0967. An Improvement

An Improvement

"So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

"It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

"It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body" (1Co_15:42-44)

We have just spoken of the fact that there is no room for the Darwinian theory in the resurrection. This, however, does not alter the fact that there is room for improvement. Some evolutionists speak of the evolution of the steam engine. There is no such a thing. The steam engine has been marvelously improved since the day of Fulton, but it never evolved into a flying machine. It has been developed. It has not evolved from within itself at all. Thus in the resurrection there will be an improvement. Let us see what our key verses say of this improvement.

1. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. The body which we now bear is a mortal body. When physical death occurs, it is spoken of as a corruptible body, because it decays and passes into corruption.

In the resurrection, the body which we shall have will be incorruptible, that is, impossible of decay. There will be no gangrene, no running sores, no pollution of any kind about the body that we shall have. Everything which proceeds from the present body, the earthly body, is corruption. Everything connected with the new body will be incorruption.

2. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It may be natural for certain individuals to stand before the mirror and admire their countenances, but yet the body we bear is a body of dishonor. Perhaps it is for this reason that there is so much paint used in certain circles. Perhaps for this reason some find it necessary to overdo the dress act. We don't wonder that some people need to paint and dress. However, laying lightness aside, this body is one of dishonor, full of blemishes, touched with disease, often racked with pain.

The body that we shall have is to be resplendent with glory. When we think of our Lord's resurrection body we can think of nothing but glory. On the Mount of Transfiguration we read that His raiment was white and glistering.

We know not the name that we then shall bear,

We know not the robe that we then shall wear,

But we know that a body of glory we'll share,

And that will be glory for me.

3. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. Physicians have told us that three-fourths of the world have bodies marked with disease. We all have bodies full of weakness.

Even our Lord, when clothed upon with a body of clay sat at the well of Samaria, being wearied. Our bodies cave in, they fall by the wayside, they require rest and sleep and recreation from the strain of continual service. Not so in the resurrection. The body that we then shall have will vibrate with wonderful unwearying power. Weariness and fatigue will be known no more.

4. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. The body that we now have is of the earth, earthy; it is a natural body because it is a body adapted to the mind. The body is the servant of the natural man. The body that we shall have in the resurrection will be a spiritual body, not a spirit body, but a body adapted to the spirit.

The word above translated "natural" is "psuchicos," that is "soulish," but it does not mean that the body is mind, but is the servant of the soul.

The word translated "spiritual," is "pneumaticos," that is, "spiritual," which does not mean that the body is "spirit," but a body which will be adapted, in service, to the spirit.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR