1 Corinthians 15 (5)

Pray Psalm 8.3, 4.
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?

Sing Psalm 8.3, 4.
(Aurelia: The Church’s One Foundation)
When I regard the heavens, the work of Your own hand,
the moon and stars which all in their courses You command,
then what am I, O Savior, that You take thought of me,
or I should know Your favor and thus delivered be?

Read 1 Corinthians 15.1-49; meditate on verses 35-49.

Preparation
1. What must happen for us to obtain a glorified body?

2. How should we regard our lives in this fleshly body?

Meditation
The resurrection of the dead—our resurrection—which will occur at the return of our Lord Jesus, is fraught with mystery. We can only speak of it analogically for now. But we can get an idea of what lies ahead for us, for we are destined for glory in the glorious Presence of our Lord and Savior forever. And if we know what lies ahead, we can also know how we must live in our present lives.

Paul teaches us to think about our lives there and then in the light of familiar things here and now. A seed has a certain beauty and utility, but it only realizes its full potential when it dies as a seed and begins to grow as a new life (vv. 35-38). And as all seeds are not alike, but produce different kinds of living things, so it is with us. No two human beings are alike in every way; thus, our glorified bodies will reflect those dissimilarities, though all who believe will be transformed in glorious and eternal ways (vv. 39-41).

Our present bodies and lives are corrupt in many ways; in the resurrection, we will be beautiful and glorious as Jesus is, because we shall see Him as He is (vv. 42-45; cf. 1 Jn. 3.1-3). For now, while we are still in our natural bodies, we must long for and aspire to realize more and more the true spiritual beauty and glory which God is preparing for us. We are made in the image and likeness of God, and He is at work within us to transform us increasingly into the likeness of Jesus (vv. 46-49; cf. 2 Cor. 3.12-18).

The clearer our vision of our destination there and then in glory, the more fervent shall be our desire to approximate that vision increasingly here and know. We are headed for good company, friends—gloriously and eternally good company. Let’s focus on that, increasing in Jesus from glory to glory, and cast off all the bad company that increases our corruption.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
nor have entered into the heart of man
the things which God has prepared
for those who love Him” (1 Cor. 2.9).

“The body is sown in corruption,
it is raised in incorruption.
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” (1 Cor. 15.42-44).

“Beloved, now we are children of God;
and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be,
but we know that when He is revealed,
we shall be like Him,
for we shall see Him as He is” (1 Jn. 3.2).

“What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me?
I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.
I will pay my vows to the LORD now in the presence of all His people.
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints” (Ps. 116.12-15).

“Destined for Glory.”

For reflection
1. What does it mean for you to set your mind on the things that are above, where Christ is, seated in glory (Col. 3.1-3)?

2. Can we expect to be transformed into the image of Jesus if we have no clear sense of what the image of Jesus is? Explain.

3. We are destined for glory, there and then and here and now. What are the implications of that for your day today?

The human body in its present form, and with its wants and weaknesses, cannot enter or enjoy the kingdom of God. Then let us not sow to the flesh, of which we can only reap corruption. And the body follows the state of the soul. He, therefore, who neglects the life of the soul, casts away his present good; he who refuses to live to God, squanders all he has. Matthew Henry (1662-1714),Commentary on 1 Corinthians 15.35-50

Pray Psalm 8.5-9.
Give thanks to God that He has appointed us to glorify Him in this life, knowing that He will give us glorified bodies in the life to come. Commit your day to serving Him for His glory.

Sing Psalm 8.5-9.
(Aurelia: The Church’s One Foundation)
Yet we in Your own image with glory have been crowned,
to worship and to serve You throughout creation ‘round.
These works that sing Your glory in our poor hands are placed,
that we may rule before You to magnify Your grace.

Let every beast and creature, in sky or sea or field,
in our hands bring You glory as we Your favor wield.
Let all things sing Your praises, let all declare Your worth!
O LORD our Lord how great is Your Name in all the earth!

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available by clicking here.