The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 528

Vers. 42-53.-The r~su,·rection-body. Limited to resurrection-body of redeemed, for we know not what will be that of the lost. Of the former in our present state we can know comparatively little. Still some valuable and cheering truths respecting it are revealed. I. IT \HLL BE: 1. IncorrupW!le. Our body now is corruptible, tendin" towards <lecay and dissolution, bearing the marks of injury, disease, age. It bectmes more corruptible at death. But the resurrection-body will have no such tendencies be subject to no such influences. 2. Glorious. Our present body is a body of dishon~ur. The marks of the curse of sin are upon it. In the grave it becomes very inglorious. Paul calls it "our vile body" (Phil. iii. 21). The resurrection-body will be in strikiug contrast-a body of glory and beauty, like unto the glorious body of the Son of man. 3. Strong. Now our body is weak, subject to enervating sickness, and wh,m "sown" as a corpse is the ,ery perfection of weakness. • But the resurrection-body will possess fulness of strength, abundant energy, never-diminishing vitality.. 4. Spiritual. Our present body is dominated by the auimal soul; it is fitted for life in the lower world; it is an organism of flesh and blood (ver. 50); it is "of the earth, earthy." It is a" natural" body. But the resurrection-body will be" spiritunl,"moulded by the.Spirit, an organism adapted to the higher and spiritual life. II. THOUGH SO DIFFERENT FROM, IT IS IDENTIFIED WITH, OUR PRESENT DODY. Jt is a new body and yet identified with the old. Not the same particles or form, yet our body. Note the apostolic expression: "It is sown; . . . it is raised." Much mystery is here. But perhaps the seed developing into a living plant conveys as much of the truth as we are capaL!e of comprehending. III. WE REC"ErvE IT THROUGH THE SEC()ND ADAM, CHRIST. 'l'hrough the first Adam we have our present body, and, through his sin and our own, not a few of its imperfec- tions. The first .Adam was a "living soul," endowed with an animal soul, the living principle of the body. His body was adapted for the lower life-for a life on earth. He was "of the earth, earthy." But the second Adam is a life-giving Spirit. If we are in him, be quickens our mortal body into glorious immortality. Through him we receive the spiritual body suited for the higher life. Contrasted with Christ, the characteristic of the first Adam is animal life,-the characteristic of Christ is spiritual life. We inherit from .Adam what be had and was. So also we inherit from Christ what he bad and was. The difference between the first .Adam and the second causes the difference between our body now and our body at the resurrection. IV. CIRCUMSTANCES ATTENDANT uroN ITS BESTOWAL. It will be assumed suddenly at the second coming of Christ. " 'l'be trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible" (ver. 52). The living will be "changed" "in the twinkling of an eye" (see 1 'l'hess. iv. 16). No slow process, as in the development of the present body, but suddenly we shall be "clothed upon." V. WE SHOULD DE I1'TENSELY GRATEFUL FOR TRIS GLORIOUS GIFT. This poor body we may be glad to lose. Certainly its imperfections. But what a life may we antici- pate when we are "clothed upon with our house which is from heaven"! 'fo be free from weakness, weariness, pain, decay, most of all from carnal cravings and fleshly lusts; to have abounding energy, perfect health, pure desires, and great and completed powers ;-what service and pleasure we shall he capable of! This is "of the Lord." Is he our Lord? Wheo we die shall we die in" Christ"? Can we humbly lay claim to this ;great gift as true, though imperfect, servants of the Master ?-H. ,err. xv. 1-58.J THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINT.l:l!ANS. 539