1Corinthians 15:35 “But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?”
This verse expresses the obvious questions from anyone regarding resurrection.
• How can the dead be brought back to life?
• What kind of body will they have?
1Corinthians 15:36-38 “Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.”
It would seem that Paul is being a bit harsh with his answer in addressing the questioner as a “fool,” but the Greek here makes reference to “mindless and unwise.” I think he is grabbing the person’s attention with the intent of getting him to reason within himself. He goes on to give an object lesson found in nature as pictured in the process of sowing and reaping. A seed has to die and be buried in the ground before it can be brought to life through the miraculous provision of God through nature. Most of us can’t tell anything about the fruit that will emerge from that seed just by looking at that seed. When it produces fruit, it will produce according as God has determined it to produce—be it grain, flower, vegetable, etc. Each seed produces one plant. You can’t change the process that God has established.
1Corinthians 15:39-41 “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. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 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.”
Paul now goes on to explain that God is sovereign. His creation reflects an amazing variety of plant and animal life as well as great diversity in the universe that supports that life. He established the laws by which nature and the universe function. Just as there are many types of plants, there are also many types of flesh or bodies—men are different from animals are different from fish are different from birds. There are also different types of bodies in the heavens, and each is glorious in its own way. The sun is different from the moon, and both are different from the stars. They are different sizes and temperatures and their influence in the creation is unique.
1Corinthians 15:42-44 “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”
Now Paul gets to the application. The resurrection of the dead believer is no different. It is buried in the ground after death in anticipation of the future life that will emerge from that death. It is buried as decaying flesh, and will be raised incorruptible to eternal life. It is buried stained and dishonored by the sin nature that it possessed, but will be raised in everlasting righteousness and glory. It is buried in feebleness of mind and body, but will be raised by the miraculous power of God to everlasting strength and vitality. It is buried as a natural body of flesh that found life in the blood, but will be raised a body of flesh and bone that finds everlasting life in the Spirit. Then he emphasizes the truth that there is a distinct difference between a natural body and a spiritual body. Jesus was raised to a spiritual body and was not limited in movement. Angels are spiritual beings that can take on flesh. I’m sure there are going to be many differences far beyond these obvious ones. A body with a spirit that is powered by the Spirit will allow us to enjoy creation to the fullest, far beyond what we can imagine.
1Corinthians 15:45 “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.”
My understanding of this verse would be that Adam was created the fully perfect human being that was intended to live forever as he was—in intimate fellowship with God and with a body uncorrupted by sin. When Adam sinned, he suffered spiritual death. He was no longer in fellowship with God and his body was doomed to corruption as was his seed. The last Adam, Jesus Christ, was born in the same perfect state in which Adam was created, but with the singular ability to impart of His life-giving Spirit to restore to life every man who would accept His most loving and sacrificial gift—His very life through death, burial and resurrection. Having provided for their spirit to live again, He would also provide for their bodies of flesh to be renewed and once again free from corruption.
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THE NEW COVENANT
Once we become members of Christ’s family, he does not let us go hungry, but feeds us with his own body and blood through the Eucharist.
In the Old Testament, as they prepared for their journey in the wilderness, God commanded his people to sacrifice a lamb and sprinkle its blood on their doorposts, so the Angel of Death would pass by their homes. Then they ate the lamb to seal their covenant with God.
This lamb prefigured Jesus. He is the real "Lamb of God," who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29).
Through Jesus we enter into a New Covenant with God (Luke 22:20), who protects us from eternal death. God’s Old Testament people ate the Passover lamb.
Now we must eat the Lamb that is the Eucharist. Jesus said, "Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you have no life within you" (John 6:53).
At the Last Supper he took bread and wine and said, "Take and eat. This is my body . . . This is my blood which will be shed for you" (Mark 14:22–24).
In this way Jesus instituted the sacrament of the Eucharist, the sacrificial meal Catholics consume at each Mass.
The Catholic Church teaches that the sacrifice of Christ on the cross occurred "once for all"; it cannot be repeated (Hebrews 9:28).
Christ does not "die again" during Mass, but the very same sacrifice that occurred on Calvary is made present on the altar.
That’s why the Mass is not "another" sacrifice, but a participation in the same, once-for-all sacrifice of Christ on the cross.
Paul reminds us that the bread and the wine really become, by a miracle of God’s grace, the actual body and blood of Jesus: "Anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself" (1 Corinthians 11:27–29).
After the consecration of the bread and wine, no bread or wine remains on the altar. Only Jesus himself, under the appearance of bread and wine, remains.
Dear Michael,
I always appreciate appropriate commentary in context of the subject of the post. I do not agree with the position of the Catholic church regarding the Eucharist and do not intend to utilize my time and energy debating the subject with you in the context of this blog. If you have specific questions to address or want input regarding specific scripture, I will be glad to dialogue with you by email. You can reach me through my website.
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