THE FACTS OF THE RESURRECTION
1 Corinthians 15:20-21 (KJV)
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.
These verses are some of the most exciting in all of the Bible, but they take some study.
We come this morning to the bulk of 1 Corinthians 15.
Here we find what I am calling “The facts of the resurrection.”
Doubters in the church of Corinth, smart alecks who thought they were brighter, more advanced thinkers that the average believers, had proposed that there was no such thing as a literal resurrection.
Paul refutes them and, in so doing, teaches us exciting things about the resurrection of the believers.
*I. WE RISE BECAUSE CHRIST ROSE
1 Corinthians 15:12-22 (KJV)
Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
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.
If Christ did not rise from the dead, then:
· The preacher’s message is empty
· The Christian’s faith is vain
· The Apostles were false witnesses
Vs 14-15
As if to emphasize what he just said, he repeats, if Christ is not raised then:
· Our faith is vain
· Our sins are not forgiven
· Those who have died in faith have perished
Vs 17-18
If Christianity only offers hope in this life then
· We are of all men most miserable
Vs 19
Vs 20 is a key passage – a turning point.
It is a positive affirmation. Albert Barnes writes of it, “This language is bursting forth of a full heart and of overpowering conviction.”
It is one of those passages that ought to be engraved into our souls.
1 Corinthians 15:20 (KJV)
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
Every threat proposed above is reversed because Christ rose from the dead:
· The preacher’s message is valid
· The Christian’s faith is solid
· The Apostles were faithful witnesses
· Our faith is real
· Our sins are forgiven
· Those who have died in faith have entered into the presence of the Lord and
· We are of all men most hopeful
Here’s the doctrinal basis for that statement,
1 Corinthians 15:21 (KJV)
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
Notice secondly,
*II. WE RISE IN A PARTICULAR ORDER
1 Corinthians 15:22-28 (KJV)
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.
The concept of the resurrection can be a confusing one. Most people only think of one resurrection. But the Bible says that there is a resurrection of the just and of the unjust.
Acts 24:15 (KJV)
And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
Daniel wrote, Daniel 12:2 (KJV)
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
So there are at least two resurrections, right?
But then, that resurrection of the just takes place over several different periods.
A. Christ
Vs 23
His resurrection opens the door for every other resurrection.
B. The First Fruits[1]
Vs 23
Matthew 27:51-53 (KJV)
And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
These folks were resurrected after Christ was resurrected and walked the streets of Jerusalem. (Probably went to heaven after that.)
C. They that are Christ's at His coming
Vs 23
When the Rapture happens.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (KJV)
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
D. Then the kingdom to God
1 Corinthians 15:24 (KJV)
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.
The resurrection of OT Saints for the Millennial Kingdom.[2]
Revelation 20:4-6 (KJV)
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
E. Resurrection of the Spiritually dead
1 Corinthians 15:26 (KJV)
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
After the 1000-year reign.[3]
Revelation 20:11-13 (KJV)
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Verses 29-34 is a response to the objections of the doubters in the church at Corinth.
If there is no resurrection:
Why would a person risk their life for their faith?
Vs 29-30
Why would a Christian surrender their life for Christ’s service?
Vs 31-33
Therefore
Awake to righteousness. Quit wasting your life for yourself
Vs 34
Notice thirdly,
*III. WE RISE WITH SPIRITUAL BODIES
1 Corinthians 15:35-53 (KJV)
But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but theglory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
Paul answers the question, "How can God put together bodies that have been destroyed and scattered?"
· What about someone who lost an arm or leg in Vietnam and was buried years later in America?
· What about the sailor buried at sea and whose body may have been consumed by sea life?
· What about those who have been cremated and their ashes scattered?[4]
God can put all the pieces back together, but He doesn't necessarily have to.
The Resurrected body is similar to the principle of the seed sown in the ground.
The seed dies, but through it comes a brand-new life.
When this body goes to the grave, God will use it as the "seed," which grows into my glorified body.
Paul says this resurrected body will be:
Incorruptible
vs 42,
Powerful
vs 43,
Spiritual
vs 44, and
Immortal
vs 53
Everything that is wrong with this body will be made right in the resurrected body.
There is even provision made for those who are saved but have not died when it is time for the resurrection
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 (KJV)
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
We won't all sleep (die) but we will all be changed. As we are zipping through the skies to meet the Lord.
[1]Remember that the punctuation was added later and is not inspired. It is helpful for interpretation but may have other useful interpretations.
[2]For this reason, I believe the Old Testament saints, David and Daniel, and etc. Are resurrected AFTER the Tribulation to enter into the Millennial Kingdom.
[3]The resurrection of the unjust to contempt.
[4]Each of these questions has been posed to me. It wasn’t just Paul’s day that people had such “foolish” (See verse 36) questions.
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