LORD’S DAY, DECEMBER 23
1 Corinthians 15:35-49
1 John 3:2

“With what body do
they come?”

THE RESURRECTED BODY

1 John 3:2 says, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” We shall enter the world to come not in this earthly body but in a resurrected body.

Paul drew an illustration from nature to explain why a resurrected body was necessary. He explained that animals in this world have different bodies. The body of the fish is especially suited for it to live in the water. The body of the bird is suitably designed for it to fly in the air. Our earthly body is not suitable for the world to come. We need the resurrected body.

What are the differences between the earthly body and the resurrected body?

Earthly Body                                                                                  Resurrected Body

Sown in corruption.                                                                         Raised in incorruption.    
Our outward man is perishing                                                      The glorified body in incorruptible.
every day (2 Cor 4:16).                                                                    No pain, no sickness.
It can suffer pain and sickness.

Sown in dishonour.                                                                        Raised in glory.
It is made from the dust.                                                              The resurrected body will be glorious

Sown in weakness.                                                                       Raised in power.
The body is subject to tiredness,                                               No more hunger, thirst and tiredness.
hunger and thirst.                                                                         Eating will be purely for enjoyment.
It needs to rest.

Natural.                                                                                          Spiritual.
It is suitable only for the present                                              This means that the body is 
earth as it is made of the earth.                                               suitable for heaven as Christ's body is of heaven

THOUGHT: Do I look forward to the resurrected body?
PRAYER: Father, I look forward to the world to come.