1 Coríntios 15

1 Coríntios 15

Meyer - 1 Corinthians 15:20 Christ hath been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of them that are asleep. (R.V.) Words which are altogether transcendent! How they thrill us and inspire! What memories they recall! How impossible is it not to feel their majesty. Surely no brain nor lip of man had begotten them! They bear the mint-mark of heaven. On the day that Jesus arose, the firstfruit sheaf of the barley harvest was being waved by the High Priest in the Temple, as the representative of the myriads that stood stacked amid the stubble of the fields. It was the specimen sheaf — representative, pattern, and pledge of all the rest. The risen Christ is the pattern and pledge of what his people will be when their bodies shall be fashioned anew in the likeness of his resurrection. He is pattern. — His body bore the same general outlines as before; so will theirs. It was recognisable by those who had known and loved Him, even to the tones of his voice; so will it be with theirs. It was the ethereal and pliant instrument of his spirit; so will theirs be. It could no more return to corruption; no more will theirs. It was invulnerable to disease and pain; such an experience awaits them too. He is pledge. — He does not stand alone. He is united to us by a myriad indissoluble ties. What the power of God did for Him it will do for us. Those that sleep in Jesus God will bring with Him, and we that are alive and remain shall be caught up. There shall not a hoof be left behind. Not one purchased body of a saint, however obscure or unworthy, shall be excepted from the effect of the voice of the archangel and the trump of God. Meanwhile, in the kindly embrace of Mother Earth, like the seed-germs of a vast harvest, the resurrection principle in the bodies of the saints awaits the resurrection signal. James Smith - Handfuls of Purpose - THE RESURRECTION 1 CORINTHIANS 15:20–22, 35–58 There were some in the Corinthian Church who taught that “there is no resurrection of the dead” (v. 12). To combat this fatal error, and to establish the doctrine more firmly in the minds of the saints, Paul wrote this magnificent compendium of the subject. There is nothing like it anywhere; no, not in all the world, for the great apostle here delivers that which he had received from the risen Christ Himself (vv. 3, 4). The great truths of this resurrection chapter are— I. The Resurrection of Christ. “But now is Christ risen from the dead” (v. 20). The Christ of the Scriptures must die, be buried, and rise again (vv. 3, 4). That Jesus was the Christ was proved by His rising from the dead, and appearing to Cephas, and to “five hundred brethren at once” (vv. 5, 6). To deceive five hundred brethren at once would have been about as great a wonder as rising from the dead, especially when these brethren were at first very sceptical. This is no myth, but a fact established by many infallible proofs (Acts 1:3). II. The Resurrection Hope. “If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins, and they who have died in this faith are perished” (vv. 17, 18). Upon this foundation—the resurrection of Christ—this Spirit-taught apostle builds the whole structure of the Christian faith. The death of Christ will avail us nothing if He is not risen and accepted of God in our behalf. He died for our sins, but He must be raised and exalted with God’s right hand ere forgiveness could be preached in His Name (Acts 5:31). If Christ be not raised, there is no hope for man (Rom. 5:10). III. The Resurrection of the Dead. Nothing but confusion and error can come to those who think that Paul is here speaking of a general resurrection at the last day. The dead referred to in this chapter are those who have “fallen asleep in Christ” (v. 18). “Even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (v. 22). All are in Adam, but all are not in Christ. “They that are Christ’s at His coming” (v. 23). The wicked dead shall have no part in the first resurrection (Rev. 20:5). How could he speak of them as “sown in dishonour, and raised in glory?” (v. 43). IV. The Resurrection Body. Paul now raises this great double question, and proceeds to answer it. “How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?” (vv. 35–49). 1. It will NOT be the SAME BODY that is sown in the grave (v. 37). Thank God, there will be no cripples in Heaven; no deformed bodies there. 2. It will be a GOD-GIVEN BODY (v. 38). A body in everything pleasing to Him, and worthy of a redeemed spirit (2 Cor. 5:1). 3. It will be a body in every way SUITED TO THE INDIVIDUAL SPIRIT. “To every seed his own body (v. 38). One body may differ from another body in glory, as “one star differeth from another” (vv. 41, 42). 4. It will be an INCORRUPTIBLE BODY (v. 42). Incapable of death, disease, or decay. 5. It will be a BODY OF GLORY (v. 43). Like unto His own glorious body (Matt. 17:2). 6. It will be a body of POWER (v. 43). Not subject to the laws of earth. Every material fetter broken. 7. It will be a SPIRITUAL BODY (v. 44). Entirely subject to the volitions of the blood-washed spirit (1 John 3:2). Then shall we be in the image of the heavenly (v. 49). V. The Resurrection Mystery. “Behold I show you a mystery,” etc. (vv. 51–54). Here the apostle reveals a truth that had hitherto been veiled, and, strange to say, a truth that is still veiled to many, although revealed, viz., that all the children of God shall not die, but that all must be changed (v. 51). The Lord Himself will come, and those who are alive and remain at that time shall be caught up together with those who have fallen asleep in Christ, but who shall then be raised from the dead (1 Thess. 4:15–17). In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the dead shall be raised, and we (those living at that time) shall be changed (v. 52). It is appointed unto men—not all men—once to die (Heb. 9:27). VI. The Resurrection Song. This song is entitled, “Death swallowed up in victory” (v. 54). It is a victory over the power of sin, and sin, too, that was strengthened by a holy law (v. 56). It is a perfect victory over all the effects of sin. “O death, where is thy sting?” Where is not the effect of thy poison in these new bodies of ours? “O grave, where is thy victory?” Once thou didst claim our bodies as thy spoil, but thou hast been eternally defeated in this new incorruptible body. But this is a song of praise as well as of triumph. “Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 57). He alone could “swallow up death in victory” (Isa. 25:8). This will be the complete fulfilment of Hosea 13:14. Notice there His “I wills.” VII. The Resurrection Incentive. Paul now closes his great argument with an exhortation which is full of motive power. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast” (v. 58). Seeing that such glorious prospects are before us, what manner of persons ought we now to be? 1. There should be STABILITY OF CHARACTER. “Be ye stedfast, immoveable.” Let not the unbelief of others turn you aside from the faith of this Gospel. 2. There should be CONSTANCY OF SERVICE. “Always abounding in the work of the Lord,” knowing that it is not in vain; for in the resurrection state, and at the Judgment-Seat of Christ, the reward will be given (Rev. 22:12). Every man’s work shall be tried of what sort it is (1 Cor. 3:12–15). John Flavel - Death is a dragon, the grave its den; a place of dread and terror; but Christ goes into its den, there grapples with it, and forever overcomes it, disarms it of all its terror; and not only makes it cease to be inimical, but to become the greatest blessing to the saints; a bed of rest, and a perfumed bed; they do but go into Christ’s bed, where He lay before them. A HOPE SURE, NOT A HOPE SO! - Konrad Adenauer, former chancellor of West Germany, once told evangelist Billy Graham, "If Jesus Christ is alive, then there is hope for the world. If not, I don't see the slightest glimmer of hope on the horizon." Then he added, "I believe Christ's resurrection to be one of the best-attested facts of history" Christ's resurrection and ours go together. Establish one, and the other is sure. When Socrates lay dying, his friends asked, "Shall we live again?" He could only say "I hope so." In contrast, the night before Sir Walter Raleigh was beheaded, he wrote in his Bible, "From this earth, this grave, this dust, my God shall raise me up." We who trust Christ don't have to say "I hope so." Jesus' resurrection gives us a sure hope for our coming resurrection. —D. J. D.