“As we have worn the likeness of the man made of dust, so we shall wear the likeness of the heavenly man.”
“The man made of dust is the pattern of all men of dust, and the heavenly man is the pattern of all the heavenly.” (1 Corinthians 15:48) “What is sown in the earth as a perishable thing is raised imperishable. Sown in humiliation, it is raised in glory; sown in weakness, it is raised in power; sown as an animal body, it is raised as a spiritual body.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44)
Paul writes to reassure his readers that the resurrection has not yet occurred but that it will. He tells us that “flesh and blood can never possess the kingdom of God, and the perishable cannot possess immortality.” (1 Corinthians 15:50) For this reason, “this perishable being must be clothed with the imperishable, and what is mortal must be clothed with immortality.” (1 Corinthians 15:52-53)
Paul says to us, “If it is for this life only that Christ gives us hope, we of all men are most to be pitied. But the truth is, Christ is raised to life — the firstfruits of the harvest of the dead. For since it is a man who brings death into the world, a man also brings resurrection from the dead. As in Adam all men die, so in Christ all will be brought to life.” (1 Corinthians 15:19-23)
“And when our mortality has been clothed with immortality, then the saying of Scripture will come true: ‘Death is swallowed up; victory is won!’ ” (1 Corinthians 15:54)
