We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

1 Corinthians 15

We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 1 Corinthians 15:51b-53

I resume my study of 1 Corinthians, moving on to an assisted review of 1 Corinthians 15:35-58 using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary volume for this book.  From the commentary for this text:

Main idea: "Like the Savior, every saint will be physically raised in a supernatural body impervious to sin and death forever."

Key excerpts from the introduction: "Paul moves from the resurrection of the Savior to the resurrection of the saint, holding to the thesis that the former guarantees the latter."

Divisions per the commentary:

1. Paul Receives a Puzzled Interrogation concerning the Resurrection (15:35): "Some people in the church were questioning not just the possibility but the pattern of the resurrection....Paul launches into his brilliant apologetic for the bodily resurrection of believers."
   
2. Paul Gives Practical Illustrations of the Resurrection (15:36-41): "Since Paul is writing to an agrarian society, this metaphor would easily be understood. You sow a seed in the earth, and in a real sense it dies, decays, dissolves, and disintegrates; but over a period of time, out of the death of that seed comes life. The new life is different from the seed, but it comes from the seed. So our current bodies are like a seed. Just as a seed is buried, so is the body. Just as a seed comes back made better, so does the body....There is an implication here that we will recognize each other in heaven. In a sense, we will be the same in kind as we are here, but we will be different....Paul’s point is essentially this: there is simply no reason you have to check your mind at the door to believe that a corruptible, sinful, physical body can be raised into a supernatural, spiritual, perfect body. After all, there is nothing too difficult for God!"
   
3. Paul Provides Pertinent Information about the Resurrection (15:42-49): "Our aging, dying bodies will one day be transformed into ageless, everlasting bodies....There is going to be both a continuity and a discontinuity between our earthly bodies and our eternal bodies. We will maintain our identities and be the same people, but out bodies will be wonderfully different[.]  The idea of “sown in weakness, raised in power” (v. 43) means our current bodies are limited by time, space, sickness, and breakdown, but our new bodies will be freed from the shackles of fallen humanity....Adam was created in the image of God, but when Adam fell that image was scarred by sin, and every person from then until now has been born bearing that same flawed image.  One day, though, believers will truly bear the image of God....We are not only going to see what Jesus is like, but we are going to be what Jesus is like. Not divine, but perfected."
   
4. Paul Applies the Powerful Inspiration of the Resurrection (15:50-58): "Realizing that one day these decayed, deficient bodies are going to be raised glorious and victorious is a tremendous source of inspiration....We have the promise of the resurrection before us. We have the person of the resurrection above us. We have the power of the resurrection already at work within us. Until that day comes, when we are raised up or taken up, we each should use the body that we have now to do all the good we can for as long as we can, knowing we are getting ready for the body that is unlike any other body that has ever been born." 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who died for my sins and rose again to give me victory over sin and death - thank You Jesus!  The greatest gift of all time.  I am not deserving of such a gift.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.