Today’s passage: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58
Helpful thoughts:
- In order to live forever in the kingdom, we must be changed.
- There will be some who have not yet died who get to go straight to imperishable resurrection body perfection! When Christ returns, they will be instantly changed in the “twinkling of an eye.”
- This event is called ‘The Rapture.” It is also mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
- Through Christ’s death and resurrection we have been promised victory over death!
- Our physical death is temporary, our life is eternal.
- This is all through the gracious and powerful act of God. There is no way we could accomplish this on our own!
- All of this knowledge gives us confidence. We are on the victorious side! So, let’s go make disciples.
Questions to consider:
- If absence from these bodies we have is presence with the Lord in Heaven (2 Corinthians 5:8, Philippians 1:21-24), if Christ’s return and victory is guaranteed, and if Christ’s return also marks the day when we get our forever imperishable bodies, what is it that makes us fear other people? What thoughts control us? How can these truths build up our courage to go obey the Lord and love people (Perhaps even in ways they won’t agree is “loving”)?
- How does this passage help us to further understand what we are offering to the lost when we share Christ with them? We often think of how upset people will be with us if we share the gospel…but how joyful will they be in eternity if they hear and repent? How can we approach people in love?
- What will our resurrection bodies enable us to do forever? Who will receive our praise and worship? What will it be like to have no sin, no sickness, no death, no shame, and to be with Jesus, to go before the throne of God without fear, etc.?