Click here to download in pdf format.
Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.I.J.W.Oakley (20-6-1999 Guisborough Evangelical Church)
Paul has just shown the Corinthians the irrefutable evidence for the bodily resurrection of Christ, and the fact that the Gospel message is dependent on it being fact. In these next verses, he makes two points. They are not closely related, but they are both important as he expounds the meaning of this glorious fact.
This passage begins with the triumphant statement, But Christ has indeed been raised (1 Corinthians 15:20). eghgertai - a historical fact with permanent results, He continues to be risen, alive forevermore. The first fruits of those who have fallen asleep, like the first sheaf of the harvest which was to be offered to the Lord (Leviticus 23:10f). The first of the mighty resurrection of those who, like Him, will die no more. He is the pledge and proof of resurrection of His people.
A deadly chain of events began
with Adam. Adam’s sin brought death on the human race. Everybody since Adam
has been subject to death. But Christ is the second Adam. He broke the chain,
and restored life to the human race. Christ reversed the effects of Adam’s
fall. Adam led the way in death; Christ leads the way in life and resurrection.
Adam was the head of the old race and humanity; Christ is the head of the new
race and humanity. As in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive (1
Corinthians 15:22).
This is a problem verse, because
some use it to prove universalism – that there can be no hell since all are
going to be saved. But that would contradict the teaching of Paul, who says men
are perishing, and the teaching of Christ, who spoke of hell so often. The
question is whether both “all”s refer to Christians or refer to everybody.
But, though unbelievers will be raised later, it will be a resurrection to
damnation, raised to shame and everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:2). The solution
to understanding this verse is that the first “all” refers to all men, but
the second “all”, because of the context, refers to all believers. This
conforms to Paul’s teaching as a whole.
The order of events is (1) the
resurrection of Christ in the past, then (2) the second coming of Christ in the
future when all Christ’s people will be raised, then (3) the end when He
delivers up the kingdom to God the Father, having destroyed all dominion,
authority and power of the last enemy, death (1 Corinthians 15:24).
The second coming of Christ will
be a glorious time. His rule will be established. There will be universal
acknowledgement of Christ as Lord over all. At the moment He rules in heaven and
in the hearts of His people, but at the second coming His rule will be open,
visible and recognised by all, willingly or unwillingly. It is thrilling that
the risen Christ rules now and is on the throne. But the mass of men rejects
Him. However, one day there will be open recognition, and every knee will bow.
The powers of evil and hell
appear so strong, but they are temporary and illusory. At the climax of history,
when He comes again, He will undoubtedly reign. For He must reign until He
has put all His enemies under His feet (1 Corinthians 15:25). The word for
“must”, dei, indicates it is
absolutely necessary, there is no doubt about it, and His rule is undisputed.
There will be no more kings, presidents, parties, councils, Kremlin, White House
or Downing Street. All evil powers will also come to an end. Every form of evil,
moral and physical, which now we see on our streets, read in our newspapers, see
constantly portrayed on our TVs, recognise in our own hearts, pressing in on our
lives, concerning us, grieving us and threatening us, and the thing we fear the
most, death, will all be completely destroyed.
During the ministry of Jesus,
death was obedient to Him, e.g. He was able to bring Jairus’ daughter and
Lazarus back from the dead. But death was not destroyed – those people died
again later. But at His own resurrection, death received the fatal blow. Christ
never died again. And finally at the second coming, death will be completely
abolished. Christ’s people will rise, the spirits which are already with the
Lord now will be joined to new bodies, and those bodies will be alive for
evermore.
Then will all be subdued to Him,
when Christ has restored ruined creation and undone all the ravages of sin,
Christ will hand over the kingdom to His Father. The Son will be subject to the
Father, because His reign as mediator will come to an end. Then God – Father,
Son and Holy Spirit – will rule directly and completely over the universe. No
longer reign through Christ but will be recognised as immediate sovereign of the
universe.
So the glorious pattern for the future began with the resurrection of Christ, then the second coming resurrection of His people. The breaking of all the power of evil. The destruction of death. All handed over to the Father, and the triune Godhead ruling. God is going to be all in all. This is a majestic portrayal of God. So often we are so concerned with ourselves and our petty situations. This picture makes us take our eyes off ourselves and put them on the Lord. The Christian’s heart should be delighted. The non-Christian, the person on the wrong side, needs to wake up and change sides before it is too late.
At this point there is a very
abrupt change in Paul’s argument. He moves from Christ to the Christian. He
returns to the point about what results if there is no resurrection. He makes a
strange and obscure reference: Now if there is no resurrection, what will
those do who are baptised for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why
are people baptised for them? (1 Corinthians 15:29). This refers to
something that was common practice among heretics in the second century, and
still is practised by Mormons today. Between 30 and 40 explanations are offered.
Were Christians baptised for friends who died before they were baptised? Or were
church members baptised because of dying wish of loved one? Or was there baptism
over the graves of martyrs? The truth is we just do not know. Clearly Paul
himself did not practice it, nor does he tell his readers, and therefore us, to
do it.
Then he asks another question. Why
do we endanger ourselves every hour? (1 Corinthians 15:30). Why bother risk
persecution and death every day if there is no resurrection? Why should he have
risked his life fighting wild beasts at Ephesus (probably not a literal
reference to the arena, since Paul was a Roman, more likely a reference to
opposition from the heathen mob)? The point is, why take risks with life and
endanger self if there is no resurrection? Surely we would want to preserve life
for as long as possible. Surely we would spend life in gross indulgence if we
were going to die tomorrow anyway. There is no point living godly, disciplined
life of sacrifice, risking even life, if there is no resurrection.
This is an important point which
explains much of the way people live – greed, selfishness, instant
gratification of desires, promiscuous and immoral lifestyles. If you believe
there is no God, no Day of Reckoning, no resurrection from the dead, no heaven
and no hell, then it is logical to get all you can, enjoy self to the full, give
indulgence free rein, never mind moral standards, never mind consequences in the
future to you and others, getting all you can now is all that matters. God is
there for emergencies, and then can be safely put to one side until needed
again. For all practical purposes He might as well not exist, nor His Word, nor
His law and judgement.
What we believe influences how we behave. The idea that people will live good clean lives, moral, honest and upright, without belief in God and the Bible, does not stand up in experience when judged over a period of time. “Once men are persuaded they will die like beasts, it is easy for them to live like beasts.” If there is no life to come, this life loses its meaning and values.
Come back to your senses as
you ought, and stop sinning (1 Corinthians 15:34). Since Christ is alive and
is mighty to save, since there is life beyond the grave and you will meet Him as
judge and give an account, and since you will be going to one of two
destinations, wake up and face the truth to yourselves. Hell is to be shunned
and heaven is to be gained.
Because Christ died and rose
again, there is an urgent need to be saved, to know Him and to receive what He
came to bring sinners. And if we are His, the resurrection makes it the most
important thing that we live for Him. Those who live should no longer live
for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again (2
Corinthians 5:15).
In light of the resurrection and eternity, the only thing that matters is not myself, my wishes, my importance, my rights, and my preferences. The only thing that matters in every area of life is Christ, pleasing Him, living in His will, concern for His glory, drawing attention to Him, being 100% for His cause, lifting up His name. All else is irrelevance. If you question that, you need to ask yourself whether you really believe he is alive, and is all in all to you.
