1 Corinthians 15:48
As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
As is the earthy and as is the heavenly belongs to Paul's teaching on the resurrection, which is an essential Christian hope because the dead do not enter their final glory at death but await the resurrection, and neglecting this truth obscures the hope and weakens its comfort and encouragement. The mortal and immortal bodies differ so that the matter composing the mortal body need not become part of the immortal body, for identity rests in organization rather than in the same particles of matter.
The earthy and the heavenly are the first Adam and the second Adam, Christ, as the two heads of humanity. Both were free moral agents held responsible for their conduct, and the first Adam abused his freedom by allowing himself to be overcome by appetite and by disobedience lost his innocence, by his own free will becoming a sinner separated from the favor of God. The second Adam was placed in a much less favorable situation for living a sinless life, surrounded by intensely subtle and misleading influences in the midst of sinners, yet He resisted every temptation to sin, maintained His innocence, and remained ever sinless.
People share the nature of the one they belong to, with those descended from the earthly first Adam sharing his humanity, while Christ as the second Adam took on the weakened condition of humanity after generations of sin so He could rescue people from degradation, and unlike the first Adam who yielded to Satan's deception, Christ remained loyal to God and did not become the enemy's bondslave. The resurrection changes the redeemed from mortal, corruptible bodies to immortal, incorruptible ones, and this change is bodily rather than moral, since moral fitness for the next life is formed in this life.
Those raised from the tomb are made like the heavenly Christ and bear His glorious image, because Christ died for them and was raised for them to give His life to them, so that they come forth to glorious companionship with heavenly angels. In the great day of God all who are faithful and true will be made like the heavenly one, receiving the healing touch of the divine Restorer who will remove every deformity and give them eternal life. This Christlikeness transforms the image without destroying it, so resurrected saints keep personal identity and recognizable faces, and every saint connected in family relationship on earth will meet loved ones and know each other in heaven.
In the morning of the resurrection, when the Lifegiver comes and calls the dead from their prison houses, believers will meet their loved ones again not in the poor body that went into the grave but in a heavenly, immortal, glorious body, so they sorrow with hope and not as those who have no hope. A better day is coming for the faithful when the Life-giver comes and those in their graves come forth clothed with immortal splendor, changed from earthy to heavenly, and this gives comfort and encouragement to the mourning to look at the things which are unseen. The difference between the earthy and the heavenly marks the true Israel of God, who though scattered throughout all nations are not to stand on a level with other nations but to be exalted above them and remain a distinct people, sojourners on earth whose citizenship is in heaven, and the heavenly likeness is fully seen at the close of time when those who love and fear God are supported by His arm as they enter the dark valley of death and then come forth from their graves crowned with glory, honor, and immortality, rejoicing in the unfading glories of the earth made new in an endless life of unalloyed happiness.