Problems Plaguing a Local Church, Part 29
In our message, THE GLORIFIED BODY (1 Cor. 15:29-41), we looked at two additional arguments for the glorification of the body of Christians followed by some discussion on what that body would look like…
There is a conversation we are not privy to between the apostle Paul and the church in Corinth, and we see this here as Paul brings forward an argument based upon a practice that had crept into the church in Corinth at that time (i.e. 1 Cor. 15:29). Paul explains Christians engaged in this cultural rite who denied the future resurrection of their bodies were logically inconsistent. The fact that the Bible says “they” practiced this (and Paul did not) also shows us this is not a picture of Christian baptism per se, but something the apostle is playing off of in that time to argue for the truth of the glorification of the body (1 Cor. 15:29).
Paul then argues for the glorification of our body based upon how he has lived his life (1 Cor. 15:30-32). The apostle poured out his life for Jesus and lived for God because he knew it was to his “advantage” (1 Cor. 9:37; 15:32). It is also to ours! (1 Cor. 3:13-15; 4:5, etc.). Not believing in this truth leads to deception as people follow the world’s advice: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” (1 Cor. 15:32b-33, Isa. 22:13; 1 John 2:15-16, etc.). We need to be careful to NOT make our most intimate friendships with those who discount the Bible- to include even Christians who are straying (1 Cor. 15:33; Ps. 1:1; Prov. 1:8-20, 33, etc.). The Bible shows us here such “company [will] corrupt” (Grk. phtheírō) our walk with God through willful unconfessed sin (1 Cor. 3:16-18; 15:33-34 NET). Instead, we are to sober up with righteous resolve (1 Cor. 15:34; 1 John 1:9; Eph. 5:7-15, 18; Rom. 12:1-2, etc.).
Paul then looks at questions asked on the glorified body itself (1 Cor. 15:35), using examples from nature to help explain some of this mystery (1 Cor. 15:36-41). *For more information on these heavenly things, which can only be understood through God’s Word and the Holy Spirit inside of us (1 Cor. 2:9-10, etc.), please watch our December 8, 2024 message above. Lord willing, we will pick up again in our series in First Corinthians and continue this important topic early next year- 2025.