June 2, 2013
Morning Service

I Cor. 15

 

We have been looking at some of the Scriptures that speak concerning the Lord’s return to this earth.

There is no clearer promise than we find in St. Jn. 14.  Jesus Himself speaking.

We have looked at what Peter said, and now we are reviewing what the Apostle Paul taught.

We are in the letter Paul wrote the church at Corinth.  We have mentioned before Corinth was the largest city in Greece when Paul wrote his two letters to them.  Paul visited Corinth on his second missionary trip. 

Last Wednesday evening we were in chapter 11, this is where Paul teaches on our Christian communion practice. Easy to understand, and it builds our faith on what we do.

This morning we will begin to study the resurrection chapter which is, ICor. 15.  We will not get through all of it this morning, but will finish it up this evening the Lord willing.

 

Paul begins with the gospel message:

1Co 15:1-58  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  (2)  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  (3)  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  (4)  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:  (5)  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:  (6)  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.  (7)  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.  (8)  And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.  (9)  For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet 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 which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 

·         The death, burial, and resurrection.  The gospel message.  Believing, and receiving this message is what saves you.

·         Jesus said;  Mar 16:15-16  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  (16)  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

(11)  Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed. 

·         Paul had just spoken on how that they should not be puffed up, and putting one preacher above the other.  But point people to Jesus.  He is what it is all about.

 

(12)  Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?  (13)  But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:  (14)  And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.  (15)  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.  (16)  For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:  (17)  And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.  (18)  Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.  (19)  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.  (20)  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.  (21)  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  (22)  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.  (23)  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

 

 

·         A very popular group in Judaism was called the Sadducees.  They did not believe in the resurrection, or angels.

·         They tested the Lord one time concerning a woman that had had 5 husbands, and they ask Him who’s wife she would be in the resurrection. 

He answered them;  Mat 22:29-32  Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.  (30)  For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.  (31)  But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,  (32)  I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

·         Here He confirms that there will be a resurrection.

 

PAUL CONTINUES:  AFTER THE RESURRECTION THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS.

(24)  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father;

·         This goes along with what Paul will tell the Thessalonicans.  IThess. 4:13-18. 

·         1Th 4:13-18  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.  (14)  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  (15)  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.  (16)  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:  (17)  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.  (18)  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 

when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.  (25)  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.  (26)  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.  (27)  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.  (28)  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. 

 

1Co 15:25-28  Christ must rule until God puts all enemies under his control.  (26)  The last enemy to be destroyed will be death.  (27)  As the Scriptures say, "God put everything under his control." When it says that "everything" is put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself. God is the one putting everything under Christ's control.  (28)  After everything has been put under Christ, then the Son himself will be put under God. God is the one who put everything under Christ. And Christ will be put under God so that God will be the complete ruler over everything.

 

In this chapter, we see the death, burial, and resurrection taught.  The foundation of the gospel message.  However, it takes more than just believing.  We become servants of Christ, and are to follow His, and the Apostles teachings.  Listen to Paul;  1Co 11:1-3  Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.  (2)  Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.  (3)  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

 

We see how Jesus is the first to be resurrected, and then we at His coming.

Then comes the end, when Jesus delivers the redeemed to the Father.

We see that after the last enemy, which is death, is put under the feet of Jesus, by the Father, that Jesus then will become under the authority of the Father.

 

 

THUS SAITH THE LORD.