It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
The body laid in the grave in dishonor and weakness will be raised in glory and power. Personal identity is perfectly preserved, so the risen saints keep the same form and features and are known and recognized as Jesus was known in His risen body, which is the pattern of their own. All deformity, disease, and disfigurement are left behind, for the risen body is made perfect in health and symmetry and radiant with light. This bodily resurrection is the center of Christian hope, because the whole person sleeps in the grave with no reward given at death, and without it those who died in faith would be lost. Resurrection does not change character, so fitness for that life must be gained now by overcoming defects through grace, while its manner remains a mystery too deep for the finite mind to explain.
Sown Weak, Raised Glorious
The body laid in the grave in dishonor and weakness will be raised in glory and power. The burial and new growth of a seed give a practical picture of this, for as the blade springs up from the buried seed so resurrection follows death. The seed sown in the ground dying and then springing up illustrates death and resurrection, with the death of the seed picturing the death of Christ and the new growth picturing resurrection. The body laid in the tomb is like a seed hidden in the earth, from which life will spring up in deathless bloom. Flowers that die only to spring forth into new life show the same lesson, that all who love God will bloom again in the Eden above.
The planting and springing of seed is a lesson concerning both the resurrection of the body and the renewing of the heart, for spiritual things are learned from the development of the earthly. The human agent plants the seed, and God waters it and causes His sun to shine upon it until the tiny blade springs up by His power. Seeds of truth sown in the soil of the heart likewise are not lost but spring up into new life. The immortal body is not made from the same particles of matter that were buried, for identity lies in organization rather than in the matter itself. Personal identity is preserved though not the same material substance, for the spirit and character are preserved and every one comes forth with his own character, in the same form and individuality of features so that friend will recognize friend, yet free from disease and every defect. God in His own time calls forth the dead, giving again the breath of life and bidding the dry bones live, and gives a body that pleases Him, composed of much finer material, since it is a new creation and a new birth. As a planted kernel of grain decays and a new kernel comes forth, the decayed natural substance is never raised as before. Therefore the living will meet their loved ones again not in the poor, weak body that was buried but in an immortal, glorious body.
The very bodies buried in dishonor and weakness will be raised in glory and power. The mortal bodies of all who have believed are quickened by the Spirit of Christ dwelling in them, and that vitalizing power binds every believing soul to Jesus so that He claims them as His own. Because that power dwelt in them while living and they became partakers of the divine nature, they are brought forth from the dead in the first resurrection when the Life-giver commands and the last trumpet sounds to eternal victory. Until that triumphant hour every sleeping saint is kept in safety and guarded as a precious jewel known by name.
Identity Preserved in Glory
Jesus' resurrection is the sample and pattern of the final resurrection of all who sleep in Him. As the risen Saviour was familiar to His followers in body, deportment, and voice, so those who sleep in Jesus will rise again and be known by their friends. Their bodies will be glorified from weakness and dishonor into power and glory while personal identity and recognizable features are preserved.
Personal identity is perfectly preserved with the same form coming forth bearing the same individuality of features, so that friend will recognize friend and family will know one another in heaven. The spirit and character are returned to God to be preserved, and every person has his own character in the resurrection when God in His own time calls forth the dead, giving again the breath of life and bidding the dry bones live. The saints are transformed into Christ's glorious image for glorious companionship with heavenly angels, free from disease and every defect. This preservation holds though not the same particles of matter or material substance as went into the grave, for God gives the righteous dead a body that pleases Him, composed of much finer material as a new creation and a new birth, as a planted kernel of grain decays but a new kernel comes forth and the decayed natural substance is never raised as before.
Those sown deformed, diseased, or disfigured in this mortal life are raised in a glorified body of perfect health and symmetry. Their faces are radiant with light shining from the face of Jesus yet still bear the lineaments of those loved, so loved ones recognize one another. In the great day of God all who are faithful and true receive the healing touch of the divine Restorer, for the Life-giver removes every deformity from them and gives them eternal life, raising the body sown in dishonor and weakness in glory and power.
Those who love and fear God are supported by His arm as they enter the dark valley of the shadow of death, showing His special favor to them in death and resurrection. They come forth from their graves crowned with glory, honor, and immortality, with a crown of glory on every brow and joy beaming from every face. They rejoice in the unfading glories of the earth made new in an endless life of unalloyed happiness.
The change from dishonor and weakness to glory and power is the second stage of redemption, the redemption from the grave by resurrection to immortal life of all who in this life are redeemed from the condemnation and practice of transgression. It is not a moral change but simply an exchange of the corruptible body for one that is incorruptible, so moral fitness for the next life must be obtained in this life.
Death and resurrection do not change character, and Jesus does not change the character at His coming. A person comes up from the grave with the same disposition manifested in the home and in society, for the traits cherished in life are not changed by death or by the resurrection, and the character borne in probationary time will be the character had at the coming of Christ. The work of transformation must be done now, with defects of character repented of and overcome through the grace of Christ and a symmetrical character formed while in this probationary state to be fitted for the mansions above. To be a saint in heaven one must first be a saint on earth, and daily life determines destiny.
Hope and Holiness Required
The raising of the body from dishonor and weakness to glory and power is essential to Christian hope, for without it those who have died in Christ would be lost. The whole person sleeps in the grave until that raising, with no immediate passing at death into eternal happiness or misery as reward or punishment. The full glory of the righteous is therefore tied to their future resurrection and not received at death, and if it were there would be no need for the decaying body to be raised again at the resurrection and judgment. For this reason the bodily resurrection is a great and central event.
Those laid in the grave in a poor, weak body do not remain in it, but at the morning of the resurrection the Life-giver will come and call the dead forth from their prison houses. They will come forth from their graves clothed with immortal splendor, so that dishonor and loss are turned into glory. The living will then meet their loved ones again, not in the body that was buried but in an immortal, glorious body. This gives grieving believers hope so they do not sorrow as those who have no hope, and gives mourners reason to look to unseen eternal things.
The resurrection from weakness to power is a mystery too deep for the human mind to explain or even fully to comprehend. It is like the character of its divine Author, who can never be fully comprehended by finite beings. The difficulty lies solely in the weakness and narrowness of the human mind, and inability to understand gives no reason to doubt God's Word.
The body laid in the grave in dishonor and weakness will be raised in glory and power. Personal identity is perfectly preserved, so the risen saints keep the same form and features and are known and recognized as Jesus was known in His risen body, which is the pattern of their own. All deformity, disease, and disfigurement are left behind, for the risen body is made perfect in health and symmetry and radiant with light. This bodily resurrection is the center of Christian hope, because the whole person sleeps in the grave with no reward given at death, and without it those who died in faith would be lost. Resurrection does not change character, so fitness for that life must be gained now by overcoming defects through grace, while its manner remains a mystery too deep for the finite mind to explain.
Sown Weak, Raised Glorious
The body laid in the grave in dishonor and weakness will be raised in glory and power. The burial and new growth of a seed give a practical picture of this, for as the blade springs up from the buried seed so resurrection follows death. The seed sown in the ground dying and then springing up illustrates death and resurrection, with the death of the seed picturing the death of Christ and the new growth picturing resurrection. The body laid in the tomb is like a seed hidden in the earth, from which life will spring up in deathless bloom. Flowers that die only to spring forth into new life show the same lesson, that all who love God will bloom again in the Eden above.
The planting and springing of seed is a lesson concerning both the resurrection of the body and the renewing of the heart, for spiritual things are learned from the development of the earthly. The human agent plants the seed, and God waters it and causes His sun to shine upon it until the tiny blade springs up by His power. Seeds of truth sown in the soil of the heart likewise are not lost but spring up into new life. The immortal body is not made from the same particles of matter that were buried, for identity lies in organization rather than in the matter itself. Personal identity is preserved though not the same material substance, for the spirit and character are preserved and every one comes forth with his own character, in the same form and individuality of features so that friend will recognize friend, yet free from disease and every defect. God in His own time calls forth the dead, giving again the breath of life and bidding the dry bones live, and gives a body that pleases Him, composed of much finer material, since it is a new creation and a new birth. As a planted kernel of grain decays and a new kernel comes forth, the decayed natural substance is never raised as before. Therefore the living will meet their loved ones again not in the poor, weak body that was buried but in an immortal, glorious body.
The very bodies buried in dishonor and weakness will be raised in glory and power. The mortal bodies of all who have believed are quickened by the Spirit of Christ dwelling in them, and that vitalizing power binds every believing soul to Jesus so that He claims them as His own. Because that power dwelt in them while living and they became partakers of the divine nature, they are brought forth from the dead in the first resurrection when the Life-giver commands and the last trumpet sounds to eternal victory. Until that triumphant hour every sleeping saint is kept in safety and guarded as a precious jewel known by name.
Identity Preserved in Glory
Jesus' resurrection is the sample and pattern of the final resurrection of all who sleep in Him. As the risen Saviour was familiar to His followers in body, deportment, and voice, so those who sleep in Jesus will rise again and be known by their friends. Their bodies will be glorified from weakness and dishonor into power and glory while personal identity and recognizable features are preserved.
Personal identity is perfectly preserved with the same form coming forth bearing the same individuality of features, so that friend will recognize friend and family will know one another in heaven. The spirit and character are returned to God to be preserved, and every person has his own character in the resurrection when God in His own time calls forth the dead, giving again the breath of life and bidding the dry bones live. The saints are transformed into Christ's glorious image for glorious companionship with heavenly angels, free from disease and every defect. This preservation holds though not the same particles of matter or material substance as went into the grave, for God gives the righteous dead a body that pleases Him, composed of much finer material as a new creation and a new birth, as a planted kernel of grain decays but a new kernel comes forth and the decayed natural substance is never raised as before.
Those sown deformed, diseased, or disfigured in this mortal life are raised in a glorified body of perfect health and symmetry. Their faces are radiant with light shining from the face of Jesus yet still bear the lineaments of those loved, so loved ones recognize one another. In the great day of God all who are faithful and true receive the healing touch of the divine Restorer, for the Life-giver removes every deformity from them and gives them eternal life, raising the body sown in dishonor and weakness in glory and power.
Those who love and fear God are supported by His arm as they enter the dark valley of the shadow of death, showing His special favor to them in death and resurrection. They come forth from their graves crowned with glory, honor, and immortality, with a crown of glory on every brow and joy beaming from every face. They rejoice in the unfading glories of the earth made new in an endless life of unalloyed happiness.
The change from dishonor and weakness to glory and power is the second stage of redemption, the redemption from the grave by resurrection to immortal life of all who in this life are redeemed from the condemnation and practice of transgression. It is not a moral change but simply an exchange of the corruptible body for one that is incorruptible, so moral fitness for the next life must be obtained in this life.
Death and resurrection do not change character, and Jesus does not change the character at His coming. A person comes up from the grave with the same disposition manifested in the home and in society, for the traits cherished in life are not changed by death or by the resurrection, and the character borne in probationary time will be the character had at the coming of Christ. The work of transformation must be done now, with defects of character repented of and overcome through the grace of Christ and a symmetrical character formed while in this probationary state to be fitted for the mansions above. To be a saint in heaven one must first be a saint on earth, and daily life determines destiny.
Hope and Holiness Required
The raising of the body from dishonor and weakness to glory and power is essential to Christian hope, for without it those who have died in Christ would be lost. The whole person sleeps in the grave until that raising, with no immediate passing at death into eternal happiness or misery as reward or punishment. The full glory of the righteous is therefore tied to their future resurrection and not received at death, and if it were there would be no need for the decaying body to be raised again at the resurrection and judgment. For this reason the bodily resurrection is a great and central event.
Those laid in the grave in a poor, weak body do not remain in it, but at the morning of the resurrection the Life-giver will come and call the dead forth from their prison houses. They will come forth from their graves clothed with immortal splendor, so that dishonor and loss are turned into glory. The living will then meet their loved ones again, not in the body that was buried but in an immortal, glorious body. This gives grieving believers hope so they do not sorrow as those who have no hope, and gives mourners reason to look to unseen eternal things.
The resurrection from weakness to power is a mystery too deep for the human mind to explain or even fully to comprehend. It is like the character of its divine Author, who can never be fully comprehended by finite beings. The difficulty lies solely in the weakness and narrowness of the human mind, and inability to understand gives no reason to doubt God's Word.