Resurrection Bodies

Two Key Questions from the Corinthians Believers

Accountability: Let’s hold ourselves accountable!

Last week we learned that God went to amazing lengths to demonstrate how much that He loved us. God sent His only son to take our place on the cross of our sin. Were you able to live this week with an awareness that you are deeply loved by God?
Let’s reassess last week’s calling to make our pursuit of Jesus a life priority. In light of what we learned about Paul’s admonition to assemble together as Believers, what decisions did you make in your personal life to ensure that your pursuit of Jesus comes first? For example, did you discover other commitments that need to take a back seat to the commitment of faithful attendance in your church?

Refresh: Let’s take a fresh look at our focal scripture again!

1 Corinthians 15:35-58

Exploration: Questions to guide our group discussion.

Paul began to teach us about the form of our heavenly bodies; bodies that believers will inherit in the resurrection. He made it clear that in order to inherit the kingdom, and a heavenly eternal body, that all of us must die. Our bodies are like a seed that is planted into the soil at death, which becomes a new life springing up from the dirt. In what ways does an awareness of this necessary transition shape your thinking as a Christian about death?
We learned that there are different kinds of bodies here on earth and in the heavens, and that each one has a different glory. Similarly, the glory of our earthly tent is different from the glory that will be of our heavenly tent. Let’s revisit 1 Corinthians 15:45-49 and compare/contrast the differences between the glories of the natural body and the spiritual body.
Verse 51 reminds us of the manner of our transition into our heavenly bodies. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. What does this passage teach us about death and the harpazo of the church? How do we interpret the coming future event of the rapture in light of additional texts such as…
- Matthew 24:36-44 Sudden/unexpected: believers taken, unbelievers remain.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Sudden snatching up of believers.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 Who is the “restrainer” and how is He removed?
- Daniel 9:20-27 What triggers the beginning of the 70th week?
We learned that death doesn’t have the same sting for a Christian as it does for a non-Christian. We don’t have to fear death! How is it that leaning on the future promises of God enables us to live without fear in the present? How does Jesus give us confidence in life and in death?

Study: Additional scriptures for deeper Bible study.

There are a number of reasons why we believe in a pretribulational rapture of the church. Let’s explore a few scriptural ideas.

Luke 12:35-40, Matthew 25:1-30 Jesus taught imminence. Only the pretribulational view agrees with the immanence of His return.
Revelation 3:10 A promise to the church to be delivered from the coming tribulation.
1 Thessalonians 4:18 The snatching away is only a comfort to the church only because we are delivered from tribulation.
1 Thessalonians 5:19 The church is not destined for the outpouring of God’s wrath. See also 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Jesus rescues us from the coming wrath.
There is no mention of the church in Revelation after chapter 5.
The rapture provides for a global cataclysmic event that advances globalism, and an unrestrained global worship of the Antichrist.

Application: How can I apply this to my life this week?

Is there an attitude, a point of view, an emotion, etc. that needs to submit to God’s teaching about human death and the afterlife? Do I need to have a heart change, or a change in perspective, to align my thinking as a Christian with God’s teaching on the subject?
How does looking forward to the sudden return of Christ impact our living now? How should Christ’s admonition to discern the signs of the times impact our present sobriety about the coming of Christ? How should an awareness of His coming lead us to personal spiritual devotion in the present?