This is Part 5 of a 7-Part sermon series titled “Easter according to Paul” preached at Mt. Gilead UMC in Georgetown, KY. Click here for Part 4.

If you want to listen to the whole worship service, click this first link below.

If you want to listen only to the sermon, click this second link below.

1 Corinthians 15:35-49

What Is the Resurrection Body?

• We’ve sort of hit the halfway point in 1 Cor 15.
  • Reminds them of the Gospel (15:1-11)
  • How can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? (15:12-34)
  • How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come? (15:35-58)
• Paul now is refuting the objections that some of the Corinthians have against the resurrection body and the resurrection of the dead.
• And you guessed it, the problem again has to do with Plato, who believed in the immortality of the soul while looking down upon bodily, physical life.
• So that’s what we’re going to look at this morning: Paul’s response to those who mock the resurrection of the dead.
• Let’s begin by looking at what Paul says the resurrection body is not.

What the Resurrection Body Is Not

• Not disembodiment. Not a purely “spiritual” existence. That’s Plato.
  • Notice the emphasis upon the word “body.”
• Not what people have when they die.

What the Resurrection Body Is

• It is a “body,” but one that is both similar to our currents bodies, yet also completely different.
  • It’s similar in that it is still a body (contra immortality of the soul).
  • It’s different in that it is not susceptible to sin, death, hunger, etc.
  • Why? Because of the Holy Spirit.
• A (Holy) Spiritual body—a body enlivened by the Holy Spirit.
• The Holy Spirit is the resurrector as well.
  • Eph 1:13-14
  • 2 Cor 1:21-22
  • Rom 8:11, 22-24a

So What?

• So what? Why does this matter? Pun intended.
• Well, it matters because there is so much confusion out there today about all of these things. People
• 1 Cor 6:14 – “God raised the Lord and he will also raise us by his power.”
• Christ’s history is our destiny.
• This is good news, my friends.
  • Most Christians think that freedom from sin is good news and worth shouting from the rooftops.
  • Most Christians think that forgiveness of sin is good news and worth shouting from the rooftops.
  • Most Christians think that dying and going to heaven is good news and worth shouting from the rooftops.
  • Most Christians think that being safe from the fires of hell is good news and worth shouting from the rooftops.
  • All of those things might be good news, my friends, but if we are just bodiless souls for eternity, that’s not really good news. That’s not God’s vision for us. That’s not his destiny for us. That’s not God’s goal for us. He has more planned than that.
  • What’s worth shouting from the rooftops and celebrating each and every day? (Because ultimately every day is an Easter day). What’s the good news?
  • Certainly that God has forgiven our sins; certainly that we now have freedom from sin, spiritual death, and hell; certainly that we now have a relationship with Christ and God once again; certainly that there is life after death; but most especially, the good news is that God raised the Lord and he will also raise us by his power! That’s what matters. That’s what’s worth shouting from the rooftops. That’s the good news. May the Lord fill us here this morning with the joy that comes from knowing him and knowing this good news, the best news for all of humanity! Let’s pray.