The Centrality of Resurrection

Last week’s sermon emphasized the resurrection of Christ as central to our Christian faith, providing strong reasons to believe it happened. While it’s often easier to discuss Jesus’ death for our sins, the speaker notes that people generally don’t dispute his death, even if they don’t accept its atoning power. However, telling people Jesus is alive often raises immediate questions and skepticism.

For believers, as covered in 1 Corinthians, Paul asserts that speaking about Christ’s resurrection is as vital as speaking about his death. The discussion moves beyond Christ’s resurrection to our own future resurrection.

Objections and Misunderstandings

Paul recognized that many Corinthians believed in Christ’s resurrection due to witnesses, but struggled to understand their own future resurrection. Gentiles, influenced by Greek philosophy, viewed the body as a prison for the soul, seeing it as evil and valueless. They couldn’t comprehend needing a new physical body after death.

For Jews, particularly the Pharisees, a general resurrection at the end of time was expected, making Jesus’ individual resurrection outside of their usual expectations. They questioned why only he was resurrected.

The Sadducees, who only accepted the Torah as scripture, disbelieved in resurrection because the Torah doesn’t directly mention it. Jesus challenged them, stating, “You are in error because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God,” referring to Exodus, where God identifies Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, indicating He is the God of the living, not the dead.

Modern culture also presents various ideas about the dead returning, from zombies and Frankenstein-like science experiments to reincarnation. These beliefs often misunderstand the biblical concept of resurrection, which is about a glorious, physical transformation, not a simple reanimation or spiritual existence.

God’s Power in Creation and Resurrection

When confronted with questions like “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?”, Paul responds with a stern rebuke: “How foolish!” He uses the analogy of a seed: “What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you do not plant a body that will be, but just a seed.” Just as God gives the seed a body as he determines, so too will God give us new bodies.

Paul emphasizes God’s power by pointing to the diversity of creation: different kinds of flesh (people, animals, birds, fish), and the splendor of heavenly and earthly bodies. He reminds us that if God created all these things, He can certainly raise the dead. Our amazement at human ingenuity pales in comparison to God’s creative power to bring forth life from nothing.

This understanding assures us that the manner of our death, whether burial or cremation, or even partial bodily loss, will not hinder our resurrection. Nothing is beyond God’s power.

The Glory of the Resurrected Body

The resurrected body will be radically transformed: “The body that is sown perishable is raised imperishable; sown in dishonor, raised in glory; sown in weakness, raised in power; sown in a natural body, raised a spiritual body.” There is continuity—we remain the same person—but a profound discontinuity in the body’s nature.

Our current perishable bodies are subject to decay and death, but our resurrected bodies will be imperishable, eternal, and will not die again. While our natural bodies are dishonorable due to sin and corruptibility, they will be raised in glory, reflecting God’s original intention for humanity to be crowned with glory and honor.

Human bodies are weak against illness, injury, and death, but the resurrected body will be raised in power. Paul himself boasted in his weaknesses, knowing that they would give way to God’s power. God’s power is demonstrated not only in creation but also in defeating sickness and death. This power will mark our resurrected bodies.

A “natural body” versus a “spiritual body” doesn’t distinguish between material and immaterial, but between a body driven by natural desires and one empowered and directed by the Holy Spirit. The new body will be a result of God’s regenerative work, fully led by the Spirit.

Early church fathers believed that all bodily defects, deformities, and disabilities would be removed, restoring bodies to wholeness and perfection, while preserving identity. However, Jesus’ post-resurrection scars challenge our understanding of glory and weakness, perhaps showing His power and glory rather than imperfection.

We must critically examine our desires for our resurrected bodies, questioning if they are shaped by God’s truth or by cultural beauty standards. Our understanding of glory and power needs to be redeemed from superficial or worldly views. Ultimately, we will all be beautiful to each other in our resurrected state.

Bearing the Image of the Heavenly Man

Paul contrasts the “first man Adam,” who was of the dust, with the “last Adam,” Jesus, the man of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man. This is a movement from the natural to the spiritual, God’s redemptive work to renew creation.

“Those of heaven” are those born from above, united with Christ, the life-giving Spirit. While we are still in our perishable bodies, our transformation has already begun with the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. We are called to live by the Spirit, growing more like Christ, even as we await our perfected bodies.

This also reminds Corinthians to see each other in the right light. Differences in social status or gifts become irrelevant, as every true believer will bear the glorious, eternal image of the heavenly man. As C.S. Lewis put it, there are “no ordinary people”; we interact with “immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.”

Why We Must Be Raised

Paul declares that “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.” This means our earthly, mortal life—our current perishable, dishonorable, weak, and naturally driven bodies—cannot withstand the majesty of heaven and the fullness of God’s kingdom.

The coming kingdom of God is pure glory, joy, and peace. Our current bodies, like a human body in outer space, cannot handle such a radically different environment. We need new, resurrected bodies to fully enjoy God’s glory and joy in the kingdom to come.

Living with Hope and Purpose

As we await our ultimate transformation, we must honor God with our current bodies, guided by the Holy Spirit. This involves a renewed perspective of glory and power, experiencing them even now.

Recognizing that we will all receive glorified bodies in the new creation fosters unity. We should see the potential in each other and avoid boasting in worldly things like wealth, looks, or power, as these will not matter in eternity.

At funerals, we should not just comfort with words about freedom from suffering but proclaim the hope of bodily resurrection and restoration. God is a good Creator who is redeeming His vandalized creation, not abandoning it. Christianity is neither escapist nor materialistic; it’s about witnessing God’s renewal and embracing the transcendent hope of resurrection.