NATURE OF THE RESURRECTION BODY
I. MAN CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD (Genesis 1:26,27; 5:1; 9:6)
A. God has given Man:
A “spirit” which can have fellowship with Him.
A “mind” which can understand His works and revelation.
A “conscience” which guides him.
A “will” to use liberty.
“Emotion” which makes him enjoy beauty.
B. Man is a living soul (Genesis 2:7,9; 3:22)
Death and perdition were not intended for man; they were the result of the fall.
Body, soul, spirit (1 Th. 5:23; He. 4:12)
C. Is the soul Immortal? (John 1:5: 11:25)
There is survival in the other world for both the just and the unjust, Rev. 20:12-15
This survival, for both groups, is without end, Rev. 15:10,11; 20:10.
The term “immortality” is applied by scripture only to the raised body, not to the soul, 1 Cor. 15:53.
The soul has spiritual life or spiritual death; it does not cease to exist.
at birth, in soul= endless existence
at new birth, in spirit= eternal life
at resurrection, in body= immortality
John 17:3, Eternal life is knowing God, 1 John 5:20
II. DEATH
A. God’s plan is that man become a “living Soul.”
B. Death came after sin. Genesis 2:17
C. Physical death, Genesis 3:19
D. Spiritual death, Genesis 3:22-24
NOT — Annihilation
BUT — Deprivation of communion with God. Eph. 2:1,11,12
E. Passage from death to life. John 3:3-8; 5:24; 6:63; 1 Jn. 5:12,13
III. WHAT WILL THE RESURRECTION BODY BE LIKE?
A. Death produces life, 1 Co 15:35,36; John 12:24
B. There is an immense difference between the seed and the plant, or body, which it produces, 1 Co 15:37,38
Enormous disproportion between the seed and the plant.
The seed conserves the life under the appearance of death.
The seed keeps its germinating power a long time.
A given seed always produces a like plant.
C. e.g.–in animal world, 1 Co. 15:39
D. e.g.– in universe, 1 Co 15:37-39
E. Description:
Sown in corruption, raised in incorruption, 1 Co 15:42
Sown in dishonor, raised in glory, 1 Co 15:43
Sown in weakness, raised in power, 1 Co 15:43
Sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body, 1 Co 15:44-46
New body will be like the risen Lord, 1 Co 15:47-49
Immortal, 1 Co 15:53,54.
