are resurrected…
    • So Paul uses a simple example we see in nature all around us to explain…
  • Burying a seed… vs. 36
    • We all understand how to plant a seed – you put it in the ground and bury it…
      • And in due time – God’s perfect timing – the dead seed springs back to life…
      • The seed is ‘resurrected’ – it died / was buried / and came back to life with a new body!
      • This is not an accident – God created our whole world with the intent of teaching us…
    • God wanted to give us a model so we would understand how the resurrection works!

• This is not only true for eternal life – but for every day of our life…
• John 12:24 – “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. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
• If we hold onto our life – try to live our life our way – we will loose our life…
• Only when we are willing to let our life go – do we truly find life in Jesus…
• Then we will find the ultimate reward – the abundant life in Jesus….
• Just like the seed – our bodies must be buried…
  • When our physical bodies die – ‘the seed’ – we are buried in the ground…
    • The decision on where we spend our eternity is limited to our time here on earth…
    • The moment we die our fate is sealed – there are no second chances…
    • There is no purgatory – the prayers of saints/priests/family cannot help you…
    • Hebrews 9:27 – “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment…”
    • Either we have received Jesus and have the hope of eternity with God…
    • Or we have rejected the Gospel – and have sentenced ourselves to eternity in hell…
  • For those who have believed in Jesus…
    • The moment our physical bodies die – we are immediately with Jesus…
    • II Corinthians 5:8 – “To be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord…”
    • And in due time – God’s perfect timing – He will give us a new body…
• A different body… vs. 37-38
  • There are different kinds of seeds – each produces a different kind of plant…
    • Each according to God’s perfect design – Genesis 1:12
    • You would not plant a corn seed and expect to get a coconut tree…
  • And when you bury a seed – the plant that springs up is not the same as the seed…
    • You don’t put a mango seed in the ground – and expect a mango seed to grow up…
    • A completely different kind of body grows out – wood – with leaves and fruit…
    • A simple lowly seed – becomes a mighty tree – far greater than before it died!
    • When God resurrects our old body – don’t expect to look the same…
    • He will give us a new body – completely different from the one we have now…
  • You might ask – what if you are maimed / or cremated / buried at sea…
    • God made man from the ‘dust of the earth’ – Genesis 2:7
    • Adam sinned – was told he would return to the dust he came from – Genesis 3:19
    • Quite literally true – we are actually made up of the same 59 elements as dust!
    • Whether it takes us 50 years / or 50 minutes – the end is the same – dust…
    • A funny story – a man died and was buried / his ‘dust’ fertilized a flower on his grave…
    • A cow came along and ate the flower – now the cow had the man’s ‘dust’…
    • The cow (and dust) was butchered someone bought the meet at the market…
    • Then another person ate the cow – who get’s the ‘dust’ in the resurrection!
    • God is more than able to collect our ‘dust’ and reassemble for us our new body!
      

• 2^nd – What kind of body will we have… vs. 39-50
  • Not all of God’s creation is equal… vs. 39-41
    • When God created the world – not all His creation was equal…
      • Men were not designed by God to be the equal of animal – birds – or fish…
      • Men are MUCH more complex – much more amazing than the rest of creation…
      • Only man was created in the image of God – Body/Soul/Spirit – Genesis 1:26
    • Not only did God create ‘earthly bodies’ / there are ‘heavenly bodies’…
      • God created galaxies and a universe in which our little planet exists…
      • And even within our little solar system – not all His creation is equal…
      • He made the sun brighter than the moon – the moon is brighter than the stars…
      • Even the stars are not equal – some shine brighter / are bigger than the rest…
  • In the same way – our new body will be much better than our old… vs. 42-43
    • Our new body will differ from our old in 3 key ways… 
    • Our old body is corrupt (destined to die) / the new will be perfect (life forever)…
    • Our old body is dishonored (full of sin) / the new will be glorified (sinless)…
    • Our old body is weak (sickness/disease) / the new will be powerful (flawless)…
    • You might ask – why didn’t God just give us the new body to begin with…
  • Adam came before Jesus… vs. 44-49
    • When God first created man (Adam) – he was perfect / sinless / flawless…
      • But when Adam sinned – he condemned the whole world to sin – Romans 5:12
      • The perfection God intended for us was lost – and out bodies were corrupted…
      • While we are still in our natural body – like Adam – of the dust/earth…
      • We are consumed by the desires and concerns of this fallen earth/world…
      • That is why we struggle with sin/temptation – that is why we get sick and die…
    • Jesus came – to give us back the life we had lost…
      • Just as Jesus died – and was resurrected with a new perfect body…
      • So we also must bury our natural body – so we can raised up a spiritual body!
      • If you have an old motorcycle – one that is always breaking down on you…
      • You get to a place where you want to trade it in for a newer / better model!
      • We are not stuck with this ‘broken down’ model – our sinful old body…
      • We get to trade it in for an upgrade – we get to have the model God originally intended!
    • The new model…
      • I John 3:2 – “Dear friends, we are already God’s children, and we can’t even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.”
      • When we are resurrected we will be just like Jesus – when He was resurrected…
      • Jesus who could walk right through walls – John 20:19 / who could fly – Acts 1:9
      • No need to own a motor / no need to take a boat or plan – we will be just fly!
      • No need to knock on the door – who cares if it is locked – we can walk right in!
      • There will be no more pain / no more sickness / no more tears – Revelation 21:4
      • And this is just the LITTLE we know about our resurrected bodies…
      • FAR GREATER than anything we have now – beyond what we can imagine!
  • Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of heaven… vs. 50
    • A caterpillar is lowly creature – forced to crawl around all its life in the dust…
    • It might longingly look up and think how wonderful it would be to fly – but it cannot!
    • But God has a great plan for the caterpillar – one day it will be buried in a cocoon…
    • When it reemerges – it will have changed into a beautiful bitterly – with magnificent wings!
    • Our physical – sinful – corrupt bodies cannot inherit eternal life…
    • They were not designed to live forever – they were not meant to go to heaven…
    • But God has a new body – a MUCH better one – prepared for us…
    • II 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.”
    • I like the idea of a tent – tents are never permanent – our bodies are only temporary
    • One day the Holy Spirit will give us new bodies – meant and designed for eternity!
      
• 3^rd – The rapture of the church… vs. 51-52
  • Not all of us will die…
    • Paul reveals a great mystery – something that was hidden in the Old Testament…
    • All of us will be changed – given a new body – but not all of us will have to die to receive it…
    • There are some who will be ‘changed’ – when Jesus comes for His church!
  • We call it the ‘Rapture’ – from the Latin translation of the Greek word – Harpazo…
    • Shortly after the rebirth of the nation of Israel – May 14, 1948 – Mark 13:28-32
    • Those who believe in Jesus – the church – will be snatched up into heaven…
    • Imagine millions of people all disappearing in a single moment – all over the world…
    • Nothing left behind – other than maybe a pile of clothes – just gone…
    • Before the Great Tribulation – God’s wrath unleashed on this world – Revelation 6-18
    • A time so terrible over ¾ of the world will die in just 7 short years!
  • It will happen in the twinkling of an eye…
    • No one knows the exact day or hour – only the Father in heaven – Mark 13:32
      • About a month ago there was a big stir about May 21^st as Doomsday…
      • There was no question it was NOT the day – because no one can know the day!
    • With the sound of a trumpet…
      • The ‘trumpet of God sounds’ – the call for the church to go home…
      • * I Thessalonians 4:14-17 – “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, with the trumpet of God. The dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. We shall always be with the Lord.”
      • Those who have already died will receive their resurrected bodies first…
      • They will come back with Jesus – to meet us in the air in the rapture…
      • All those who have died believing in Jesus – family / friends / loved ones…
      • Will be there with Jesus – already resurrected – waiting for us…
      • Then all those who are still alive – will be changed – and be caught up to heaven!
    • It will happen in a moment (atom) – in the blink of an eye…
      • When you least expect it – like a thief in the night – I Thessalonians 5:2
      • Jesus will come for His church – it will be so fast you can’t even blink…
      • If you are not ready – if you miss it – then you will be left behind…
      • You will face the horror of the Great Tribulation!
      • Luke 21:28 – “Stand straight and look up, for your salvation is near!”

The rewards God has waiting for us are worth the wait / new life forever in with Him!

We have everything to gain by Being Ready for Jesus SOON return!

We get to avoid the coming Great Tribulation – instead celebrate in Heaven…

So are we ready – no man knows the day and the hour…

But we know we are the last generation – Jesus is coming in our lifetime…

Let us live every day – knowing today could well be the day we see Jesus!

4^th – The end of death… vs. 53-58

Once we receive our new bodies… 

We will have victory over death… vs. 52-54

When our frail dying body – has been changed out for the new and improved model…

Then – finally – death will be overcome – because our new bodies will never die!

The greatest fear of all men is the fear of death – because it is an unknown…

Because some fear it is an end / but most of all because it means we will be judged…

But we have no need to fear dead – it has not sting / no bite for us…

We know what will happen when we die – we get planted – so we can be resurrected!

We know that it is not the end – far from it – it is the beginning of eternal life…

We will have victory over hell… vs. 55-58

Death was a direct result of sin – Romans 5:12 / the wages of sin is hell – Romans 6:23

The power of sin is the Law of God – the Law shows us that we are sinners – Romans 5:20

But we have been given victory over both death and hell through Jesus…

Through the power of the Gospel – Jesus did what the Law never could – took away our sin!

Giving us the hope of the resurrection – new life forever in heaven with God!

We have nothing to fear from hell of judgment – because we have been forgiven!

So hold on tight to Jesus – don’t give up – keeping working hard for the Lord..