How Are the Dead Raised Up?
“But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased Him, and to every seed his own body.” 1 Cor. 15: 35-38. “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: . . . it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.” Verses 42, 44. Jesus appeared in the body of His resurrection to the disciples, and said, “Handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have. And . . . He showed them His hands and His feet.” Luke 24: 39, 40. “And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And He took it, and did eat before them.” Verses 42, 43. So shall it be with those who through His grace attain to the resurrection of the dead. “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection.” To every soul who yields to the voice of God speaking in his heart, warning him to turn from sin and all uncleanness, God sends His Holy Spirit to transform the life into the likeness of Christ’s pure life. “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Rom. 8: 5-7. By the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the flesh with its enmity to God is put to death, and replaced by the Spirit and the life of Christ. Paul describes this experience in the following words: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2: 20. “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Gal. 5: 24.