1 Corinthians 15:50-54
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
What happens to a person after they die? The answer is that their spirit and soul immediately go to one of two places: heaven or hell. Those who have placed their faith in Christ will go immediately upon death to be with Him. The Apostle Paul wrote, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8) and “having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better” (Philippians 1:23). Those who die without Christ will go immediately to a place of torment that we often refer to as hell (Luke 16:22-23).
These will not be the final realities for people in either destination. The Word of God promises that all people will be bodily raised from the dead. Jesus said, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:28-29).
The lost will be bodily raised to stand before a Great White Throne, judged for their sins, and cast eternally into a Lake of Fire, the final hell (Revelation 20:11-15). The saved will be bodily raised at the coming of Christ, an event we often call the Rapture. They will be raised in glorified bodies that they will spend eternity in.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth about a big theological issue that they had. In spite of all of their giftedness and knowledge they had a wrong understanding of the resurrection of the dead. In fact, they had some in their church who believed that the dead do not rise again. This concept is clearly understood as far back as biblical authors go. The book of Job is probably the first book of the Bible written and Job declares, “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God” (Job 19:25-26). Job was assured that God would come in judgment and that he would be raised again bodily to stand before God. He was right, but the Corinthians were denying this fundamental truth.
Paul addresses the issue with the resurrection of Jesus Himself. He tells them that Christ has risen from the dead (bodily). His resurrection was proven in the Old Testament Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) and He was seen by a multitude of witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:5-11). His argument then is that if the dead don’t rise, then neither did Jesus, and if Jesus didn’t rise then the Corinthians had no salvation (1 Corinthians 15:12-20). Having proven that the dead do rise because Christ rose from the dead, he instructs the Corinthians about their eventual resurrection as believers. They would raise with new, glorified bodies, fit for eternity (1 Corinthians 15:35-49). This is necessary because our current bodies of flesh and blood cannot enter into the presence of God. When we die our souls and spirits go to be with God, but one day our bodies will be reunited with our souls and spirits and our bodies will be forever changed. We will receive a body fit for eternity, much like the body that Jesus had when He rose from the dead.
In light of this promise, we have three conclusions to make. First, we will be changed. Our current bodies that break down and deteriorate will no longer be that way and we will be fitted for eternal glory. Second, we will have victory. Death is the final enemy that Christ overcomes for us (1 Corinthians 15:26). Through His resurrection, we take part in that victory over death by being totally redeemed in body, soul, and spirit. Lastly, it places upon us an awesome responsibility. We are people of eternity and we should live like it.
When you are raised one day, which resurrection will you be a part of? Are you going to have a part in the victory of Jesus and His people? Or, will you be raised one day to be judged for your sin at a Great White Throne? Are you living in light of this great resurrection truth, faithfully serving Christ and knowing what He has in store for you?