The Resurrection of the Body

 

October 8, 2025

1 Corinthians 15:20–23

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.
22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

1 Corinthians 15:42–44

42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable;
43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;
44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

1 Corinthians 15:51–57

51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—
52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.
54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true:
“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:20–21

20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Death does not have the last word! That is what we say with the confession “I believe in the resurrection of the body.”  We affirm something breathtaking:  Christianity does not teach escape from the body but redemption of the body. God’s plan for salvation is not just about souls floating in heaven; it’s about the renewal of all creation and the raising of our very selves, body and soul, into eternal life.

Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 15 resonate with unwavering confidence: 

“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

Those two words — “firstfruits” and “indeed”, anchor our hope. The resurrection of Jesus isn’t just a beautiful story or a comforting symbol. It’s the beginning of a new reality. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead has already begun its work in us. His resurrection is not only proof that death doesn’t win; it’s also the preview of what’s to come for all who belong to Him.

Notice Paul contrasts the weakness of our current bodies with the glory of our resurrection bodies:

“It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.”

What is Paul suggesting? I believe he is declaring that every ache, limitation, and loss we face in this life reminds us that we are still waiting for full redemption. Our earthly bodies are like seeds, fragile and ordinary, but when Christ returns, they will burst forth into something imperishable, glorious, and Spirit-filled. As some have put it, "what is planted in the soil of mortality will bloom into eternal life."

That’s why Paul can mock death:

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

You see, the Gospel tells us that the cross has removed the sting of sin, and the resurrection has stripped death of its power. Christ’s victory isn’t merely something we observe from a distance; it’s something we actively participate in. As Paul reminds the Philippians,

“Our citizenship is in heaven… [and Christ] will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”

Christian hope isn’t about escaping this world, it’s about transformation. It focuses on the renewal of everything, including ourselves. One day, the same Jesus who rose in power will make us completely alive, whole, and shining with His glory. That is the New Testament promise. 

If you have stood at a graveside, you will have witnessed this truth come alive. Perhaps you have seen a Pastor, or even family members of a deceased loved one, allow a handful of soil to slip through their fingers, making a cross on the exposed casket, and it is then that Paul’s gardening metaphor feels literal. 

A seed goes into the ground, and we wait. It looks like the end, but it’s not. Every Christian funeral is, in a sense, a sowing. As Paul says, “What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.” (1 Corinthians 15:36). In Christ, every grave becomes a garden! Resurrection follows death for those in Christ.

Pastor and writer Tim Keller, shortly before his own passing, said,

“If Jesus Christ was actually raised from the dead, if He really got up, walked out, was seen by hundreds of people, then you know what? Everything is going to be all right.”

That’s resurrection faith — quiet, confident, unshakable.

Lets Pray

Risen Lord, we give thanks that death has been conquered and that through Your life, we too shall live. We are grateful for the promise of resurrection—that our frail and mortal bodies will one day be raised in glory and power. Grant us hope in times of grief, strength in moments of weakness, and purpose in our daily endeavors. Guide us to live as resurrection people, embodying Your life, love, and victory until the day You restore all things. Amen.