Epiphany 7C, Sunday 7C. Epistle

Made like Christ. 15:45-49

Introduction
In Chapter 15, Paul argues against those who deny the physical resurrection of the body. There were some in the Corinthian church who believed that they were a spiritual elite. So for them, the body was an impediment to the spiritual self, something to be denied and cast off at death. In our passage for study Paul develops the idea of continuity and transformation, both in our association with Adam, the earthly person, and Christ, the heavenly person.

The passage
v45-46. Paul continues to develop the argument outlined in verses 42-44, that there is continuity between our earthly body and our heavenly body, but at the same time there is transformation; "it is raised imperishable." He now goes on to develop the point made in v44b, namely, that "if there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body." Seeing we now possess this "natural body", there must also be a "spiritual body" - a body which can inherit eternal life, heaven (for flesh and blood, the natural body, cannot enter heaven). Paul develops his argument by expounding Genesis 2:7 and then, finally, calls on his readers to "put on the likeness of the heavenly man", Christ.
Paul makes the point that there are two human forms - The first Adam and the last Adam (cf. v22, Adam and Christ). The first Adam was formed as a living being, a living soul. He was Spirit breathed and formed for existence in the world. The second Adam was God breathed, a spirit breather. He was formed for existence in the heavenlies. This second Adam is the resurrected Christ and he came after the first Adam. As Adam is the representative person for all who have an earthly body, so the resurrected Christ is the representative person for all who will have a heavenly body.
v47. Using the imagery of human creation, a creation from the dust of the earth, Paul gives an image of the stuff from which the second Adam, the resurrected Christ, is made. He is from heaven. Paul is not defining Christ's origin as such, he is just describing the element of his being; his body is spiritual - of heaven.
v48. The implication of Paul's argument now comes to a head. The resurrected Christ, who is the last Adam, will change (transform) our "mortal bodies into the likeness of his glorified body", Phil.3:21. Through our identification with Christ we will become as Christ is. The form of the first Adam, the earthly person, is our form. The form of the last Adam, the person from heaven, is the form of those "who are of heaven." Because we are "in" Christ, we will become as Christ is.
v49. Paul finally encourages his readers to live as those who already possess the resurrection body of the person from heaven. There is a translation problem with this verse. Note the alternate reading "so let us bear the likeness of the man from heaven", NIV. This is the better reading. Paul is encouraging his readers to be what they are, Christ-like, heavenly men and women.

Made like Christ
To "bear the likeness of the man from heaven" in the day of resurrection is certainly a wondrous gift to look forward to. Yet, the Bible asks us to bear that image now. "Just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so let us put on the likeness of the heavenly man", ICor.15:49.
Of course, in a sense, we already possess the image of the man from heaven:
First, we are identified with Christ in his resurrection, so therefore, we already possess what Christ possesses; we possess it in him. As Paul explained in Ephesians, "God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus", Eph.2:6. We might better say, we already possess the image of the person from heaven because even now we dwell with him in heaven.
Second, we possess the image of the person from heaven here and now, in that his Spirit has taken residence in our being; he possesses us. Christ's being is now infusing us. We are infilled with the Spirit of God. As we trust in the renewing power of the indwelling Spirit, so we are changed into the likeness of our risen Lord; we become like Christ.
The Bible encourages us to put on that image, to be it if you like. We must therefore ask, what does this exhortation imply in every-day practical terms? What does it mean to "bear" the likeness of Christ in our own bodies?
Paul doesn't actually tell us what he means, but his words are surely ethical in nature. In v58 he concludes with an ethical punch-line. Seeing you are like the man from heaven, "stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord." Bearing the image of our risen Lord involves living for God in our personal walk with him, in the love of the brotherhood and in our outreach to broken humanity. In simple terms, it is discipleship. Alive through our union with Christ, we are motivated to live a life worthy of our Lord. We are prompted to bear the image of our risen Lord.

Discussion
1. In what sense will we be like Christ in the day of resurrection?
2. What action could we take tomorrow to put on the likeness of Christ?

Textual notes Abbreviations, Bibliography

In the section, v35-58, Paul handles the doubts of those who cannot accept the resurrection of an imperfect, sinful mortal body. The spiritual self, yes, but not the mortal self. Their sense of horror with this idea is conveyed in the rhetorical questions in v35. "How could it be possible for a mortal body to be raised? I mean, really! What a stupid idea." "What type of resurrected body would that be? A corpse, dead meat! How stupid." Because they can't handle a resuscitated corpse, they deny a bodily resurrection of the dead.
Paul deals with their problem by affirming the continuity of the present body with the resurrected body, while emphasizing its transformation. The same body is raised, although it is not quite the same. Christ has the same body, but it is different.
Paul argues the case in three steps. In v35-44 he uses the analogy of seeds and different kinds of bodies. The two points are simple enough. First, with the sown seed and the sheaf there is continuity, but also transformation. Second, all bodies are designed to adapt to their environment. The resurrection body will be transformed to suit its heavenly environment. In v45-49, he develops these two points further with an Adam-Christ analogy. There is continuity, but transformation. We share, and will share, the likeness of both Adam and Christ. Finally, in v50-57, Paul argues that transformation is essential for a believer to be able to enter the glory of heaven.

v48
oiJoV - as, such as. Qualitative relative pronoun. Paul is using here a theology of identification that he first introduced in v22. "As in Adam all die, so in Christ all (those who believe) will be made alive". Our identification with Adam brings death, and our identification with Christ brings life. As Adam died, so will our corruptible body die, for it is of the earth; it belongs to the present existence. As Christ lives, so will our resurrection body live, for it is of heaven; it belongs to a future existence. This new existence is for those who are "in Christ", for by being "in Christ" they share in the life of this person from heaven.

v49
foresomen (forew) fut. ind. "so shall we bear" - carry, bear, wear. Although most manuscripts say "let us bear" (hortatory subjunctive), most translations follow a lesser reading, "we shall bear". It is certainly easier to see Paul simply affirming the transformation a believer will go through in the day of resurrection. We will be as Christ is. Yet, if we follow the stronger reading, although it is a difficult concept to understand, we do arrive at a deeper truth. What Paul is implying is that through our identification with Christ we already share in the life of the person from heaven. His resurrection life is already ours; we are alive. Although we await the day of resurrection, there is a sense where we are already raised and now sit with Christ in the heavenlies. The eternal future is present. Also, the resurrected life we now possess in Christ enlivens us, renews us. He makes us alive - alive unto God. That is, we are shaped into the image of Christ, becoming like Christ. On the basis of this truth, Paul exhorts his readers to "bear / put on" the image of the resurrected Christ in their lives. Be what we are; live out what we are. Because we are alive to God in Christ, live out the new life we possess. Live it out in the sense of ethically live it out. Live the life of a righteous person, declared righteous in the sight of God and eternally made righteous in the presence of God.

Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons

1 Corinthians

Notes