Articles

First Corinthians – Part 42

Introduction

Last time we examined some practical teaching as it relates to keeping bad company and what this can mean for many including young and immature christians. The main thought pertains to some who hold to incorrect notions of the resurrection.

Chapter 15:45-58

One star differeth from another in glory We “see” the glory — the size and brightness of the star. Some stars appear before others. They also have importance in terms of the Mazzoroth and signs written on them through artificial groupings. The seed of the woman and the progress of the doctrine of Christ as it pertains to redemption are written on the stars. 

KJV  1 Corinthians 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

So also: The comparison is very clear. We may like this world and our experience of it through this body of corruption — but we must also agree that it is corrupting even while we are alive and certianly in death. One day — at our resurrection all this wioll change — nor corruption — no stinking flesh.

43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

The sowing unto dishonour is to be understood in terms of being the opposite to “glory”.  It is sown in weakness but there is a great power coming to us one day through the powerful resurrected body.

44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

The natural body is the “soulish” one. The spiritual body is of the new order — its nature is heavenly and it lasts forever. The original man was made a living soul — God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul. Man is fundamentally bipartite by the equation: Man=Living Soul = Body + Breath of God. At death the soul doesn’t go anywhere — it ceases to exist.

46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

God made us originally and at the first  earthy — however we were not destined to remain in that state. We have the opportnity as seed of Adam to be transformed into the heavenly.

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?1 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Clearly the Kingdom of God is not destined to be populated with “flesh and blood” God wants human beings that can realize full potential. This can only be through the resurrection. Notice that the mid-Acts hope and teaching is exposed in this context, for the last trump is contextually firmly a part of the gospels, Acts and teaching of Matthew, Paul and John (see Rev 11).