1 Corinthians Week 38

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

1 Corinthians 15:45-47 

⁴⁵ The Scriptures tell us, “The first man, Adam, became a living person.” But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit. ⁴⁶ What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later. ⁴⁷ Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven. 

Paul contrasted the first and last Adams. The one created in Genesis 2:7 was a person made from the dust on the earth. The first Adam who came from dust disobeyed God and poisoned the human race with a fallen sin nature. The last Adam—that is, Christ, has always existed and came from heaven, was born as a baby and grew to manhood to give His life for the sins of the world. Christ gives eternal life to all who believe in Him. 

REFLECT 

Notice how the apostle Paul kept referring to the Scriptures. That is what every believer should do when faced with a spiritual question.  

RESPOND 

With a friend read Acts 17:10-12. Some people even change churches so they can go to where the Scriptures are taught. How is it in your church fellowship? Are the Scriptures taught and explained? See Nehemiah 8:8 for how it was done in Old Testament times. 

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

1 Corinthians 15:48-49 

⁴⁸ Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man. ⁴⁹ Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man. 

Paul contrasted the earthly person with the heavenly person. Those alive now are like the earthly person. Someday believers in Jesus will be like the heavenly person when they are taken to heaven in their changed bodies.  

REFLECT 

As a believer do you look forward to receiving your heavenly body that will be without pain or suffering and will never know death? 

RESPOND 

Join with your friend in reading 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. This tells of the time when believers will be caught up to meet Jesus in the air. Those believers who have already passed away will rise first followed by believers living at that time.  

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

1 Corinthians 15:50 

⁵⁰ What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. 

Just as planted grain could not be transformed until it died, so also the physical body will not inherit God’s Kingdom. Believers will receive a body that “will last forever.” That is the inheritance to which every believer can look forward.  

REFLECT 

Christ-followers can rejoice as they think about the time when they will receive heavenly bodies that will last forever. 

RESPOND 

Together with a friend read what Paul said in his second letter to the Corinthians. In 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 he contrasted the present problems with the future.  

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 

⁵¹ But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! ⁵² It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 

Paul referred to a “secret” in that it had not been revealed in the Old Testament. It was that believers will be changed from their earthly bodies to their heavenly bodies in the blink of an eye. Those raised from the dead and transformed will live forever.  

REFLECT 

Think often about this wonderful truth.  

RESPOND 

Seek to minister to others who have had believing loved ones pass away. Remind them that someday those believers will be transformed into their heavenly bodies.  

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

1 Corinthians 15:53 

⁵³ For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. 

Paul continued his thoughts about mortal believers who die and are transformed into their immortal bodies. This is the way earthly bodies take on heavenly bodies. Paul had been writing these truths to encourage the believers in Corinth to realize there will be a resurrection of the body, just as Jesus’ body was resurrected from the grave. 

REFLECT 

To be “transformed” is to have the form changed. This will be that wonderful time when believers have the form of their earthly bodies changed into the form of their heavenly bodies. 

RESPOND 

Paul also wrote about something believers can do to have their forms changed while here on earth. See Romans 12:1-2 in this regard. Notice that verse 2 in this passage focuses on changing the way one thinks. A believer can be a witness by his life, language and thought life.