50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
The need for the resurrection and the changing of the body
If we will inherit the Kingdom of God, we must receive a body fit for that kingdom
See verses 47-49
Paul’s point: resurrection is a must for the Christian’s destiny.
How could the Corinthians let go of such an important truth?
51Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—
52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
We will someday have glorified, resurrected, changed bodies.
And even though every one of us that are saved will be changed, and will inherit a glorified, eternal body — not all of us are going to have to die to get it.
Paul recognized that not all would die; but that there would be a “final generation” that would see Christ’s return before their deaths
That final generation will not have to pass through death in order to be changed.
The former generations will be changed at the resurrection of their bodies.
The last generation that lives until the coming of the Lord will simply be changed while they yet live.
This is an event called “The Rapture Of The Church”
We will look briefly at this event.
(There is a three part tape series available at the tape table.)
(It also includes my study notes.)
We will ask and answer 4 questions concerning the Rapture.
- What is the rapture?
- Who will be raptured?
- What Is The Rapture? Turn to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
The Word Rapture is Not Found In The Bible
The mysterious event known as the Rapture is most clearly represented in
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, which encourages the grieving Christians that, at the “great catching away,” they will be reunited with those who have died in Christ before them.
1 Th 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
In verse 17, the English phrase “caught up” translates the Greek word harpazo, which means “to seize upon with force” or “to snatch up.”
harpazo, har-pad’-zo; to seize (in various applications):–catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).
The Latin translators of the Bible used the word “rapturo,” the root of the English term “Rapture.”
At the Rapture, living believers will be “caught up” in the air, translated into the clouds, in a moment in time to join the Lord in the air.
So the Rapture is a comfort, an encouragement, to believers.
The Rapture is that act when Jesus takes His church off of the earth, and meets them in the clouds.
They are suddenly removed, and are separated from the earth.
The Second Coming is when Jesus physically returns to the earth, to execute final judgment upon the enemies of God, and to rule the earth in righteousness.
- Who Will Be Raptured?
See verse 51.
Paul said that we will all be changed.
Some people object to that.
They say that carnal Christians should not get to go.
Spiritually off Christians should not get to go.
Salvation is based upon grace, not merit.
We are saved by grace, through faith.
The Lord knows if you are truly His child, or simply a churchgoer.
Every Christian will be taken. All others will be left behind.
54So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”
56The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul, after revealing the rapture to the church, finishes up the chapter with an encouragement.
When these mortal bodies are cast aside, and we gain immortal bodies, then what is written will be true.
That death has no sting any longer. Death has no victory.
The victory is given to us through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Resurrection as the final defeat of death
A resurrected body is not a resuscitated corpse.
It is a new order of life that will never die again.
Resurrection is the way that God (and we, in Christ), defeat death
Sigmund Freud was wrong when he said: “And finally there is the painful riddle of death, for which no remedy at all has yet been found, nor probably ever will be.”
Resurrection also proves that we are not under the law any longer; we are no longer subject to the penalty of the law (death)
This victory is only for those who live through our Lord Jesus Christ ; for others, there is resurrection and eternal life, but unto damnation
If you are an unbeliever, death is not a friend–it is an enemy.
58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Steadfast-
Immovable-
Abounding-
Not in vain- Many Christians feel that their work has been for nothing in the Lord.
A church breaks apart, and their work is in vain.
A ministry ends, and their work is in vain.
No visible, immediate results, and their work is in vain.
That seems to be in the hearts of many Christians in Napa.
That can leave people feeling cynical, bitter, and unresponsive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
If your eyes are on the project, the man, the woman, the church, then you will be disappointed.
If your eyes are on the Lord, He promises that your work is seen, noted, and shall be rewarded, and that He is pleased with you.
Be steadfast, abound in the work of the Lord. Don’t grow sleepy thinking that the Lord’s not coming to get us at any moment.
William Barclay once wrote an interesting story:
“Three apprentice devils were preparing to come to the earth to finish their apprenticeship. They first spent time talking to Satan about their plans to tempt and ruin men.
The first devil declared, ‘I will tell men that there is no God.’ Satan said to him, ‘That will not delude many, for they know there is a God.’
The second devil boasted, ‘I will tell men that there is no hell!’ Satan answered the second, “You will deceive no one that way. Men know even now that there is a hell for sin.”
The third devil thought for a moment, then said, ‘I will tell men that there is no hurry…’ Satan excitedly told the third, ‘Go! and you will ruin men by the thousands!'”
The most dangerous of all delusions is that there is plenty of time.
Jesus is coming back to snatch the church from the world. Soon. Be found ready. Abound in the work of the Lord.