Do We Possess Immortality Or Is It A Gift From God ?
The Apostle Paul makes it abundantly clear that our resurrection at Jesus' second coming is tied to our being given eternal life. Further in the resurrection chapter, he explains that the resurrection of Christ during the Days of Unleavened Bread or within the Days of Unleavened Bread is related to our being brought back from the grave to live eternally as immortal spirit being.
1 Corinthians 15:50-51 NKJV 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--
PAUL IS SAYING THAT IN OUR CURRENT NATURAL HUMAN, FLESHLY STATE THAT WE ARE VERY CORRUPTIBLE. Everyone gets aged and starts to decay eventually. But there is no indication that we have a remaining part of us that is immortal or incorruptible. Note the following.
1 Corinthians 15:52-53 NKJV 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
If we believers were already immortal this statement would make no sense. Paul's says at the resurrection of the dead we will THEN put on immortality. That we do not now have it already is plainly being stated.
1 Corinthians 15:54-55 NKJV 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that says : death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?"
Until we are resurrected like Jesus was, we do not have immortality. The natural state of men is to be mortal and corruptible. Immortality is a gift from God thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:42-44 NKJV 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
Paul is being very clear about the power of the resurrection. We start off mortal like a seed and are reborn or resurrected as something marvelous. We are reborn or resurrected as an indestructible spirit being. Just like Jesus Christ three days and nights after his death and burial. Wow!
1 Corinthians 15:57-58 NKJV 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:25-26 NKJV 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.
CHRIST IS THE FIRST OF THE FIRST-FRUITS TO BE RESURRECTED
Paul also explains that Jesus is the first-fruit and we follow his lead when the day of resurrection comes for us all. It will be a wonderful day for all of us.
1 Corinthians 15:17-20 NKJV 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. 20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
The pattern established in the Passover period in which Jesus fulfilled his destiny as the Lamb of God, and was resurrected in the midst of the Days of Unleavened Bread. He is the first of the first-fruits and we believers will follow in his footsteps.
Exodus 23:19 BBE 19 The best of the first-fruits of your land are to be taken into the house of the Lord your God...Exodus 34:26 NKJV 26 "The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring to the house of the LORD your God...
When you look at headings of Bibles they list the Passover and Unleavened Bread together. Why? One cannot eat the Passover meal with Unleavened Bread until the Lamb is sacrificed. They also list the first of firstfruits with the days of Unleavened Bead. Why? Three days after Jesus death and burial he was resurrected as the first of the firstfruits unto God. This starts the count to Pentecost in which the churches first 120 members were empowered with the Holy Spirit.
John 20:16-17 NKJV 16 Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'"
Jesus was resurrected just prior to the end of the weekly Sabbath possibly the twilight, and later while still dark Mary Magdalene saw Christ before he performed the ritual of the first fruits being presented to God. Jesus was the real item not just barley stalks and he went to God not just symbolically the high priest as representative of God. Then Jesus returned to offer proof of his being raised from the dead to others.
JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY PATH TO IMMORTALITY
But none will gain immortality without Jesus. We must repent and accept the atoning blood of Christ. Justification comes only thru Christ. We cannot atone for our own sins no matter how many good works we perform.
John 3:3 NKJV 3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Our second birth happens at the resurrection of the faithful when we will be born into the spiritual family.
John 3:5-6 NKJV 5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that whichis born of the Spirit is spirit.
Since we are still flesh and blood that bleeds we have not been born again in the sense that Jesus meant the term. Many are in the grave awaiting this momentous spiritual birth. Remember Jesus said we do not have immortality at this time. Our conversion decision is we follow Jesus or we will perish, not live forever somewhere unpleasant.
John 3:15-16 NKJV 15 "that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
This verse makes no sense if we already have immortality. We await Jesus return in power and our rebirth as immortal spirit beings. It will be a wonderful day!
John 5:39-40 NKJV 39 "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 "But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
Jesus told the religious leaders of his day that he was the real door to eternal life. It was in the Bible but they were so misguided they could not see the forest for the trees. Our hope for eternal life is in Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 NKJV 13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
Believers will be resurrected like Jesus and it will be one the greatest days in mankind's history.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 NKJV 15 ...that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Paul said in the resurrection chapter I Cor.15 that we shall put on immortality at this crucial point in history the second coming of the Messiah and the resurrection of the dead in Christ.
John 8:51 NKJV 51 "Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death."
Jesus is the end of death for believers so we love and appreciate Him. Jesus gives us eternal life!
