1st Corinthians 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
This passage of scripture teaches us of God's power that is displayed both in the creation and redemption of man, for the verses take us from the beginning, when Adam was created, down to the end of time, when the faithful of all ages would be redeemed. The power of God was signally displayed in the creation of Adam and Eve, where God used preexisting particles of dust to create new particles from which bones and cells and genes and blood are made, all of which are entirely new, but which were derived originally from the earth. This sacred truth is firmly established in the scriptures, and therefore sets the stage for God's power to be again revealed in the resurrection of the just, for the same method of using preexisting materials to make completely new particles, will again be employed. Let's read:
Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
1st Corinthians 15:35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 36 "That which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; 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"....
What is worthy of note in the creation of man, is that there is no obvious trace of dust or soil in our make up, for we can scrub and wash ourselves all day long, and we can do surgeries and open up our internal organs to scrutiny, yet we will find no trace of earth or soil on the inside or the outside. The reason for this phenomena is that God's omnipotent power was displayed in the transformation of dust particles into a living being, and this secret of science remains His domain, and no one else can fathom or comprehend how this is done. Even after stating clearly in His word that the dust of the earth was used in our creation, we are at a loss to discover how to bring life from mere soil, even though we have mountains of dust at our disposal.
The same is true of the resurrection of the just, in which God is again going to use preexisting material to make completely new particles of matter, of which the saints who will be saved will consist. No one has a clue how it is done, yet it will be accomplished by the singular power of God alone. In the new bodies that will be given to the righteous, no trace of the preexisting raw materials used will be found, because our bodies will be entirely new. This sacred truth is exemplified in the resurrection of Christ, for it was the same body that was laid in the tomb that was used as the basic raw material to create an entirely new body, with no trace of the original particles remaining, just as it was with the creation of Adam. As a matter of fact, this is one of the reasons why Jesus is referred to in the Bible as the second Adam, for in creation and redemption, preexisting raw materials are used. Let's read:
Matthew 28:2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
The great transformation that took place with Christ at His resurrection, will again take place with all who will be saved, because the omnipotent power of God in the use of preexisting matter to make completely new particles, will again be displayed on a massive scale when the millions of the saved are awakened from their dusty beds. It is the will of God that we all be partakers of this coming event, whether by translation, or by resurrection, for it is the consummate hope and desire of all true believers. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which confirms this delicate truth, and let us therefore be found faithful to the end, so we can share in Christ's glory when He is revealed. Let's read:
1st John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!