Immerse: Messiah - Flipbook - Page 159
15:42–16:3
1 C o ri n thia n s
147
It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies
are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory.
They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are
buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies.
For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.
The Scriptures tell us, “The first man, Adam, became a living person.”
But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit. What comes
first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later. Adam, the first
man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man,
came from heaven. Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly
people are like the heavenly man. Just as we are now like the earthly man,
we will someday be like the heavenly man.
What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies
cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit
what will last forever.
But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we
will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye,
when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who
have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also
be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies
that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal
bodies.
Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that
will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.
But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord
Jesus Christ.
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work
enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the
Lord is ever useless.
Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God’s
people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the
churches in Galatia. On the first day of each week, you should each put
aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there
and then try to collect it all at once. When I come, I will write letters of
