Summary point 1 Corinthians 15: 49

How can the dead be raised at all? Paul's whole point from verses 35 to 49 is to move men from a limited earth-bound view to seeing resurrection from a universal point of view. All bodies created by God - sun, moon, animal, fish, human whatever - have an individual glory in their appointed spheres. Each one is part of a decaying, temporal realm. In the spiritual realm of heaven, God, who is perfectly capable, will choose which physical bodies to sow, transform, and give another kind of glory. Why should man expect otherwise? It makes perfect sense to have soul-animated life on earth and spirit-animated life in heaven. That's why one Adam could lead all men to death, and the second Adam, Christ, could lead all men to eternal life.

I wish I could remember which broadcast minister I heard yesterday. He spoke about the modern expectation of everyone having an expectation of spiritual life. That's not what the Bible - and Paul here - teaches. Only those who are born again receive eternal life. The event is not automatic. While on earth, all have the opportunity to choose or turn from Christ, i.e., to choose or turn from eternal life. In heaven, the Lord will do the sowing. Thankfully, believers in Christ have the promise "Whosever believeth in him shall not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Paul's presentation answers many questions about what will happen, but it doesn't explain everything. We shouldn't expect that. The Lord retains sovereignity in power, knowledge and authority.