the trumpet shall sound

Good morning all,
It was great to be back with you in church yesterday and it's nice to be home. Yesterday Paul discussed how our physical body is like a seed: when it's planted in death it prepares to one day rise again as a glorious, powerful, spiritual body. Today Paul continues his thought saying that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Instead we must be changed into spiritual beings. Paul expected that Christ would return and bring history to conclusion very soon. Jesus had the same expectation ("There are some standing here who will not taste death before the kingdom comes in power.") That's why Paul writes that we won't all die, but we will all be changed when the kingdom of God comes.

There are two main points here about the resurrection of the dead. On the one hand God doesn't just throw away our bodies: eternal life, like this life is life in a body. But on the other hand our bodies will be radically changed when God finishes the work of redemption. Whether we live or die one day God will raise us up and make all things new. In the end eternal live is victorious over death because in Christ God is victorious over sin. In the meantime the death of those we love hurts, but we know that Christ's love for us wins the ultimate victory and so death's power is not forever. Therefore, beloved, be steadfast, immovable because you know that in the Lord our labor is not in vain.
Amen,
Sam

1 Corinthians 15:50-58

50What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, 52in 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.

53For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.