RESURRECTION (1 Cor. 15:50-57)

"Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality." (1 Corinthians 15:51-53)

John Calvin writes:

“Let us, however, consider this settled: that no one has made progress in the school of Christ who does not joyfully await the day of death and final resurrection. Paul, too, distinguishes all believers by this mark [Titus 2:13; cf. II Tim. 4:8], and Scripture habitually recalls us to it whenever it would set forth proof of perfect happiness.” (Institutes of the Christian Religion, 718)

Resurrection is the aspect of our eternal salvation that will only be made effective in us at the time of Christ’s return, brothers and sisters…at the sounding of the last trumpet…at the time of the end of this present darkness and the beginning of the new heavens and the new earth.

Only then will we be truly free from the effects of sin and the power of death.

Only then will God raise our bodies from the grave…from the ground…from the sea…from dust and ashes…and clothe us with imperishability.

Only then will our eternal salvation be complete.

This is the salvation to which all who are weary with sin…who desire to be in the presence of the Lord God…who want to live and serve him faithfully…who carry a heavy burden of guilt and sin…this is the salvation to which we look forward with great anticipation. This is the salvation that we long for…the resurrection of the body, when crying and mourning and death will be no more…when tired, weak, frail, broken, sin-filled bodies will be made new.

Resurrection, for those who believe, is the future culmination of our eternal salvation. I will be raised imperishable. I will be resurrected. I will be saved.