The Bible explains the differences and connections between our natural-born, physical body and the resurrection bodies of Christians. In this passage, Paul writes about the natural body we have now and that we will be raised into a spiritual body after God transforms us. There is a progression from the natural to the spiritual,
enabling us to live in heaven and exist in eternity.
Adam, the first man, became a living being after God formed him from the dust and breathed life into him. God made Adam a living body with a soul supported by eating, drinking, rest; a body capable of sin and death.
Jesus is referred to as the last Adam: he too is a man with a physical body, but he is different from the first Adam in that he became a life-giving spirit after his resurrection. Through him, Christians can look forward to being resurrected.
Paul describes how the resurrected bodies of Christians will be different from our current physical bodies. Our present bodies are weak, dishonourable, corrupt and temporary. In contrast, our spiritual bodies will be powerful, glorified and eternal, made from heavenly materials, not earthly and fit for an eternity with God. Paul shows
us that the death of our natural, physical body is not the end of life for us. Instead, it is the last step before being resurrected in a glorified body like that of Jesus and eternally defeating death.
The Corinthians could not understand this concept of resurrection. They questioned how a body buried in the ground could be raised to life again. Paul used the illustration of a seed planted in the ground. The seed appears dry and dead, lifeless; it is transformed into a plant growing out of the soil, green and fresh and beautiful. It
is the same seed, but it has taken on a new form. This is what happens to us. God gives us a new form, fresh and new and beautiful.
