What is Salvation?

What is Salvation?

Some thoughts to ponder.

I do not so much here bring into question whether man can still be reconciled to God on the other side of physical death:

What I put before you, is whether or not God has the ability to accomplish this task. 

For we certainly know that He has the will !

Is the offer of salvation only available in this earthly life: this side of physical death?

Or is the offer available for ever, and thus by implication for all.

The offer is obviously an irrevocable one and a once and for all offer: so is it our own physical death, that is the limiting factor, or that puts a limit on the offer to us in this physical life, thus rendering the offer to us only available now, this side of the grave?

Does the word of God say conclusively that the free gift of salvation expires upon our physical death and is not available after that on the other side???

We certainly have proof texts in the word of God that people were saved on the other side and that God had already promised salvation to those who believed in a redeemer on the other side of Christ, without knowing specifically Who He was.

It was sufficient to believe that God had a plan of redemption and thus He was going to provide a redeemer to save mankind from their sin, fallen, lost, separated, estranged condition from God; that believing hope, to be counted as sufficient for God to embolden that little hope, granting to that one, His gift of faith to give further substance to that hope; so that God could call that gift of faith held, righteousness.

1. We know that it was and has always been God's will that all men would be saved and reconciled to Himself.

2. We know that God had a plan from the foundation of the world, through the lamb of God that was slain from the foundation of the world, to implement the means by which this plan could be brought to fruition.

3. So if God had and has the will and the plan, to create an environment whereby all men might be saved: and that we know already that the will and the plan have already been carried out, because both were already in God by faith before the foundation of the world:

4. Would not God also provide the means by which His will and His plan surely shall come to pass?

5. Surely God being God could and has already willed, planned, and thus provided the means; HAVING ALREADY COUNTED THE COST.

6. For we know that because He is outside of time and space and because HE IS GOD: not only has He willed, planned, provided the means and counted the costs involved, so that the reconciliation of all things may be accomplished in and through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ: but because all these things are true and that He IS God; He thus calls the beginning from the end and calls things that be not as though they were, therefore:

7. THEY ARE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED !

8. IT WAS, IS, AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN A DONE DEAL !

9. How is this possible?

10. How shall we be saved?

11. With man it is impossible;

12. BUT WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE ?

13. All things are possible to HIM WHO BELIEVES !

14. Do YOU Believe ?

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

Luke 14:28-35 KJV

1. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

Are we, like some, willing to mock God and believe that He cannot follow through and has not already made provision for all: or that He does not have the ability and resources available and thus is not up to the task of the final consummation of all things in Christ?

2. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 

Or do we, like the many, doubt that God does not have the ability and the capability to bring all thugs necessary to pass and thus is not up to the 'impossible' task of the final consummation of all things in Christ?

Do we believe that God had to make a pact with Satan; that He hadn't taken into account that because He was not able to provide a conclusive salvation for all men; because of their obstinacy and the possibility that some in pride and defiance thought that they could hold out longer than the all enduring love of God, there was a greater possibility that they would and they could?

So as part of God's peace treaty with Satan; God had to limit mankind's salvation to this lifetime and immediately upon his physical death, if he had not repented of his sins and confessed Jesus Christ as his saviour; Satan could have him for eternity as his plaything.

This agreement was for all men, women and children at the age of and over the age of 'accountability';  which would be determined by Satan on a works for righteousness basis.

Do we see here the basis for a hand wringing God; Who was not able to find, rescue and bring home that lost sheep, to wait patiently in faith for the prodigal to return, to search endlessly to eternity if needs be, until that lost coin is found again; all for the rejoicing in heaven of one lost sinner coming home.

A God Who is double minded, not one in Whom is no shadow of turning.

A God Who expects us to love our enemies, to forgive those who sin against us seventy times seven and says of the Pharisees, to do what they say, but not what they do; yet is willing to consign the greater majority of His creation to an eternity in torment, not for correction as a loving Father, but for their own sins: which by the way, He had planned to be done away in Christ: obviously Christ's sacrifice was and never shall be sufficient for all the lost that Jesus said would be recovered and searched for until restored !

This would all be a realty if God had to conform Himself to our image and understanding and hadn't already fulfilled the whole reconciling of all things to Himself through the COMPLETED AND FINISHED work of His Son Jesus Christ, ONCE AND FOR ALL: regardless of and in spite of our hopeless and untenable condition and position; in that we could not and never will, or shall be able to save ourselves: or even as God's word says, come to God of our own volition without His drawing in His great love for us, by His grace and mercy towards us and by the granting of even His very faith to us to believe.

Salvation is ALL of Him and He HAS provided THE LAMB !!!

“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”

Luke 6:27-36 KJV

“Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 19:21-26 KJV

So, with even the rich man, Jesus is saying, it is possible with Him, with God; not through man selling all that he had.

“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.”

1 Corinthians 15:19-28 KJV

“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”

Revelation 22:13 KJV

“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

Revelation 1:8 KJV

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.”

Revelation 21:4-6 KJV

“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:”

Isaiah 46:9-10 KJV

“For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.”

Romans 4:13-18 KJV

“And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.”

Genesis 22:15-18 KJV

It is all of God and none of man!

It is God's love, grace and faith and His drawing that bring us to Him!

Not one of us sought Him!

It was all His decision to love, to give of His Son: to redeem us all from a hopeless position.

It was all of Him and none of us!

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

Romans 12:3 KJV

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Hebrews 11:1, 6 KJV

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

Galatians 2:16 KJV

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”

Romans 3:20-24 KJV

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 5:1-21 KJV

“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 6:44 KJV

“And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.”

Mark 10:13-15 KJV

“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

Luke 18:1-5, 7-27 KJV

The Love of God 

This Is Our God !!!

*And following let us paraphrase this chapter....

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 KJV

*The Paraphrase:-

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not the love of God, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not the love of God, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not the love of God, it profits me nothing. God the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, suffer long, and are kind; God the Father and His Son, envy not; God the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, boast not Themselves, are not puffed up, Do not behave Themselves unseemly, seek not Their own, are not easily provoked, think no evil; Rejoice not in iniquity, but rejoice in the truth; Bare all things, believe all things, hope all things, endure all things. God the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, never fail: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abides  faith, hope, and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 KJV

John

17

1These things spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to the heaven, and said -- 'Father, the hour hath come, glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee, 2according as Thou didst give to him authority over all flesh, that -- all that Thou hast given to him -- he may give to them life age-during; 3and this is the life age-during, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and him whom Thou didst send -- Jesus Christ; 4I did glorify Thee on the earth, the work I did finish that Thou hast given me, that I may do [it]. 

5'And now, glorify me, Thou Father, with Thyself, with the glory that I had before the world was, with Thee; 

6I did manifest Thy name to the men whom Thou hast given to me out of the world; Thine they were, and to me Thou hast given them, and Thy word they have kept; 7now they have known that all things, as many as Thou hast given to me, are from Thee, 8because the sayings that Thou hast given to me, I have given to them, and they themselves received, and have known truly, that from Thee I came forth, and they did believe that Thou didst send me. 9'I ask in regard to them; not in regard to the world do I ask, but in regard to those whom Thou hast given to me, because Thine they are, 10and all mine are Thine, and Thine [are] mine, and I have been glorified in them; 11and no more am I in the world, and these are in the world, and I come unto Thee. Holy Father, keep them in Thy name, whom Thou hast given to me, that they may be one as we; 12when I was with them in the world, I was keeping them in Thy name; those whom Thou hast given to me I did guard, and none of them was destroyed, except the son of the destruction, that the Writing may be fulfilled. 13'And now unto Thee I come, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves; 14I have given to them Thy word, and the world did hate them, because they are not of the world, as I am not of the world; 

15I do not ask that Thou mayest take them out of the world, but that Thou mayest keep them out of the evil. 16'Of the world they are not, as I of the world am not; 17sanctify them in Thy truth, Thy word is truth; 18as Thou didst send me to the world, I also did send them to the world; 19and for them do I sanctify myself, that they also themselves may be sanctified in truth. 

20'And not in regard to these alone do I ask, but also in regard to those who shall be believing, through their word, in me; 21that they all may be one, as Thou Father [art] in me, and I in Thee; that they also in us may be one, that the world may believe that Thou didst send me. 22'And I, the glory that thou hast given to me, have given to them, that they may be one as we are one; 23I in them, and Thou in me, that they may be perfected into one, and that the world may know that Thou didst send me, and didst love them as Thou didst love me. 24'Father, those whom Thou hast given to me, I will that where I am they also may be with me, that they may behold my glory that Thou didst give to me, because Thou didst love me before the foundation of the world. 25'Righteous Father, also the world did not know Thee, and I knew Thee, and these have known that Thou didst send me, 

26and I made known to them Thy name, and will make known, that the love with which Thou lovedst me in them may be, and I in them.' 

Youngs Literal Translation 

1st Corinthians

15

1And I make known to you, brethren, the good news that I proclaimed to you, which also ye did receive, in which also ye have stood, 2through which also ye are being saved, in what words I proclaimed good news to you, if ye hold fast, except ye did believe in vain, 

3for I delivered to you first, what also I did receive, that Christ died for our sins, according to the Writings, 4and that he was buried, and that he hath risen on the third day, according to the Writings, 5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve, 

6afterwards he appeared to above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain till now, and certain also did fall asleep; 7afterwards he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8And last of all -- as to the untimely birth -- he appeared also to me, 

9for I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I did persecute the assembly of God, 10and by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace that [is] towards me came not in vain, but more abundantly than they all did I labour, yet not I, but the grace of God that [is] with me; 11whether, then, I or they, so we preach, and so ye did believe. 

12And if Christ is preached, that out of the dead he hath risen, how say certain among you, that there is no rising again of dead persons? 13and if there be no rising again of dead persons, neither hath Christ risen; 14and if Christ hath not risen, then void [is] our preaching, and void also your faith, 15and we also are found false witnesses of God, because we did testify of God that He raised up the Christ, whom He did not raise if then dead persons do not rise; 16for if dead persons do not rise, neither hath Christ risen, 17and if Christ hath not risen, vain is your faith, ye are yet in your sins; 18then, also, those having fallen asleep in Christ did perish; 19if in this life we have hope in Christ only, of all men we are most to be pitied. 

20And now, Christ hath risen out of the dead -- the first-fruits of those sleeping he became, 21for since through man [is] the death, also through man [is] a rising again of the dead, 22for even as in Adam all die, so also in the Christ all shall be made alive, 23and each in his proper order, a first-fruit Christ, afterwards those who are the Christ's, in his presence, 24then -- the end, when he may deliver up the reign to God, even the Father, when he may have made useless all rule, and all authority and power -- 25for it behoveth him to reign till he may have put all the enemies under his feet -- 26the last enemy is done away -- death; 27for all things He did put under his feet, and, when one may say that all things have been subjected, [it is] evident that He is excepted who did subject the all things to him, 

28and when the all things may be subjected to him, then the Son also himself shall be subject to Him, who did subject to him the all things, that God may be the all in all. 

29Seeing what shall they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? why also are they baptized for the dead? 30why also do we stand in peril every hour? 31Every day do I die, by the glorying of you that I have in Christ Jesus our Lord: 32if after the manner of a man with wild beasts I fought in Ephesus, what the advantage to me if the dead do not rise? let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die! 33Be not led astray; evil communications corrupt good manners; 34awake up, as is right, and sin not; for certain have an ignorance of God; for shame to you I say [it]. 

35But some one will say, 'How do the dead rise? 36unwise! thou -- what thou dost sow is not quickened except it may die; 37and that which thou dost sow, not the body that shall be dost thou sow, but bare grain, it may be of wheat, or of some one of the others, 38and God doth give to it a body according as He willed, and to each of the seeds its proper body. 39All flesh [is] not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another of fishes, and another of birds; 40and [there are] heavenly bodies, and earthly bodies; but one [is] the glory of the heavenly, and another that of the earthly; 41one glory of sun, and another glory of moon, and another glory of stars, for star from star doth differ in glory. 

42So also [is] the rising again of the dead: it is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption; 43it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body; there is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body; 45so also it hath been written, 'The first man Adam became a living creature,' the last Adam [is] for a life-giving spirit, 46but that which is spiritual [is] not first, but that which [was] natural, afterwards that which [is] spiritual. 47The first man [is] out of the earth, earthy; the second man [is] the Lord out of heaven; 48as [is] the earthy, such [are] also the earthy; and as [is] the heavenly, such [are] also the heavenly; 

49and, according as we did bear the image of the earthy, we shall bear also the image of the heavenly. 

50And this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood the reign of God is not able to inherit, nor doth the corruption inherit the incorruption; 51lo, I tell you a secret; we indeed shall not all sleep, and we all shall be changed; 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, in the last trumpet, for it shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we -- we shall be changed: 53for it behoveth this corruptible to put on incorruption, and this mortal to put on immortality; 54and when this corruptible may have put on incorruption, and this mortal may have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the word that hath been written, 'The Death was swallowed up -- to victory; 

55where, O Death, thy sting? where, O Hades, thy victory?' 56and the sting of the death [is] the sin, and the power of the sin the law; 57and to God -- thanks, to Him who is giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ; 

58so that, my brethren beloved, become ye stedfast, unmovable, abounding in the work of the Lord at all times, knowing that your labour is not vain in the Lord. 

Youngs Literal Translation 

So then with men, this is impossible; but with God all things are possible !!!