BACKGROUND for the BIBLE PASSAGES Session 57: Glorified

BACKGROUND FOR THE BIBLE PASSAGES Session 57: Glorified

When our family moved to Tennessee, we spent Paul began writing about our future resurrection 15 months living in a small apartment before by responding to a hypothetical questioner who purchasing our home. Our children were very raised objections to the idea of a bodily resurrection. young, and so the apartment was the only home they One possible objection Paul may have been remembered ever living in. attacking was Greek dualism. This belief taught that When it came time to move into a house, they all matter, including the body, is evil. Only the soul didn’t want to leave the apartment. It was their is good. Therefore, matter, which is inherently evil, home! They didn’t understand that in the new house would not be resurrected. they would have a yard to play in, larger bedrooms, Paul might also have been addressing a false and a playroom. teaching about the nature of the resurrected body. When they finally entered the new home, their Many Corinthians believed that the resurrection reservations vanished. Once they saw their new would not involve new bodies. Rather, their earthly yard and playroom, the apartment became a distant bodies would be resurrected “as is.” memory, and they never once asked to go back. Paul described our future bodily resurrection with C. S. Lewis once said, “Has this world been so clarity, so that any arguments attempting to twist kind to you that you should leave with regret? There and manipulate the Christian teaching of a bodily are better things ahead than any we leave behind.” resurrection would be answered. Our current bodies, now ravaged by sin, feel the The idea of a new body was a confusing one for effects of disease, temptation, and old age. Our earth many, so Paul started his explanation of resurrection itself groans under the curse of sin. Insects eat crops. by describing what happens to a seed when it’s Vegetation shrivels and dies. Drought. Pestilence. planted. The seed, literally buried, dies. It no longer Famine. Uncomfortable heat in the summer. exists in the form of a seed. After the seed’s death, Unbearable cold in the winter. Death and sin are a plant begins to grow from the seed. The plant is visible all around us, from our sinus infections to the uniquely tied to the seed. It could not exist without dead plants in our pots. the seed—specifically, without the seed’s death. The These uncomfortable quarters, however, are not seed itself is no more, yet the elements from the seed our permanent dwelling place. Ever since we were are found in the plant that grew from it. justified through salvation, we’ve been anticipating God has a specific plant prepared for each seed our new body and home. Jesus began immediately to become. A mustard seed grows a mustard plant. working in us to sanctify us, or make us more like A sunflower seed grows a sunflower. Each seed has Himself. Our salvation will be complete at the end been designed by God to become a certain type of of all things when our bodies, the very vessels that plant. God also has a new body planned for each of remain under the curse of sin, will be transformed us, which cannot come about until after our earthly into glorified bodies, to live on a new earth, with body dies. God Himself. Although Paul did not tell his readers what our new bodies will look like, he directed his readers 1 Corinthians 15:35-58 to the different kinds of bodies in nature, pointing •Our salvation will be complete when God out how vastly different heavenly bodies, such as transforms our bodies. the sun and moon, are from earthly bodies, such as It is important to note that the physical resurrection birds or fish. of our bodies and the immortality of our souls are Paul then listed contrasts between our earthly not the same thing. This entire section of Scripture bodies and our future heavenly bodies. The first is not merely speaking of the immortal nature of our contrast is that our earthly bodies are sinful and souls. Paul very specifically argued for a physical, corrupt, but our heavenly bodies will be without bodily resurrection. sin, disease, and corruption. In addition, our current

© 2007 LifeWay Press®. Fuel2: Owning Your Faith, Volume 5. Permission granted to reproduce this item for church use only. Published in the United States of America. bodies are subject to inevitable death, but our future that still suffer under sin’s curse. When we are bodies will never die. resurrected, however, our spiritual bodies will be The second contrast is that our earthly bodies heavenly in nature, like Christ’s. We will look like were sown in dishonor, but our heavenly bodies will Jesus, act like Jesus, and will be able to understand be raised in power. Some scholars believe this is a Jesus in a more complete way. reference to humanity’s original task of domination Our current, perishable bodies cannot inherit the over creation. This peaceful domination turned imperishable kingdom of God. Only new, glorified sour at the fall, but our new bodies will be raised to bodies can do that. Our current bodies were not humanity’s original place of honor within creation. made to live forever. Our glorified bodies will be This contrast might also be a reference to the created to do just that. physical weaknesses within our bodies. Even the Paul also addressed what would happen to most physically fit bodies eventually succumb to believers who remain alive at the resurrection. Their weakness with old age. On the contrary, our new current, physical bodies will be transformed into bodies will be equipped with a strength and power new ones. To point out how quickly our physical from God that far surpasses any strength found in bodies will be changed, Paul said it would be in our earthly bodies. the twinkling of an eye. The eye is the part of the The last contrast, “sown a natural body, raised a body with the fastest movement. As quickly as a spiritual body,” can easily be taken out of context sudden eye movement, perhaps even smaller than to argue against a physical resurrection. That is a blink, our bodies will be transformed. It will be not, however, what Paul was saying. If it was, this instantaneous! entire passage, written specifically about a physical This will all occur at the last trumpet. Paul’s resurrection, wouldn’t make sense. Rather, Paul readers would have understood the significance of was pointing out that our earthly bodies are natural, the trumpet blast. In Jewish culture, the blowing suited for life on earth. Perhaps he even meant that of trumpets signaled the beginning of festivals and they’re incapable of a completely spiritual nature other big events. The trumpet also signaled the or essence. Our resurrected bodies, however, will appearance of God. This will be the last trumpet be like the body Christ had after His resurrection. because it will never again be needed to signal the This body was different from ours, yet similar. It appearance of God. God’s appearance will never was definitely physical. Jesus ate food and touched end. people. It also had a spiritual element. Jesus could Some people perhaps might wonder what will enter a locked room without going through the door become of our current bodies at the resurrection. and seemed to vanish and appear suddenly. Paul is clear on this point. They will be transformed, Paul also illustrated the difference between our not discarded. The mortal, corruptible nature of our natural body and spiritual body by contrasting current bodies will be clothed with the immortal, Adam and Jesus. Adam, the first man, became a incorruptible nature of our glorified bodies. When living being. The human race originated in him. this happens, the victory that Jesus accomplished Our natural body came about because of Adam. through His death and resurrection will be fully Jesus, on the other hand, not only lived, but became realized. Death will literally be completely defeated a life-giving Spirit. He was the firstborn of those when we receive glorified bodies, no longer subject resurrected from the dead. Through Him, we receive to death. eternal life. First, we were born into the human race. Finally, Paul urged his readers, in light of the Then, we were born into Christ’s kingdom. information they had just received, to do more Adam was made of dust, but Jesus came from than simply wait for the resurrection in expectant heaven. Although He was born as a baby, Jesus did awe. Instead, Paul urged them to continue the not originate on this earth. Jesus is God Himself and Lord’s work. Knowing what lies ahead, Christians came from heaven, where He always existed, to this everywhere can be motivated to serve the Lord earth. gladly, knowing that their efforts are not in vain. As natural human beings, we resemble Adam. We originated on this earth and live in human bodies

© 2007 LifeWay Press®. Fuel2: Owning Your Faith, Volume 5. Permission granted to reproduce this item for church use only. Published in the United States of America. Revelation 21:1-3 Scholars disagree on John’s intention in describing •Our salvation will be complete when we are with this city as a bride adorned for her husband. This God. comparison is well-known in Scripture, with the While John was exiled on the Island of Patmos, he church as the bride and Christ as the groom. Using saw a vision and was instructed to write it down. this metaphor, one could understand John’s words The record of this vision is the Book of Revelation. to mean that the New Jerusalem was filled with In the latter part of Revelation, after the judgment, believers. The believers themselves were adorned as a welcome scene ensued. John wrote that he saw a the bride, coming to meet her groom. new heaven and a new earth. Most scholars believe Other scholars disagree with this interpretation, that these were completely new entities and that the arguing that although the image of the church as a original heaven and earth had been destroyed. Just bride is used in the Bible, it is also used to describe as the original earth was created for the first Adam the relationship of Yahweh to Israel. Therefore, these to inhabit, so the second earth will be created for the scholars assert that John was merely using the best second Adam, Jesus, to inhabit. His followers, with simile he could think of to describe the beauty of new bodies, will inhabit this new earth. this city, descending from heaven. It has also been suggested that, like our bodies, The fact that the New Jerusalem descends tells us which will be transformed into new bodies, the that it already existed before this time. In fact, many old heaven and earth will be transformed into the believe this is the place Jesus promised in John 14:2 new heaven and earth. The old heaven and earth that He would go and prepare for His followers. will exist no longer because they’ve been radically Then, John heard a loud voice proclaim what all transformed into something new. of the Bible has been leading up to. “God’s dwelling John wrote precious little detail about this new is with men, and He will live with them.” The word heaven and new earth. Certainly, we can ascertain dwelling literally means “to pitch one’s tent.” This that they will be amazing in comparison to our concept appears throughout the Bible, building in current earth and heaven. When Adam and Eve intensity each time. In Exodus, God came and dwelt sinned in the garden, the curse of sin fell on all of in the tabernacle (Ex. 40:34-35). Later, He dwelt in creation, including our bodies. This curse will not the temple (1 Kings 8:10-11). In the New Testament, be on our new, glorified bodies, nor will it be on the God Himself came in the form of man and literally, new heaven and earth. Weeds won’t grow. Disease physically, dwelt among us (John 1:14). won’t overtake plants. Animals won’t kill each other. Jesus dwelt among humans in a sinful, depraved However, we don’t know what kind of climate world. In this new earth, absent of sin and depravity, this new earth will have or even how closely it will God Himself will dwell with us in a beautiful, resemble our current earth. The only detail John intimate way we cannot imagine. It will have listed is that the sea will exist no longer. The sea similarities to the way God walked in the garden takes up approximately 75 percent of the earth’s with Adam, because sin had not yet driven a surface. It is a major part of our earth. It affects the wedge into their relationship. Because we will have climate, lighting conditions, and atmosphere. Some glorified bodies and our salvation will be complete, commentators suggest the absence of the sea will nothing will remain that can separate us from God. allow for a greater population to inhabit the earth. He will descend and live in His Holy City with His Some scholars believe that John’s words about the followers. The New Jerusalem can accurately be sea are metaphorical. In Genesis, the sea represented called the Holy City because there will be no sin, judgment through the flood. In Revelation, it was the suffering, or dying allowed there. It will be a holy origination of the beast, who came out of the sea. place. John then saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, Although we often have the sentimental yearning coming down out of heaven. It was huge; the city of going to heaven and seeing Jesus, as well as loved had 200-foot walls and was 1,400 miles square. It ones, we often neglect to understand the physical must have been a dazzling sight, made of pure gold nature of these things yet to come. Our glorified and decorated with precious gems. bodies will be physical. Heaven and earth will be new, and we will live there with God. When this

© 2007 LifeWay Press®. Fuel2: Owning Your Faith, Volume 5. Permission granted to reproduce this item for church use only. Published in the United States of America. occurs, we will truly understand what we can only come and drink. It is also reminiscent of Jesus’ catch a glimpse of now. God’s power. His love. Sin’s conversation with the Samaritan woman in John 4. destruction. Christ’s sacrifice. Saving grace. Victory He told her that whoever drank from the water He over sin and death. gives will never thirst again. Many scholars believe this living water is symbolic for eternal life, and is Revelation 21:4-8 the gift awarded to those who have been victorious. •Our salvation will be complete when God frees Other scholars assert that believers in God will us completely from the presence of sin and finally be satisfied in their thirst for the things of suffering. God once the end comes and Christ is fully revealed Just as John described the New Jerusalem in terms to them. of what wouldn’t be there (the sea), he also described The victor spoken of here is not someone who our future existence on the new earth by what has earned anything. Rather, the victor is anyone wouldn’t be present. Perhaps he did this because who has trusted in Jesus for salvation. God said that there was really no adequate way to describe the the victor would inherit blessings, not earn them. incredible joy and surroundings that will be there. An inheritance, by its very nature, is something Tears, grief, and pain will no longer exist. This given, not earned. God also promises a Father- is not because our glorified bodies will not have son relationship with the victor, revealing once the capacity for emotions. Rather, it is because the again that our relationship with Him will have an previous way of things—our world, filled with sin incredibly tight bond. and the curse thereof—will be gone. We will have A list then follows of those who will not inherit no reason to cry, and nothing will cause us to feel God’s blessings or eternal life. This is not meant pain. to be an exhaustive list. Anyone who commits any Following this description, John wrote that sin whatsoever, and does not accept salvation, falls God Himself spoke, saying, “Look! I am making into this category. The first three items, though, everything new.” It is no coincidence that God might specifically refer to people who claim to be Himself spoke the promise that all things would believers, but then show by their works that they be made new. His words here indicate the process aren’t truly sincere in their belief after all. that is even now taking place (John 14:2), as well as This list is not meant to suggest that people are Jesus’ settled determination to make it so. saved depending on what they do or don’t do. Our In Genesis, God created a new world. In the works occur as a result of our relationship with God. Gospels, Jesus provided new life for those who They don’t determine it. believe in Him. Now, in Revelation, God concludes The result of not drinking from Christ’s living the story of humanity by creating a new heaven and water is that a person will die not only physically, a new earth, free from sin, that will never end. which is the first death, but will then be judged God then called Himself the Alpha and Omega, and thrown into the lake of fire, therefore dying the beginning and the end. Alpha and Omega are spiritually as well as physically. This spiritual death the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. By is the second death. using this term, God was asserting that He existed Although this lake of fire will be eternal, it will before the beginning of everything, and that He will not affect the glorious, never-ending intimate continue beyond the end. existence between God and His spiritual children. The living water Jesus promised to give to This eternal existence on the new earth will be lived the thirsty was reminiscent of Isaiah 55:1, where in new, glorified bodies, free from physical death God made an offer to the rebellious Israelites to and the curse of sin.

© 2007 LifeWay Press®. Fuel2: Owning Your Faith, Volume 5. Permission granted to reproduce this item for church use only. Published in the United States of America. SCRIPTURE PASSAGES Session 57: Glorified

1 Corinthians 15:35-58 inherit incorruption. 51Listen! I am telling you a 35But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? mystery: What kind of body will they have when they come?” 36Foolish one! What you sow does not We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be come to life unless it dies. 37And as for what you changed, sow—you are not sowing the future body, but only 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, a seed, perhaps of wheat or another grain. 38But at the last trumpet. God gives it a body as He wants, and to each of For the trumpet will sound, and the dead the seeds its own body. 39Not all flesh is the same will be raised incorruptible, flesh; there is one flesh for humans, another for and we will be changed. animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 53Because this corruptible must be clothed 40There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, with incorruptibility, but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is different and this mortal must be clothed with from that of the earthly ones. 41There is a splendor immortality. of the sun, another of the moon, and another of the 54Now when this corruptible is clothed with stars; for star differs from star in splendor. 42So it is incorruptibility, with the resurrection of the dead: and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Sown in corruption, raised in incorruption; Death has been swallowed up in victory. 43sown in dishonor, raised in glory; 55O Death, where is your victory? sown in weakness, raised in power; O Death, where is your sting? 44sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body. 56Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual 57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory body. 45So it is written: The first man Adam through our Lord Jesus Christ! became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit. 46However, the spiritual is not 58Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, first, but the natural; then the spiritual. immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 47The first man was from the earth and made of dust; Revelation 21:1-8 the second man is from heaven. 1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the 48Like the man made of dust, so are those who first heaven and the first earth had passed away, are made of dust; and the sea existed no longer. 2I also saw the Holy like the heavenly man, so are those who are City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven heavenly. from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her 49And just as we have borne the image of the husband. man made of dust, 3Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: we will also bear the image of the heavenly man. Look! God’s dwelling is with men, and He will live with them. 50Brothers, I tell you this: flesh and blood cannot They will be His people, inherit the kingdom of God, and corruption cannot and God Himself will be with them and be their God.

© 2007 LifeWay Press®. Fuel2: Owning Your Faith, Volume 5. Permission granted to reproduce this item for church use only. Published in the United States of America. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible® Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will Death will exist no longer; give to the thirsty from the spring of living water grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, as a gift. 7The victor will inherit these things, and because the previous things have passed away. I will be his God, and he will be My son. 8But the cowards, unbelievers, vile, murderers, sexually 5 Then the One seated on the throne said, “Look! immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their I am making everything new.” He also said, share will be in the lake that burns with fire and “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” sulfur, which is the second death.” 6And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha

Write 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 in the space below and memorize this week:

Read these Scripture passages each day this week. Respond to each passage by jotting down questions and insights you may have.

Day 1 - 1 Corinthians 15:35-38

Day 2 - 1 Corinthians 15:39-44

Day 3 - 1 Corinthians 15:45-49

Day 4 - 1 Corinthians 15:50-53

Day 5 - 1 Corinthians 15:54-58

Day 6 - Revelation 21:1-4

Day 7 - Revelation 21:5-8

Life on Earth Life in Heaven