~4 min read
Ps Paul Cheng
1 Corinthians 15:39-44
“…we have one kind of body…”
Dear Bethelites,
In our previous pastoral chat on the theme, “How could our resurrection be possible,” we have considered the first analogy, “the example of a seed.” That first analogy taught us how our bodies have to first die and be buried before they could be resurrected, just like the seed has to first die, be sown in the ground, and then grow into a plant or tree. Then Paul moved on to the second analogy, “the example of the different bodies.” This second analogy will teach us what kind of bodies we would have in the resurrection.
I. Example Of The Different Bodies
1 Corinthians 15:39, All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
The word flesh means body. All bodies are not the same. As human beings, we have one kind of body; for example, we have two arms and two legs, we stand upright, and that is our body. But there are the bodies of beasts or animals, and most of them would run around on all fours, like the bulls and oxen. Then there are the bodies of fishes, with scales, fins and tails to help them to swim. And the bodies of birds which have wings to help them to fly. All the bodies are different.
What was the point of this analogy? In a sense, Paul was saying, “Please do not think that just because we have a body now, so one day we are going to have the resurrected body which will be the same kind of body. That is definitely not the case! If our earthly bodies are all not the same, how much more different would the resurrected body be?”
1 Corinthians 15:40, There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
Celestial bodies mean heavenly bodies, and terrestrial bodies mean earthly bodies. Not only are the heavenly bodies very different from the earthly bodies, they are also greatly different from each other.
1 Corinthians 15:41, There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
The sun is different from the moon, and both are different from the stars. And even the stars are different from one another; for no two stars share the same glory. The stars generate their own light, while the moon only reflects the light produced by the sun. So in that way, the heavenly bodies are different in glory.
Thus, to those people who questioned, “Paul, are you telling us that this body of ours is going to be raised? You mean this sinful, corrupt body is going to be resurrected?” Paul said, “Yes! But please do not think it is going to be raised and be the same kind of body. It is not going to be like your earthly body. It is going to be different; just like the human body is different from the bodies of the ox, fish and bird, and just like there is a difference between the sun, moon and stars, and every little star is different from one another. Our resurrected body is going to be different.”
And what is the difference between our earthly body and resurrected body?
1 Corinthians 15:42, So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
Take a moment and consider our earthly body. It is a corrupted and perishable body. A body that is subjected to the process of aging, and eventually it will die. Even the healthiest person, as he gets older, becomes weaker, and is subjected to illnesses and other physical afflictions. Without exception, every human being is sown in corruption, which means, he or she is born with a corrupted and perishable body. But the resurrected body of the believer will be raised in incorruption, which means it is an imperishable glorified body which will not be subjected to sicknesses and diseases, or the process of aging, or even death. It will never die!
1 Corinthians 15:43, It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.
Because we are born in sin, instead of honouring God with this physical earthly body, we are prone to dishonour Him. We dishonour God by our inability to use our bodies to serve Him perfectly. Even the most faithful believer is prone to dishonour God. That is why the Apostle Paul says in Romans 7 about his spiritual struggle, “I always don’t do the good that I am supposed to do, and I always do the evil that I am not supposed to do.” But that will never happen to our resurrected body because it will be raised to glory, and our new glorified bodies will be honourable bodies to please, praise and glorify God perfectly forever and ever.
We are also born in weakness, isn’t it true? We are so weak, and as our bodies get older, we become even weaker and suffer all kinds of aches and pains. We lose our energy and strength, and then finally, we die. But one day, we will be raised in power, and we will no longer be subjected to weakness again.
1 Corinthians 15:44, It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
Our earthly body is strictly natural, for it is created to live in this physical world. Today, our souls or spirits live in this earthly body, but one day, they will live in a supernatural, spiritual body. That is when we will experience the ultimate, complete redemption of both the body and soul. We will have a glorified body that is built to live forever and ever with God in heaven. Dear friend, that is our blessed Christian hope, and that is what every believer should look forward to.
(To be continued in our next pastoral chat)
Shalom,
Pastor Paul Cheng
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How Could Our Resurrection Be Possible? (Part 2) — Example Of The Different BodiesHow Could Our Resurrection Be Possible? (Part 2) — Example Of The Different Bodies1 Corinthians 15:39-44