Sermon Notes – Hillview Church of God

Topic: The Benefit of the Resurrection

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:35-49

But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.

So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, 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.

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So, it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.

Prayer:

When I was younger, (20’s and 30’s) I could do things with my body that I can’t do now in my 70’s. I could run and jump, I could squat down and spring back up and not think anything about it. Those days are over for me. I can work in my yard for an hour, maybe an hour and a half, then I must stop. I’ve had to make some adjustments with my body just to be able to function:

I have a series of braces I sometimes have to wear:
Knee braces for going up and down stairs
Back brace to support my back when I have to do a lot of bending.
Elbow brace to support my elbow when I am operating my weed trimmer.
I even have a shoulder brace to support my rotator cuff.

I take daily several prescribed medicines and several supplements so as to remedy bodily conditions I have.
Type 2 diabetes
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
My eye health
Sleep Apnea

The point I’m trying to make is our earthly bodies are temporary. They have an expiration date. They break down and eventually they die.

As a Christian by faith, we believe in life after death. We believe that after we die in the Lord, at the right time we will be resurrected into a newness of life, from a mortal body to an immortal body. Everybody does not believe in the resurrection of our bodies.

1 Co 15:12-20

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

“The resurrection of Jesus proves four facts that can make the difference to our view of life here and hereafter:

The resurrection proves that truth is stronger than falsehood. Jesus came with the true idea of God and goodness; his enemies engineered his death because they did not want their false view destroyed. If they had succeeded in finally obliterating him, falsehood would have been stronger than truth.
The resurrection proves that good is stronger than evil. If the resurrection had not taken place, that very principle would have been imperilled, and we could never again be certain that goodness is stronger than evil.
The resurrection proves that love is stronger than hatred. If there had been no resurrection, it would have meant that human hatred in the end conquered the love of God.
The resurrection proves that life is stronger than death. Paul insisted that, if the resurrection of Jesus was not a fact, the whole Christian message was based on a lie, that many thousands had died trusting in a delusion, and that without it the greatest values in life have no guarantee.”[1]

I believe in the resurrection of the dead. If you are here, I’m believing you also believe in the resurrection, or you are at least interested in finding out more about it.

What is our resurrected body going to look like? When we look in a mirror, we recognize ourselves. When we get to Heaven will we recognize ourselves?

1 Co 15:35-38

Paul uses an analogy of planting seed. I am a garden hobbyist, that means I’m not that good at it though we have had some success this year. I usually plant plants in my garden, but I plant seeds when I plant green beans. This idea that a seed has to die helps explain the fact that we will die and be buried in the earth. God has determined the body we will have when we are called up to meet Jesus in the sky.

From Paul’s analogy of a seed, he is showing us that at the same time there can be dissolution, difference, and yet continuity. “The seed is dissolved; when it rises again, there is a vast difference in its body; and yet, in spite of the dissolution and the difference, it’s the same seed. So, our earthly bodies will dissolve; they will rise again in a very different form – but it is the same person that rises. In the world there is not one kind of body; each separate part of creation has its own. If that is so, it is only reasonable to expect that he will give us a body fitted for the resurrected life.”[2] We will recognize ourselves.

Because of the sin of Adam, we were born as sinful beings. Our earthly bodies are corrupted by sin and they will perish. Our future body will be incorruptible; it will not perish.

Our current sinful bodies are covered in dishonor because of our bodily feelings and passions, but our resurrected bodies will covered in glory and be instruments of pure service to God.

The limitations of our earthly bodies make us weak. We are limited by how much our bodies allow us to do. Our resurrected bodies will not have limitations.

Our current bodies are a natural body. Our resurrected body will be a spiritual body. On the earth our bodies are imperfect instruments for the Spirit; but when we get to heaven the Spirit will fill us and use us allowing us to present perfect worship, perfect service, and perfect love.

Death is one of those subject’s that people would rather not talk about. When a loved one dies or is dying it is emotionally draining for the survivors.

1 Th 4:13-18

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so, we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore, encourage one another with these words.

“The Thessalonians were wondering why many of their fellow believers had fallen asleep (died) and what would happen to them when Christ returned. Paul wanted the Thessalonians to understand that death is not the end of the story. The great hope for all believers is in the Resurrection. Because Jesus came back to life, so will all believers, including those who have already died. We need not despair, therefore, when loved ones die or world events take a tragic turn. God will turn tragedy to triumph, poverty to riches, and defeat to victory. All believers throughout history will ultimately stand reunited in God’s very presence, safe and secure. As Paul comforted the Thessalonians with the promise of the Resurrection, we should comfort and reassure each other with this great hope. When Christ returns, all believers — dead and alive — will be reunited, never to suffer or die again.”[3]

So, for those of us that love the Lord and are being led by his Spirit, you do not need to fear death. But, for all those who have refused to accept Jesus, their end will be different.

Mt 25:41-46

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

As long as our unsaved loved ones are alive and in their right mind, there is still hope for their salvation. Pray for them. Pray that God will send someone they will listen to that they will hear the Gospel message and be saved.

Study Questions

What do you do to help take care of your body?
What questions if any do you have about the resurrection of the dead?
Based on what Paul has written when we die our bodies are buried in the ground, some will have their ashes in an urn, and we remain there until Jesus comes for the church. What do you think about that?
Because of the resurrection of Jesus, Pastor mentioned four facts that are proved. What are they?
The contrast between our earthly bodies and our resurrected bodies is significant. Would we be able to appreciate our resurrected bodies if we had not experienced our earthly bodies?
Can you have a discussion about death, and it not be so depressing?
Do you fear death?
When you pray for your unsaved family and friends, what do you pray for?

[2] Ibid,185

[3] Life Application Study Bible, NIV, study notes on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.