Hope for Tomorrow, Part 1

1 Corinthians 15:35-49

Join us on this episode of “Open the Bible” as Pastor Colin Smith dives into the marvellous truth of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15. Together, we explore the anticipation believers hold for the glorious new life promised through Christ. Pastor Colin answers sceptics’ questions about the resurrection and provides an analogy to help us grasp what lies ahead. Discover how death is not the end, but a gateway into a radiant eternal life with God. Whether you have questions or seek deeper understanding, this discussion is not to be missed.

Listen along and find hope in the joyous life promised to all who believe in Jesus Christ. Plus, don’t forget to explore further teachings and podcasts online at openthebible.org.uk.

100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:05,460My prayer for us as we come to these200:00:05,460 –> 00:00:08,740verses today is that we will see enough300:00:08,740 –> 00:00:11,520of the joy and the glory that lies400:00:11,520 –> 00:00:13,480ahead of all who are in the Lord Jesus500:00:13,480 –> 00:00:16,080Christ that we really will gain some new600:00:16,080 –> 00:00:18,360strength and that we will have some700:00:18,360 –> 00:00:22,379heightened anticipation of all that800:00:22,379 –> 00:00:26,020lies ahead as we press on to follow and900:00:26,020 –> 00:00:29,160serve our Lord Jesus Christ1000:00:29,459 –> 00:00:31,480Welcome to Open the Bible with pastor1100:00:31,480 –> 00:00:33,919Colin Smith I’m David Pick glad you1200:00:33,919 –> 00:00:35,580could be with us today and as you may1300:00:35,580 –> 00:00:37,480have picked up today we’re going to look1400:00:37,480 –> 00:00:39,759at the anticipation that a believer has1500:00:39,759 –> 00:00:42,580about what they expect to receive some1600:00:42,580 –> 00:00:45,020day but there maybe some listening1700:00:45,020 –> 00:00:47,820Colin who can’t quite believe that what1800:00:47,820 –> 00:00:48,740would you say to them1900:00:48,740 –> 00:00:50,560yeah we’re in 1st Corinthians in chapter2000:00:50,560 –> 00:00:53,02015 and we’re looking at the marvelous2100:00:53,020 –> 00:00:56,299truth of the resurrection and yes the2200:00:56,299 –> 00:00:58,959Apostle Paul answers questions that kind2300:00:58,980 –> 00:01:00,080of sound like they might have been2400:01:00,080 –> 00:01:01,720framed by someone who was quite2500:01:01,720 –> 00:01:05,139skeptical for example how are the dead2600:01:05,139 –> 00:01:08,040raised with what kind of body do the2700:01:08,040 –> 00:01:10,339come and what the apostle is doing is2800:01:10,339 –> 00:01:12,199he’s writing to christian believers and2900:01:12,199 –> 00:01:14,000saying now here’s how you answer these3000:01:14,000 –> 00:01:17,160questions so again this is very practical3100:01:17,160 –> 00:01:19,040it’s speaking to someone who’s a skeptic3200:01:19,040 –> 00:01:20,680and it’s speaking to every believer who3300:01:20,680 –> 00:01:22,940knows someone is a skeptic and it’s3400:01:22,940 –> 00:01:24,699speaking to us about the glorious hope3500:01:24,699 –> 00:01:26,800that we have in the Lord Jesus Christ3600:01:26,800 –> 00:01:29,339well let’s jump right in there into3700:01:29,339 –> 00:01:31,9801 Corinthians in Chapter 15 as we begin3800:01:31,980 –> 00:01:34,180the message hope for tomorrow3900:01:34,180 –> 00:01:36,820here’s Colin, the theme of this chapter4000:01:36,820 –> 00:01:39,260is the glorious truth of the4100:01:39,260 –> 00:01:41,000resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ4200:01:41,000 –> 00:01:44,279and the resurrection life that all who4300:01:44,279 –> 00:01:47,820believe will share with him4400:01:47,820 –> 00:01:50,599we saw last time that if our hope is4500:01:50,599 –> 00:01:54,059limited to our life in this world then4600:01:54,459 –> 00:01:56,680we are in for big disappointment4700:01:56,680 –> 00:01:59,320because we cannot become all that God4800:01:59,320 –> 00:02:01,239calls us to be in this life and we4900:02:01,239 –> 00:02:03,839cannot enjoy all that God has made us5000:02:03,839 –> 00:02:07,080to enjoy in this life so if we hope for5100:02:07,080 –> 00:02:10,119this life only in this life only we are5200:02:10,119 –> 00:02:12,119of all people most to be pitied so that5300:02:12,119 –> 00:02:15,960was verse 19 but the apostle Paul says5400:02:15,960 –> 00:02:18,320with a note of triumph in verse 205500:02:18,320 –> 00:02:21,399Christ has been raised from the dead5600:02:21,619 –> 00:02:24,660the first fruits of those who have5700:02:24,660 –> 00:02:26,759fallen asleep5800:02:26,759 –> 00:02:29,619in other words Jesus has risen to a5900:02:29,619 –> 00:02:32,639glorious new life and he is the first6000:02:32,639 –> 00:02:35,399fruits that means that this glorious new6100:02:35,399 –> 00:02:39,559life lies ahead for all who belong to6200:02:39,559 –> 00:02:43,619Jesus. Now the verses that we are looking6300:02:43,619 –> 00:02:47,320at today are absolutely marvellous6400:02:47,320 –> 00:02:49,839because they give to us just a little6500:02:49,839 –> 00:02:53,320glimpse of the glory that lies ahead of6600:02:53,320 –> 00:02:58,160every believer. Earlier in this letter6700:02:58,160 –> 00:03:01,179the Apostle Paul says that no eye has6800:03:01,179 –> 00:03:03,759seen or ear heard or heart even imagined6900:03:03,759 –> 00:03:05,820what God has prepared for those who love7000:03:05,820 –> 00:03:08,000him so please as we come to these verses7100:03:08,000 –> 00:03:11,339don’t expect that having looked at them7200:03:11,339 –> 00:03:13,839together you’re going to say ah I get it7300:03:13,839 –> 00:03:16,960now it’s all perfectly clear, what Christ7400:03:17,119 –> 00:03:20,759has prepared for us is so great that it7500:03:20,759 –> 00:03:24,240really is beyond our capacity to fully7600:03:24,240 –> 00:03:28,179take it in but think of it this way that7700:03:28,179 –> 00:03:32,279as we cannot see the full brightness of7800:03:32,279 –> 00:03:35,479the sun we can’t look at it directly7900:03:35,479 –> 00:03:38,539nonetheless we can take in something of8000:03:38,539 –> 00:03:41,419its brilliance and we can live in the8100:03:41,419 –> 00:03:44,919joy of its heat and of its light and my8200:03:45,259 –> 00:03:47,520for us as we come to these verses today8300:03:47,520 –> 00:03:51,259is that we will see enough of the joy8400:03:51,259 –> 00:03:53,759and the glory that lies ahead of all who8500:03:53,759 –> 00:03:56,080are in the Lord Jesus Christ that we8600:03:56,080 –> 00:03:58,639really will gain some new strength and8700:03:58,639 –> 00:04:00,779that we will have some heightened8800:04:00,779 –> 00:04:04,580anticipation of all that lies ahead as8900:04:04,580 –> 00:04:08,860we press on to follow and serve our9000:04:08,860 –> 00:04:12,080Lord Jesus Christ so the Apostle Paul9100:04:12,080 –> 00:04:15,360begins with two questions in verse 359200:04:15,360 –> 00:04:17,320he gives a brief answer and then he9300:04:17,320 –> 00:04:19,839gives a fuller explanation and we look9400:04:19,839 –> 00:04:22,640at both this morning. The two questions9500:04:22,640 –> 00:04:26,500verse 35, someone will ask, how are the9600:04:26,500 –> 00:04:28,600dead raised, that’s question number one9700:04:28,600 –> 00:04:32,600and with what kind of body do they come9800:04:32,600 –> 00:04:36,440that’s question number two. Now it seems9900:04:36,440 –> 00:04:39,600from the way in which Paul responds to10000:04:39,600 –> 00:04:42,760the false teachers at Corinth that they10100:04:42,760 –> 00:04:44,880were asking these two questions10200:04:44,880 –> 00:04:50,880cynically, how are the dead raised with10300:04:50,880 –> 00:04:54,799what kind of body do they come. To the10400:04:54,799 –> 00:04:57,079false teachers at Corinth the whole idea10500:04:57,079 –> 00:04:58,679of the resurrection was completely10600:04:58,679 –> 00:05:02,359and utterly ridiculous and because they10700:05:02,359 –> 00:05:06,119poured scorn on it and ridiculed it10800:05:06,119 –> 00:05:09,359I think that is why the Apostles first10900:05:09,640 –> 00:05:14,040response to them is to say you foolish11000:05:14,040 –> 00:05:20,559persons. Let’s be clear it is not foolish11100:05:20,559 –> 00:05:25,600to ask questions it’s not foolish to ask11200:05:25,600 –> 00:05:30,200questions but it is foolish to ridicule11300:05:30,200 –> 00:05:34,119God’s truth. No one should do that don’t11400:05:34,119 –> 00:05:36,320ever do that don’t ever allow your heart11500:05:36,359 –> 00:05:41,320to become cynical God will not be mocked11600:05:41,320 –> 00:05:45,540to ridicule God’s truth is something11700:05:45,540 –> 00:05:47,359that no one should ever do because one11800:05:47,359 –> 00:05:50,480day we will all stand before him but11900:05:50,480 –> 00:05:53,920having rebuked the cynics for the scorn12000:05:53,920 –> 00:05:56,380that they were evidently pouring on the12100:05:56,380 –> 00:05:58,160truth of the resurrection Paul12200:05:58,160 –> 00:05:59,679nonetheless takes their question12300:05:59,679 –> 00:06:03,440seriously and he offers an answer.12400:06:03,760 –> 00:06:08,859Now you see the point of that question12500:06:08,859 –> 00:06:11,140we’ve all asked it I’m sure ourselves12600:06:11,140 –> 00:06:14,619when the body is laid to rest it12700:06:14,619 –> 00:06:19,279decomposes it is ashes to ashes it is12800:06:19,279 –> 00:06:23,220dust to dust God himself has said dust12900:06:23,220 –> 00:06:26,959you are unto dust you will return so of13000:06:26,959 –> 00:06:29,440course the question is how then can a13100:06:29,440 –> 00:06:33,040body that has returned to dust possibly13200:06:33,179 –> 00:06:36,160be raised and I’m sure that question13300:06:36,160 –> 00:06:38,339will have occurred to you and the13400:06:38,339 –> 00:06:40,760Apostle answers it right here question13500:06:40,760 –> 00:06:43,779how are the dead raised that’s verse 3513600:06:43,779 –> 00:06:49,040answer what you so does not come to life13700:06:49,040 –> 00:06:54,079unless it dies. Now he is using an analogy13800:06:54,079 –> 00:06:57,059here so let’s think it through suppose13900:06:57,059 –> 00:07:01,059you are planting a sunflower you take14000:07:01,059 –> 00:07:03,839the sunflower seed you put it in the14100:07:03,839 –> 00:07:06,720ground and you cover it over with the14200:07:06,720 –> 00:07:09,940soil now what happens to the seed in the14300:07:09,940 –> 00:07:12,820ground well the answer is it14400:07:12,820 –> 00:07:18,119disintegrates it decomposes but that is14500:07:18,119 –> 00:07:20,980not the end of its life when the14600:07:20,980 –> 00:07:25,059sunflower seed dies it is then that a14700:07:25,059 –> 00:07:27,980whole new sunflower life comes into14800:07:28,980 –> 00:07:32,260so how are the dead raised? how is that14900:07:32,260 –> 00:07:34,220even possible? that’s the question. and15000:07:34,220 –> 00:07:36,220the Apostle Paul says, well now, look at15100:07:36,220 –> 00:07:37,859the world around you, look at the world15200:07:37,859 –> 00:07:40,540of seeds and of plants, and what you’ll15300:07:40,540 –> 00:07:42,440see is that this is actually what15400:07:42,440 –> 00:07:45,940happens all the time. to the critics15500:07:45,940 –> 00:07:48,760death and the disintegration that it15600:07:48,760 –> 00:07:52,100brings was the reason for not believing15700:07:52,100 –> 00:07:53,399in the resurrection. how could you15800:07:53,399 –> 00:07:55,899believe in the resurrection was their15900:07:56,000 –> 00:07:57,820point? when the body that dies16000:07:57,820 –> 00:07:59,920obviously decomposes in the ground, how16100:07:59,920 –> 00:08:01,859could there possibly be a resurrection?16200:08:01,859 –> 00:08:03,940that was their argument, but do you see16300:08:03,940 –> 00:08:05,559that the Apostle Paul turns that16400:08:05,559 –> 00:08:08,920completely on its head? he says no, if you16500:08:08,920 –> 00:08:11,260look at the world around you, what you16600:08:11,260 –> 00:08:14,140will see is that death and the16700:08:14,140 –> 00:08:16,100disintegration that it brings is16800:08:16,100 –> 00:08:19,899actually where the new life begins. we16900:08:19,899 –> 00:08:23,579think of death as the end of life but17000:08:23,820 –> 00:08:26,959person who is in Christ, it is the17100:08:26,959 –> 00:08:29,279beginning of a whole new life, a whole17200:08:29,279 –> 00:08:31,820new life that will be far more glorious17300:08:31,820 –> 00:08:34,880than the life that we have and enjoy17400:08:34,880 –> 00:08:39,400right now. far from being the end of life,17500:08:39,400 –> 00:08:43,099death is actually our way into the17600:08:43,099 –> 00:08:46,460glorious new life that God has promised17700:08:46,460 –> 00:08:49,080for us in the resurrection. that’s his17800:08:49,080 –> 00:08:52,760point here, the plant grows when the17900:08:52,799 –> 00:08:55,640seed dies and doesn’t grow without the18000:08:55,640 –> 00:08:58,200seed dying. unless the seeds dies, the18100:08:58,200 –> 00:09:00,719plant will not, cannot grow, what you so18200:09:00,719 –> 00:09:05,500does not come to life, unless it dies I18300:09:05,500 –> 00:09:08,299was making this very clear by way of an18400:09:08,299 –> 00:09:11,179answer. look death is not the end, it’s18500:09:11,179 –> 00:09:13,280not a reason for not believing in the18600:09:13,280 –> 00:09:15,080resurrection, it’s actually reason for18700:09:15,080 –> 00:09:17,659believing it after the pattern of18800:09:17,659 –> 00:09:19,419what you see with the seed and the18900:09:20,159 –> 00:09:23,640for all who believe in Christ, this is19000:09:23,640 –> 00:09:27,559actually how we get into the glorious19100:09:27,559 –> 00:09:30,580new life that God has promised and the19200:09:30,580 –> 00:09:32,900journey into that new life may be19300:09:32,900 –> 00:09:36,280difficult but the destination will be19400:09:36,280 –> 00:09:37,500glorious19500:09:37,500 –> 00:09:40,940that’s his first very brief answer19600:09:40,940 –> 00:09:44,859second question with what kind of body19700:09:45,020 –> 00:09:49,099do they come? verse 35, and his brief19800:09:49,099 –> 00:09:51,799answer to this is in verse 3719900:10:04,400 –> 00:10:07,520so the life of the seed that disintegrates in the ground20000:10:09,260 –> 00:10:14,460continues in the plant but obviously the20100:10:14,460 –> 00:10:20,219two are very different. What comes out of the ground when you’ve planted the20200:10:20,219 –> 00:10:26,820sunflower seed is obviously not a giant sunflower seed, what comes out of the20300:10:26,820 –> 00:10:32,859ground is a sunflower and the sunflower is far more glorious, far more beautiful20400:10:32,859 –> 00:10:41,059than the seed from which it came. The sunflower in other words is not the20500:10:41,059 –> 00:10:47,820recomposition of the seed. It is not the seed put back together again as it was20600:10:47,820 –> 00:10:53,239and in the same way the resurrection body will not be the recomposition of20700:10:53,239 –> 00:10:57,380the bodies that we have now it will not be these bodies put back together again20800:10:57,380 –> 00:11:05,140verse 38 God gives to each plant a body as he has chosen and to each kind of20900:11:05,140 –> 00:11:10,940seed its own body and the point of course is that in the same way God will21000:11:10,940 –> 00:11:16,340give us new bodies but the new bodies will not be a kind of recomposing of21100:11:16,340 –> 00:11:21,940what we have now they will be more glorious by far than the bodies that we21200:11:21,940 –> 00:11:29,359presently have now these are Paul’s brief answers to the two questions but21300:11:29,359 –> 00:11:35,419he goes on to give a much fuller explanation and we’ll see what that21400:11:35,419 –> 00:11:40,760explanation is in just a moment you’re listening to open the Bible with pastor21500:11:40,760 –> 00:11:45,280Colin Smith and a message called hope for tomorrow it’s part of our series21600:11:45,280 –> 00:11:50,919hope is a name based on 1 Corinthians chapter 15 and if you’ve missed any of21700:11:50,919 –> 00:11:54,119the series or if you want to go back and listen again don’t forget you can21800:11:54,119 –> 00:12:00,059always do that by coming online to our website open the Bible org UK there21900:12:00,059 –> 00:12:03,659you’ll find all the messages which have already gone out on air and you’ll also22000:12:03,659 –> 00:12:07,440find them as a podcast if that’s a better way for you to listen to pastor22100:12:07,440 –> 00:12:11,640Collins teaching and those are on all the main podcast sites search for open22200:12:11,640 –> 00:12:18,020the Bible UK and subscribe if you want to receive regular updates open the22300:12:18,020 –> 00:12:21,739Bible is supported by our listeners and if that’s something you’re considering22400:12:21,739 –> 00:12:24,619doing this month we have a wonderful offer for you22500:12:24,619 –> 00:12:30,440it’s a book by Lee Strobel along with a lovely open the Bible tote bag bookmark22600:12:30,440 –> 00:12:35,239and pen and I’ll be talking more to pastor Colin Smith about that offer22700:12:35,320 –> 00:12:39,739later in the program in the meantime you can give online and see full terms and22800:12:40,580 –> 00:12:46,880conditions on our website open the Bible org dot UK back to the message now22900:12:46,880 –> 00:12:53,200we’re in 1 Corinthians 15 yes colleen there is an analogy here for us to23000:12:53,200 –> 00:13:00,260consider there is the most beautiful description for us to savor and there is23100:13:00,359 –> 00:13:06,619the most marvelous promise for us to believe so first then an analogy for us23200:13:06,619 –> 00:13:14,580to consider beginning in verse 39 for not all flesh is the scene but there is23300:13:14,580 –> 00:13:21,479one kind four humans another four animals another for birds and then23400:13:21,479 –> 00:13:27,359another four fish now Paul makes two distinctions in this verse and then in23500:13:27,559 –> 00:13:34,700verses that follow and the distinction here is a distinction of kind he’s23600:13:34,700 –> 00:13:42,280making the simple point that God has made more than one kind of body and23700:13:42,280 –> 00:13:51,599birds fish animals people all have bodies of different kinds and their23800:13:51,599 –> 00:13:57,520flesh is designed for living in different environments so very23900:13:57,520 –> 00:14:04,419obviously fish have bodies flesh designed for life underwater birds have24000:14:04,419 –> 00:14:11,460bodies flesh designed for life in the air animals have bodies flesh designed24100:14:11,460 –> 00:14:16,440for life on the ground and sometimes in very extreme temperatures24200:14:16,440 –> 00:14:25,219they all have bodies of flesh but their flesh is of different kinds and the24300:14:25,219 –> 00:14:32,260different kinds of flesh are given by God for life in different environments24400:14:32,260 –> 00:14:39,780God has made different kinds of bodies for different kinds of life now here’s24500:14:39,780 –> 00:14:47,260the point God has given to us bodies that are suited to our short life in24600:14:47,260 –> 00:14:51,159this world that’s by the way why they wait out because they were never24700:14:51,159 –> 00:14:59,840designed to last forever they were made for our short life in this world and in24800:14:59,840 –> 00:15:06,419the same way Paul is going to argue God will give us new bodies that are suited24900:15:06,440 –> 00:15:12,059to an everlasting life in the glory of his immediate presence25000:15:12,059 –> 00:15:18,080so the first distinction is a distinction of kind and he’s pointing to25100:15:18,080 –> 00:15:23,359the fact that the resurrection body will be a body of a different kind it will be25200:15:23,359 –> 00:15:30,460adapted to everlasting life in the presence of Almighty God the second25300:15:30,520 –> 00:15:37,719distinction is the distinction of glory and this is in verse 40 and 41 there25400:15:37,719 –> 00:15:45,039are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies but the glory of the heavenly is of one25500:15:45,039 –> 00:15:50,979kind and the glory of the earthly is of another that is one glory of the Sun25600:15:50,979 –> 00:15:56,260another glory of the moon and another glory of the stars for stars differ from25700:15:56,880 –> 00:16:02,380in glory so in two verses he uses the word glory six times so you know what25800:16:02,380 –> 00:16:09,340these two verses are about about glory God’s glory is reflected25900:16:09,340 –> 00:16:14,559in all that he has made but clearly God has made some things26000:16:14,559 –> 00:16:21,659more glorious than others so the Sun is much more glorious than the moon and26100:16:21,739 –> 00:16:30,960some stars shine much brighter than others and Paul says in verse 42 so it26200:16:30,960 –> 00:16:38,880is with the Resurrection of the dead the bodies that God will give us in the26300:16:38,880 –> 00:16:48,080resurrection will be far more glorious than these bodies that we have now now26400:16:48,080 –> 00:16:55,979friends this is really really really important for this reason that the26500:16:55,979 –> 00:17:00,940bodies we have now are obviously the only bodies we’ve ever known and so it’s26600:17:00,940 –> 00:17:06,900natural for us to have a kind of sneaking suspicion that the resurrection26700:17:06,900 –> 00:17:13,479body will be something less that life beyond this world will somehow be a26800:17:14,180 –> 00:17:20,099of all the good things that we enjoy right now and do you see the point that26900:17:20,099 –> 00:17:24,500the Apostle Paul is pressing in on the minds and hearts of Christian believers27000:17:24,500 –> 00:17:28,079and that I hope is pressed into our minds and hearts today27100:17:28,079 –> 00:17:34,380he’s saying nothing could be further from the truth, nothing could be further27200:17:34,380 –> 00:17:41,739from the truth and in order to wet our appetite for what is yet to come in its27300:17:41,760 –> 00:17:49,400glory the Apostle Paul gives us a fourfold description of the Resurrection27400:17:49,400 –> 00:17:55,280Body so we looked at the analogy for us to consider here’s the description then27500:17:55,280 –> 00:18:00,859a fourfold description for us to save it I want you to try and take in the sheer27600:18:00,859 –> 00:18:10,359beauty and glory of this number one your resurrection body will be imperishable27700:18:10,760 –> 00:18:18,280imperishable verse 42 so it is with the resurrection of the dead what is27800:18:18,280 –> 00:18:26,520sown is perishable what is raised is imperishable I sometimes feel a little27900:18:26,520 –> 00:18:34,020bit sorry for poor old Lazarus remember he was raised from the dead by the Lord28000:18:34,020 –> 00:18:39,239Jesus Christ what a wonderful thing that was but he was brought back into life in28100:18:39,280 –> 00:18:44,699the same body in which he had died which of course meant that at some point in28200:18:44,699 –> 00:18:47,780the future the poor fellow had to go through the whole miserable business of28300:18:47,780 –> 00:18:54,500dying all over again now you see the point here in the word imperishable28400:18:54,500 –> 00:19:03,719Jesus rose in the power of an endless life and your resurrection body will be28500:19:04,079 –> 00:19:20,380Your resurrection body will never age it will never tire, it will never decline, it will never suffer illness and it28600:19:20,380 –> 00:19:24,300will never lose capacity isn’t that good news28700:19:24,699 –> 00:19:31,000and people say by the way you can’t put an old head on young shoulders but in28800:19:31,000 –> 00:19:36,199the resurrection the wisdom of maturity will be combined with the strength and28900:19:36,199 –> 00:19:43,339vigor of youth all of God’s people will flourish we will be all that god has29000:19:43,339 –> 00:19:51,000created us to be and we will enjoy all that god has created us to enjoy your29100:19:51,000 –> 00:19:57,239resurrection body will be imperishable second he tells us your resurrection29200:19:58,020 –> 00:20:05,300be glorious it is sown in dishonor it is raised in glory they remember that29300:20:05,300 –> 00:20:10,719Moses was in the presence of God at Mount Sinai and when he came down from29400:20:10,719 –> 00:20:16,900being in the presence of God his face was radiant it’s shawn there was a glory29500:20:16,900 –> 00:20:22,859about him do you remember when Jesus took Peter and James and John up the29600:20:22,859 –> 00:20:29,180mountain and he was transfigured before them they caught a glimpse of the future29700:20:29,180 –> 00:20:34,180glory of Jesus and what was it like well there was a brightness there was a29800:20:34,180 –> 00:20:41,060radiance there was a glory that they saw in him and in the resurrection there29900:20:41,060 –> 00:20:49,060will be a brightness there will be a radiance there will be a glory about you30000:20:49,239 –> 00:20:58,560you’ll never see a long face in the resurrection glorious shining radiant30100:20:58,560 –> 00:21:07,060joy-filled third your resurrection body will be powerful it is sown in weakness30200:21:07,060 –> 00:21:14,780it is raised in power professor Donald mcLeod wrote these words about the30300:21:14,920 –> 00:21:19,959resurrection body I just love this description he says and I quote it will30400:21:19,959 –> 00:21:27,979have more energy more stamina more athleticism more speed more30500:21:27,979 –> 00:21:35,540coordination and more durability than it ever had before isn’t that good news30600:21:35,540 –> 00:21:43,400and then he writes this the scenario is a thrilling one brilliant minds in30700:21:43,459 –> 00:21:49,839powerful bodies in a transformed universe that’s going to be glorious30800:21:49,839 –> 00:21:55,339this is what lies ahead of you brothers sister in the Lord Jesus Christ a mind30900:21:55,339 –> 00:22:01,920that is opened and expanded in all new ways a body that has strength that you31000:22:01,920 –> 00:22:08,400have never known before and a transformed sin free universe the home of31100:22:08,400 –> 00:22:15,500righteousness where you will rejoice in the presence of God forever and forever31200:22:15,500 –> 00:22:19,579you’ve been listening to pastor Colin Smith on open the Bible with a message31300:22:19,579 –> 00:22:24,660called hope for tomorrow it’s part of our series hope is a name and if you’ve31400:22:24,660 –> 00:22:27,660missed any of the series or if you want to go back and listen again31500:22:27,660 –> 00:22:33,699that’s easy to do by coming on our website openthebible.org UK or31600:22:33,699 –> 00:22:38,500by finding us as a podcast on all the main podcast sites search for open the31700:22:38,500 –> 00:22:41,619Bible UK or follow a link from our website31800:22:41,619 –> 00:22:47,180open the Bible is supported financially by our listeners and if you already give31900:22:47,180 –> 00:22:51,900to support the work of open the Bible we want to say a big thank you today if you32000:22:51,900 –> 00:22:55,939don’t already support us but you’re considering doing so you can do that by32100:22:55,939 –> 00:22:59,400coming online to our website openthebible.org.uk32200:23:00,380 –> 00:23:06,160there you can give online you can also hear about our gift to you if you’re able to set up a new direct32300:23:06,160 –> 00:23:10,560debit to the work of open the Bible in the amount of five pounds per month or32400:23:10,560 –> 00:23:16,500more or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more if you’re able to do that we’d love32500:23:16,500 –> 00:23:21,739to say thank you by sending you a copy of Lee Strobel’s book The Case for Easter32600:23:21,739 –> 00:23:27,280Also Pastor Colin’s booklet Six Days That Changed the World and on top of that a32700:23:27,359 –> 00:23:32,939lovely Open the Bible Tote Bag Penn and Bookmark Colin what might readers get32800:23:32,939 –> 00:23:37,300out of reading Lee Strobel’s book The Case for Easter? Well I think the first32900:23:37,300 –> 00:23:42,739thing is it’s an absolutely fascinating read I mean Lee Strobel was an atheist33000:23:42,739 –> 00:23:47,180when he began exploring the Christian faith and in The Case for Easter he33100:23:47,180 –> 00:23:51,699retraces his own steps, showing the biblical evidence that led him to33200:23:51,900 –> 00:23:57,439believe that Jesus really rose from the dead and the compelling evidence on33300:23:57,439 –> 00:24:01,060which we can take a reasoned step of faith is really placed before us in the33400:24:01,060 –> 00:24:04,839Gospels. The reality is that there are many people who’ve not seriously33500:24:04,839 –> 00:24:10,300considered it. Well The Case for Easter can help Christians come to clarity33600:24:10,300 –> 00:24:15,540about why we believe in the resurrection and it can help to provide a pathway to33700:24:15,540 –> 00:24:20,000faith for someone who’s just beginning to explore Christianity. Well the case33800:24:20,719 –> 00:24:25,239for Easter by Lee Strobel and Collin’s book, Six Days that Changed the World, as33900:24:25,239 –> 00:24:30,640well as a lovely Open the Bible tote bag, bookmark and pen are our gift to you if34000:24:30,640 –> 00:24:35,420you’re able to set up a new direct debit to the work of Open the Bible this month34100:24:35,420 –> 00:24:39,660in the amount of five pounds per month or more or a one-off gift of34200:24:39,660 –> 00:24:45,599fifty pounds or more. Full details, terms and conditions and to give online come34300:24:45,760 –> 00:24:49,079website openthebible.org.uk34400:24:49,079 –> 00:24:52,280For Colin Smith for Open the Bible,34500:24:52,280 –> 00:24:55,699I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll join us again soon34600:25:02,359 –> 00:25:07,119It’s easy for us to have the impression that our bodies in the resurrection will34700:25:07,119 –> 00:25:11,520be somehow less than they are now, but nothing could be further from the34800:25:11,520 –> 00:25:15,180Find out why next time on Open the Bible

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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Explore the transformative power of Christ’s resurrection, which offers hope and assurance to believers. Pastor Colin encourages us to live steadfastly in faith, abounding in the work of the Lord, with the confidence that our efforts in faith are meaningful.

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A man of crime. A ruthless empire. A fellow prisoner. A promise of Paradise. 

Discover the story of the thief on the cross, and his life-changing encounter with Jesus, in this brand new full colour graphic novel version of Colin S Smith’s Heaven, How I Got Here: The Story of the Thief on the Cross.

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