1 Corinthians 15:50, commentary and pictures

In its present mortal and perishable condition, flesh and blood cannot inherit God's incorruptible and everlasting kingdom, but corruption must be changed into incorruption. That change to immortality is given at Christ's personal second coming, when the righteous dead are raised incorruptible and the living are changed, so until then believers are heirs of the kingdom rather than its inheritors. It places the hope of eternal blessedness in the resurrection, not in entering glory at death. The old nature born of blood and of the will of the flesh, with its hereditary tendencies and former habits, is likewise shut out from God's spiritual kingdom, which is entered only by surrender of self to the will of God and the sovereignty of love, a victory no one can win by himself but God alone can give. Moral fitness for the life to come is gained in this life by redemption from the condemnation and practice of sin, while at the resurrection the body is changed from corruptible to incorruptible without losing recognizable personal identity.

Resurrection to Inherit the Kingdom

In its present mortal, perishable, corruptible condition, flesh and blood cannot inherit God's incorruptible, everlasting kingdom in its eternal state, for corruption must become incorruption. That change to immortality and incorruptibility is given at Christ's personal second coming, when the righteous dead are raised incorruptible and the living are changed, and Christ makes His people immortal and incorruptible to prepare them to receive the kingdom; until then believers are heirs of the kingdom rather than its inheritors. The verse belongs to Paul's teaching on the resurrection, which is essential to the hope of eternal blessedness, tying that hope to the resurrection rather than to the dead entering glory at death. It rules out the reasoning that the future immortal body must consist of the same matter as the mortal body and continue earthly fleshly life with its frailties and passions, for corruption does not inherit incorruption.

Personal identity between the mortal person and the immortal person does not depend on preserving the same particles of matter but on continuity of organization, transformed into Christ's glorious image without losing recognizable identity. So loved ones will meet and recognize each other's faces, and every saint connected in family relationship here will know each other there in glorious companionship with heavenly angels. The change to immortality is not a moral change, for moral fitness for the life to come is gained in this life by redemption from the condemnation and practice of sin, while the body is changed from corruptible to incorruptible.

At the morning of the resurrection the Life-giver will call the dead from their graves and prison houses and bring them forth clothed with immortal splendor. Burial in this mortal state is only a last home in this world, and a better day precious to the faithful is coming, so mourners are to look at the unseen eternal things for blessing and encouragement. Loved ones will meet again not in the poor body that went into the grave but in an immortal, glorious body, recognizing each other's faces. Those who love and fear God are supported by His arm as they enter the dark valley of the shadow of death, then come forth from their graves crowned with glory, honor, and immortality, with joy beaming from every countenance. On the great day of God all who are faithful and true will be changed by the healing touch of the divine Restorer, with every deformity removed and given eternal life, to rejoice in the unfading glories of the earth made new in an endless life of unalloyed happiness.

Overcoming Flesh and Blood Now

Flesh and blood that cannot inherit the kingdom of God is the old nature born of blood and of the will of the flesh, with its hereditary tendencies and former habits, shut out from God's spiritual kingdom. Entering that kingdom requires giving up the old ways, the hereditary tendencies and former habits, in the surrender of self to the will of God and the yielding of the heart to the sovereignty of love. That surrender is fought in the domain of the heart as the greatest battle ever fought by man, the greatest battle of the Christian life. That victory is not won by human power, for no one can by himself overcome the mighty foe who holds him captive, and God alone can give the victory.

Men young and middle-aged must therefore rise above flesh and blood now to be wise unto righteousness. Rising above it requires resisting the enemy in association with others, striving in word and deed to reach the high standard of righteousness, and searching the heart as with a lighted candle lest one sin remain unrepented of and unconfessed. To rise above flesh and blood is to overcome unrestrained human nature, passion, self-love, self-sufficiency, and self-confidence. It is done by becoming as a little child in humility and learning meekness and lowliness from Christ. It is done by practicing self-denial and self-control, by bringing desires and passions into conformity with the Word of God instead of fitting religion to passion, by mortifying the members which are upon the earth, by purifying the soul by obedience to the truth, by letting no corrupt communication proceed out of the mouth, by resisting the devil, and by searching out every darling and cherished sin to repent and confess it while striving in word and deed to reach the high standard of perfection and righteousness.