Episode 218 - "The resurrection of Christ reveals his authority" - 1 Corinthians 15:20-28

1 Cor. 15:20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

In our last episode, Paul attacks the idea some people have spread that there is no resurrection from the dead. Paul’s argument against that is if that were true, then Christ wasn’t really raised from the dead. It followed then that if Christ wasn’t raised from the dead, surely neither would anyone else. But then why would Paul be willing to suffer the persecution he had if he himself didn’t believe that Christ was raised from the dead? Furthermore, Paul encouraged the Corinthians to go and talk to the many witnesses of the resurrected Lord and figure out how to explain away their testimony.

In verse 20, Paul just moves on and states that “in fact Christ has been raised from the dead.” (v. 20) Now, he begins to explain the significance of that fact. In verses 21-22, he compares and contrasts Adam and Christ. Adam was the first man, and through his disobedience to God, all humanity is broken since we have all descended from this one man. The point is to consider the catastrophic effect of that one man’s disobedience. But if one man can have that kind of negative effect, it’s possible that one man can also have a similarly far-reaching positive effect. That man is Jesus Christ, whose substitutionary death on the cross makes it possible for all humanity to appropriate forgiveness of their sins and to be “made alive” (v.22) because Christ conquered death.

Paul then explains things that are yet to come and the significance of Christ’s resurrection for what is still to happen in God’s plan. Paul speaks of Christ as “the firstfruits.” This is a metaphor alluding back to when Israel would bring the firstfruits of their harvest as an offering. It demonstrated their thankfulness and faith that this was simply the first of much to come. Likewise, Christ’s resurrection is a “firstfruit” in that many are to also experience a resurrection because of their relationship to Christ through faith.

What follows is the resurrection of those who belong to Christ. (v.23) Verse 24 follows with, “Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.” Bible scholars like to squabble over whether this order allows or disallows the literal 1000-year millennial reign, which is a point of contention within Christianity. I don’t think that is of concern in this context of Paul’s writing. The point of this order is that Christ rose from the dead, revealing he has the authority to also raise those who belong to him and to conquer everything in opposition to God’s will.

Verse 26 states plainly, “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (v.26). We believe that Christ is currently at the right hand of the Father. He has authority. However, death is still occurring. Why? I believe that’s explained well by Peter in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” Therefore, we are not yet at that end. But at some point, Christ will return, and ultimately, all spiritual and natural forces opposed to God will be judged and have no power again. Death will be permanently done away with.

Verses 27 and 28 state three things that are interesting. First, God has subjected all things under his (Christ’s) feet. Second, Christ will be subjected to God. Finally, Christ, the Son, will be subjected to God “so that God may be all in all.” (v. 28b) The first one is not a problem, right? Christians believe Christ is God, and Jesus told his disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matt. 28:18). But how is it that he is ultimately subjected to the Father? Does this mean that somehow Jesus is less God or less important than the Father? No. Jesus is never subordinated in the sense of his value or power. While earthly analogies are often limited and potentially misleading, think of a parent who entrusts something to a child for a specific purpose. The child possesses and uses something that essentially belongs to them by virtue of their relationship to their parent. Both the parent and the child are equally valuable and part of the same family. But their roles are different. The child may be sent to accomplish something on behalf of the parent. That child is given everything they need to accomplish that purpose. Likewise, this text simply says that Jesus (the Son) has accomplished the mission his Father sent him to do. The purpose statement “so that God may be all in all” is just a way of expressing both the divine unity within the Godhead and that everything, without exception, is under God’s authority.

Episode 217 - "Yes. Christ really was raised from the dead" - 1 Corinthians 15:12-19

1 Cor. 15:12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

In the preceding eleven verses that we covered last week, I explained that I was seeing two fundamental elements to what is called “the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Both of them were prophesied in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). The first is that Christ died according to the Scriptures. Someone might say, “Big deal! Everyone dies.” That’s true. But the Christ or Messiah is prophesied in the scriptures to have an eternal kingdom. The Messiah will reign forever on that throne. That was the argument by the crowd to Jesus in John 12:34. How can he die if he will live and reign forever? The answer is that his death was necessary for our sins to be forgiven, as is foretold in Isaiah 52-53.

This leads us to the second part of the Good News of Jesus Christ. If you think about it, why does it matter that our sins are forgiven if we are going to die? The answer to that question is that God is eternal, and while we, unlike God, had a beginning, God has intended for us to be eternal as well. Because God is also Holy (pure and perfect), he cannot overlook sin. There must be a just response to injustice. The Scriptures speak of a terrible judgment for those who reject that and reject Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross as the perfect and sufficient justice he took upon himself for our sins. Jesus, the Christ, was raised from the dead, never to die again, and he promised to return to raise the dead back to life, and we will dwell in the presence of God forever.

After laying out the basic facts of the gospel, Paul addresses the fact that people at Corinth are saying there is no resurrection from the dead. Paul explains the egregious error in that thinking. He says if there is no resurrection from the dead, then Christ could not have been raised. (v. 13) He follows with the logical fallout from that if it were true. He points out that his preaching and their subsequent faith in the message that he preached is in vain. It’s useless, and we would still be in our sins. There would be no hope. He then says that if all our hope is just in this life, we are the most pitiable of all people. Why would he say that? Because we would be spending time and resources in the worship of a god that could do nothing for us.

The hope of a resurrection and eternal life is real. That’s why, in the preceding verses, Paul spoke of the many people who saw the risen Jesus. He was implying that they could go talk to the people themselves and compare notes. While we can’t go talk to those people directly, these accounts have been preserved for us, and there is the fact that Christianity became a world religion based upon the reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We can trust this great news!

Episode 216 - "The Good News!" - 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

1 Cor. 15:1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

1Cor. 15:3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

As I write this, it is the eve of Thanksgiving in the United States, and I cannot be more thankful for this section of Scripture because it’s about the most important thing for humanity. It’s about the Good News of Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul shifts from his instruction concerning spiritual gifts and conduct in worship to setting these Corinthian believers straight on the gospel. Paul reminds them that he had preached the gospel to them when he was previously with them. Speaking to the whole group, he states they have “received” this gospel and “stand” in it. This means that it’s his understanding these people to whom he’s writing have both received, or placed their trust in, the message of the gospel when he preached it, and he believes they are still committed to it. He adds that they “are being saved (by faith in this gospel) if you hold fast to the word I preached to you – unless you believed in vain.” (v. 2). The term “saved” in the Scriptures can often have a past, present and ongoing, and a future use of this term. When the Scriptures use this in the past tense, it means someone has truly trusted in the message of the gospel and they have received forgiveness of their sins and have gained a hope of resurrection and eternal life in the presence of God. The present-ongoing, which I believe is in view here, is speaking of God’s work in our lives presently to prepare us for eternal life with Him. Finally, the future sense of will be saved reflects the promise of Christ to return from Heaven to earth someday and raise from the dead all who have trusted in the gospel.

But notice the condition, “if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.” (v. 2). What does this mean? I believe it means that those who aren’t holding fast to the gospel message cannot experience the work God wants to accomplish in their life if they do not trust him. However, the phrase “unless you believed in vain” is interesting. Notice that the English word “vain” appears twice within a short span (verses 2 and 10). In verse 10, Paul has just argued that he doesn’t deserve to be an apostle because he persecuted the church. But, even so, God’s grace to him was not in vain. In the original Greek language, the words translated as “vain” are different words. The word that Paul uses for God’s grace to him being not in vain means “without purpose or cause.” In other words, Paul is saying that in spite of his past history, God showed his grace to Paul and it has produced a result and was not wasted.

In verse 2, speaking of the Corinthians and the possibility that some believed in vain, means “randomly or without cause.” It would suggest that perhaps some really didn’t believe the gospel. They were, in essence, just nodding their heads along with others without really believing. Either way, it is important that people not just believe but hold fast to the gospel. This means that we shouldn’t just acknowledge that we made a profession of faith in the gospel and act like, “Oh. I’ve already done that.” The gospel must become central to our life of faith.

Paul now lays out a brief and clear synopsis of what the gospel is. Some commentators suggest that Paul lists four components of the gospel here. I think he only lists two, along with the evidence for each one. The first fundamental truth of the gospel Paul says is “that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried.” Paul’s comment, “in accordance with the Scriptures” is to argue that Christ’s death on the cross was a fulfillment of a prophecy in the Old Testament. His subsequent fact “that he was buried” is Paul’s proof that Christ was truly physically dead. Some might argue what is called a “swoon theory,” in which people believe he only appeared dead. But there were multiple people who took responsibility for his lifeless body after he was taken down from the cross and could testify that Jesus was really dead and really buried. The death of someone does not sound much like good news. The death of a good person would certainly not be a happy story. However, Paul explains in this how the death of Christ is the first part of this gospel, the Good News. He explains that Christ died for our sins. His death on the cross served to take care of the just penalty for our rebellion against God.

He follows immediately with, “that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” Notice the emphasis once again on “according to the Scriptures.” This is the second fundamental element of the gospel. Paul is suggesting that the Old Testament also prophesies that the Christ (Messiah) would not only die but be raised from the dead.

Now, to be honest with you, I don’t know what Scriptures Paul refers to, and Paul doesn’t tell us. However, we can make some educated guesses which I believe reasonably support his argument.

First of all, let us establish two figures that were prophesied in the Old Testament that were to come. The first is the descendant of David (the Messiah), whom God told David would be on the “throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Samuel 7:13b). The second is the “one like a son of man” whose “dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13-14). This explains why the people around Jesus questioned Jesus about the foretelling of his imminent death on the cross.

32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 34 So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” (John 12:32-34)

I can’t tell you whether people of Jesus’ time had made any connection between the expected Messiah (Christ) and the “Son of Man.” But both of these figures sure seem to have some things in common, like eternal life. Their argument to Jesus is a reasonable argument. Here, he is not only telling people that he is going to die, but how he is going to die. He’s claimed to be the Son of Man, AND Peter has professed him to be the Christ. Things aren’t quite adding up for these people.

Another Scripture Christians turn to in making sense out of this apparent controversy is Isaiah 52:13-53:12. This speaks of a righteous servant of the Lord who is “pierced” for the transgressions of the people. The Servant suffers and dies for the people but appears to be alive afterward (v. 12).

After saying that Christ died for our sins AND was raised, he gives evidence for the historical reality of Christ’s resurrection. He lists the numerous occasions after his resurrection when he appeared alive to people, including over 500 people at one time. Paul adds that many of them are still living. His point is, “Go check it out for yourself.”

The point of all this is to help the Corinthian believers, as well as us, to understand that Jesus is God’s Servant who really died for our sins. That is Good News for us because it makes us at peace with God. Secondly, it gives us hope that Christ, who rose from the dead, can and will raise us from the dead. Again, this is nothing but Good News for us.