1 Cor. 15:35-58
Paul here compares the resurrection of the believer to seeds planted in a field or garden. The plant that rises from the seed (which must die) is related to but also different from and better than the original seed. In the same way, this earthly body must eventually die but will be raised to live forever. (v. 42). It will be a spiritual, glorified body. These new bodies will be different from our earthly bodies in that they will not be weak, will not age, will not get sick or die, etc. But we will still recognize one another. Going back to the seed analogy, when we plant a kernel of corn, the resulting corn plant is different from the seed, but we still recognize it as corn. Our earthly bodies are appropriate for our earthly life, but Christ will give us a new body appropriate for eternal life!
v. 51 looks forward to a time that we call the rapture of the Church. This is a time somewhere in the future (no one knows when) when Christ will meet believers in the air. This was a totally new concept to the Corinthian believers--the New Living Translation calls it a wonderful secret; the KJV says, "Behold, I show you a mystery..." Some people will still be alive when this time comes. "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. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies."
I love this passage so much in the King James Version, I just have to include it! "Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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."
Another passage that teaches this same concept is 1 Thessalonians. 4:15-17
Getting back to 1 Cor. 15, the focus seems to be that we have victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. v. 57
And I can't improve on Paul's final words in this chapter. "So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless."
Psalm 31
vv. 1-5 David prays for God's protection from his enemies. He cries out to God to be his rock and his fortress. Stephen, upon being stoned, (Acts 7:59) and Jesus, on the cross, (Luke 23:46) both quoted v. 5, "I entrust my spirit into your hand." David, Stephen, and Jesus all expressed their complete trust in God. They knew He was in control and that He is totally worthy of our trust. What a worthy goal for us--to totally and completely trust God in every part of our lives.
In vv. 9-13 David describes how helpless and hopeless he was feeling. He doesn't pretend that he's OK, and he doesn't hold back his emotions from God. Although God already knows our anguish, He still wants us to come to Him. And it seems that God pulled David right out of his hopelessness. "But I am trusting you, O Lord...My future is in your hands!" vv. 14-15 The wicked ones are the truly hopeless ones. vv. 17-18
This Psalm ends with rich praise to our God who is good and generous ( v.19), who protects and loves us (vv 20-23). "So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!" v. 24
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