“So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 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.”-{ 1 Cor 15:42-44}
Paul uses the word “Sown” as an illustration from nature to demonstrate the Resurrection. A “seed” is “sown,” in the ground and disintegrates and out from this death comes life, be it an oak tree, an exquisite flower, as determined by God! The Hope that the follower of Christ has is that these decaying, weakened, perishable bodies that go into the grave is not the end In verse 20 Paul gives us the Hope of those who receive and believe in the Gospel, namely “BUT CHRIST…” “But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.” – {V20}. Paul teaches us by way of COMPARISON of our present human bodies versus our future Resurrected bodies as recorded in v 42-44! And one of those comparisons is “Sown in Weakness it is Raised in POWER.” Divine Power, incorruptible power, that can never decay, lose it’s strength or be overcome by a stronger power than God Himself! The POWER that Created the heavens and earth, the POWER that raised Jesus from the dead, is the same POWER that Protects the soul {Read 1 Peter 1:5} and the POWER to Raise up a New resurrected Body that is fit for a new sphere, an eternity with God Himself in all His splendor!
From the moment a child is born, decay is at work, the body decaying, death closer and when death comes, the weakness of the body lays for all to see. And even if the body has the best undertaker to embalm the body, to put the finest of clothes and makeup on the person, the person is dead and cannot respond, too weak to move, to respond, incapable, death has mastered them and the weakness of their body is a testimony for all to see- Weakness-The Grave!! Too weak to help themself! No Power! “BUT CHRIST…” raised from the dead, The First, the Leader of a Resurrected people that are His purchased possessions! The Power That effortlessly CREATED the heavens and earth and the POWER that sustains it all by the POWER OF His Word {Read Heb 1:3;}. The POWER that RAISED Jesus from The Dead, will RAISE you the follower of CHRIST, IF YOU DIE BEFORE He Returns! And you will have an INCORRUPTIBLE, GLORIFIED, POWERFUL, SPIRITUAL BODY! – {Read v 42-44}. Divine Power, not limited by human weakness.
As each grave Testifies to the ultimate WEAKNESS of each body that it is powerless to help itself, or stop death, and it’s decayed, decomposed, dead, body is hid away in a hole in the ground, or wherever it lays, the time will come when God will act and With HIS POWER that, decay, disintegration, death, cannot hinder or hold onto as God raises the Body from the dead! Triumphant and Divinely equipped by Him to be with Him forever so! Resurrected in POWER!
POWER that is Greater than Weakness and all it’s human limitations, prone to illness, fatigue, disease, old age! Power over the weakness of the body and sin. “BUT CHRIST…” through Him you will have through HIS RESURRECTED POWER that is Greater than Weakness will Win! A POWERFUL NEW BODY YOU WILL HAVE!! Jesus says, “…But in the age to come, those worthy of being raised from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage. And they will never die again. In this respect they will be like angels. They are children of God and children of the resurrection.“-{Luke 20:34-36}
What a PROMISE, you will Experience;
- POWER To Be – RAISED FROM THE DEAD…
- POWER TO – ETERNALLY SUSTAIN YOU FROM DEATH! YOU WILL NEVER DIE AGAIN... in this case , FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST are compared to angels and then to be part of “THE CHILDREN OF GOD AND CHILDREN OF THE RESURRECTION!“ – This is who you are, a child of the Resurrection! Not liable to the frailties, sickness and weakness of this present body!
- POWER – AND STAMINA TO SERVE HIM-“Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will shelter them with His presence.”-{Rev 7:15} Power to perfectly serve God!
- POWER TO LIVE – IN HIS HOLY PRESENCE FOR ETERNITY AND NOT BE CONSUMED!– Equipped to do so and not be consumed by His Holiness. “… They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night in the city, and they will have no need for the light of a lamp or of the sun. For the Lord God will shine on them and they will reign forever and ever.” -{Rev 22:4-5}.
- POWER – THAT IS GREATER THAN HUMAN WEAKNESS, DEATH; The ultimate evidence of human weakness is death. “BUT GOD…” HIS RESURRECTED POWER TRIUMPHS OVER THE HUMAN WEAKNESS OF THESE PRESENT BODIES! It is empowered with Vigor, energy, that it has never known or can conceive. For it is Divine Power!
As Christ’s followers we have,
Someone to look forward to,-The Lord Jesus!
Something to look forward to – A Resurrected Body!
Paul used FOUR CONTRASTS, between our Present Bodies and our Resurrection body. As Paul shows we have a glorious hope for the future as the RESURRECTED BODY Wins!
Note;
· Incorruption triumphs over corruption
· Glory triumphs over dishonor
· Power triumphs over weakness
· Spiritual triumphs over natural
THE MOTIVATION TO SERVE THE LORD; To labor FOR the LORD, results from the Resurrection of Christ and the bright and brilliant future that awaits you, of A New Resurrected body, Divinely equipped to spend eternity with Him! “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”-
{v58}. “THEREFORE” …Know This, that your Labor Directed, Guided according to His Word, empowered by His Spirit , – in the LORD is not in vain. Keep working, with all your faculties, thinking, strength wise, work for the Lord! No matter whether anyone else values or doesn’t value your work, don’t be discouraged, or be deviated from that single eyed eternal focus, because of the Resurrection of the LORD Jesus, your labor is never, will never be in Vain in The LORD!- {Read 1 Cor 15:58}
“ God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.”-{HEB 6:10}
