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1Cor15b-2018N.docx

IN CHRIST ALL WILL BE MADE ALIVE

1 Corinthians 15:12-34

Key verse 22

“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”

Introduction

In the previous lesson, we have learned the essence of the gospel Paul preached. “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, he was buried, and he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures.” The heart of gospel is Jesus’ death and his resurrection. Through his death, we have been set free from sins and through his resurrection from the dead we have new birth into the living hope in the kingdom of God. According to this passage, there are two kinds of people in this world. One is in Adam and the other is in Christ. Where you belong to is very important because it determines your destiny. Those who are in Adam will die because Adam died, but those who are in Christ will live because Christ lives. Through this bible study, we may have the assurance of the resurrection; we may have the hope of the resurrection; we may remain in Jesus and live with the resurrection faith.

Read verses 12-19. What were some Corinthians claiming about the resurrection? (12) If their claim were true, what would happen to our witnessing, our faith, our sin, and our hope in Christ? (13-19)

1-1, Read verses 12-19.

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

1-2, What were some Corinthians claiming about the resurrection? (12)

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

Corinthian believers could not deny the resurrection of Christ because there were evidences and over 500 eyewitnesses of the resurrection.
However some of them still could not believe the resurrection of the dead. The resurrection from the dead sounds ridiculously nonsense.
It was against Greek-Philosophies and common senses. They might have said that what happened to dead bodies is too grotesque to look at it and therefore it is nonsense to believe the resurrection of the dead!
They might have said, “Yes, we agree that Jesus was raised from the dead. But, we do not think that rest of us will be.”

13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.

Apostle Paul pointed out by asking, “if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.”
It is not possible to separate resurrection of the dead from the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Rather it is one package! One can not stand without the other!
According to Paul, denial of the resurrection of the dead means denial of the resurrection of Christ. Jesus’ resurrection is tied with the resurrection of the dead.
They did not understand why God raised Jesus from the dead. The resurrection of Christ is not just for Jesus’ sake. It is for the resurrection of the believers.
In fact, the Word became flesh(Jn 1:14) and Jesus was fully human just like us. Jesus was conceived and born as a human.
Jesus was circumcised as a baby and he grew in wisdom and stature(Lk 2:52. In his physical body, Christ suffered and died on the cross.
His dead body was taken down from the cross and buried in a tomb. But on the third day, Jesus was raised.
The risen Christ showed his physical body that had wounds on his hands, feet and side. He even ate a broiled fish before his disciples.
Jesus was raised in a physical body. Just Jesus was raised from the dead, so we will be raised from the dead. Because he lives, we live! (Jn 14:19)

1-3, If their claim were true, what would happen to our witnessing, our faith, our sin, and our hope in Christ? (13-19)

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

Paul tells the disastrous consequences if there was no resurrection of the dead. What we believe and preach is that Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead on the third day.
However, if Christ is not raised, all preaching would have been useless, which simply means a waste of time.

If there is no resurrection, Jesus himself would be a chief lair who raised up disciples of lair to lead people to suffer and die for lies. Because of the gospel, they were rejected, misunderstood, persecuted, and even martyred.

If there is no resurrection, we are still in our sins. This is the most terrifying consequence if there is no resurrection.
If Christ did not rise from the dead, then God has not accepted the payment for our sins; then sin won the victory over him and therefore it will continue to be victorious over all men.
Then, when we die, we too will remain dead and condemned. If Christ was not raised, there would be no forgiveness of sins, no justification. Simply if there is no resurrection, there would no hope for us at all.

If there is no resurrection from the dead, then all the ancestors of faith, all apostles, all believers who had died would have forever perished; they were lost forever. We will never see them again, if there is no resurrection.
If Christ is not risen, our preaching is useless; our faith is futile; we become liars; we are still in our sins; we are still under the power of death. As a result, we will be the most pitiful men without hope.

Read verses 20-28. Why did Paul describe Jesus’ resurrection as the firstfruits? (20- 23) What will the Risen Christ do to restore the kingdom to God the Father? (24-26) Why will Jesus be subjected to His Father? (27-28)

2-1, Read verses 20-28.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, 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 he “has put everything under his feet.”[c] Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.

2-2, Why did Paul describe Jesus’ resurrection as the firstfruits? (20-23)

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead. Jesus is alive. The resurrection of Jesus changes everything. It turns things all the way around.
All the things previously mentioned were not true at all, but the opposite is true because Christ has been raised from the dead.
Because Christ was raised, there will be the resurrection of the dead and we will also be raised from the dead.
Because Christ was raised from the dead, the gospel is a good news of great joy for anyone who accept and believe the gospel will be saved. We are saved by faith in this gospel.
We are found to be witnesses of the truth and of the living hope. Our sins are forgiven. Those who died in Christ are now with Christ in the kingdom of God.
Christians are the most glorious people in the world. Because Christ was raised, we have forgiveness of sins, justification, reconciliation, peace and eternal life.
We have the living hope in the kingdom of God. Come back to your senses! Christ has indeed been raised from the dead!

The resurrection of Jesus is the first fruits of the dead. This comes out of Leviticus 23. The law required farmers to bring the first of the crop to the priests as an offering to the Lord before he began to harvest his crops.
The full harvest could not be made until the first fruits were offered. Christ’s resurrection is God’s first fruits of resurrection. This first fruits guarantee the entire harvest of resurrection of all believers.

21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

Some people may not know where death came from. It did not come through aliens from another planet.
Death came through a man Adam. Adam yielded to the temptation of the devil and disobeyed God.
Because of his disobedience, sin came into the world, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men.
The consequence of sin was death for everyone (Ro 5:12). Since then, everyone were held in slavery under the power of death (Heb 2:15).
Though men had desire to be holy, but there was no way to reach to the glory of God; there is no way to be free from sin and death.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” In Adam, all die. That was the reality of mankind. In Adam, we were doomed to death.

But one man, Jesus, had changed everything. Though Adam disobeyed God, Jesus absolutely obeyed God even to death on the cross.
He gave his life as the Lamb of God for the sin of the world. Then God raised Jesus Christ from the dead and made him the first fruits of resurrection.
The resurrection of the dead comes through a man, Jesus Christ. One man, Adam brought disaster, death and destruction into the world; but one man, Jesus brought us the forgiveness of sins and the resurrection through his absolute obedience to God.
The resurrection of Jesus changes our eternal destiny from death to life. “… as in Adam all die.” This is certain. Those who are identified with Adam is subject to death.
“… so in Christ all will be made alive.” Just as certain as death comes to us in Adam, in Christ, the resurrection makes us alive in Christ Jesus. All who believe in him will be made alive in body as well as in spirit.

Our destiny depends on where we belong to , “In Adam” or “In Christ.” Since we were born with physical body, we were in Adam. We have inherited his sinful natures.
When we remain in Adam, we will follow his footsteps as a slave of sin and death, and eventually fall into God’s eternal judgement.
“Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life (Jn 5:24).”
Just as we were born in flesh, we need to be born again of the Spirit; we need to learn from Jesus; we need to believe in Jesus.

In Adam, I might have dead in fear of death. But In Christ Jesus, I have made alive. I have lived a new life with the living hope in the kingdom of God.
In Christ, all will be made alive. The Risen Christ has the power to make us alive. In the Risen Christ there is no death; all will be made alive. “But each in turn; Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.”

Hebrews 2:14-18 reads,

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

2-3, What will the Risen Christ do to restore the kingdom to God the Father? (24-26)

Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, 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.

Jesus rose again from the dead to reign. After destroying all other evil forces, kingdoms, and even the last enemy - death, Jesus will restore God’s righteous reign to the world creation.
Jesus will put everything under God. Sin will no longer reign in the world, but God will rule supremely.

2-4, Why will Jesus be subjected to His Father? (27-28)

27 For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.

"When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all."
Jesus is equal with God but out of his willing heart he submitted himself to God the Father. And Jesus will be exalted to highest position. (Philippians 2)
That is how history ends. God will be all in all. God will be everything to everyone. Jesus’ victory over death through the resurrection promises the ultimate victory for all who are in Christ.
Death cannot hold us anymore. There is nothing to be afraid when we live by resurrection faith. In Christ, all will be made alive

Read verses 29-34. On what basis were people baptized for the dead? (29) How did Paul show his resurrection faith daily? (30-32a) What is the lifestyle of those without resurrection faith? (32b-33) What is Paul’s warning? (34)

3-1, Read verses 29-34.

Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? 30 And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31 I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”[e] 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

3-2, On what basis were people baptized for the dead? (29)

29 Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?

Some of us may say “so what? Resurrection will happen after death. Now in present there are so many other things we should focus on such as school study, reports, final exams, children’s education, job, house and car, and so on.
It seem like the resurrection of the dead does not give any practical benefits. However, the resurrection of Jesus ought to drastically change how we live.
What motivate people to take such action is the hope of the resurrection. The resurrection faith has a great impact upon us. It will change our life. It will make us do thing that we would not otherwise do.
Although Paul might not agree with those who are baptized for the dead, the point is that on the basis of the belief that resurrection happen, people kept doing it.

3-3, How did Paul show his resurrection faith daily? (30-32a)

And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31 I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The way Paul put his life in danger and lived his life all-out for the gospel was a clear evidence of the truth of the resurrection.
We are naturally so concerned about living comfortable lives here on earth that our lives give no evidence of the resurrection.
Paul lived such a committed Christian life, people could look at him and say, "There is no way he would live like that unless he was waiting for a reward.”
“I face death every day.” - Paul lived on the edge for Jesus Christ that he could say I face death daily. His life was always on the line.
There were always people out to kill him. An example of this is in Acts 23:12-13, when more than forty men took a vow that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.
He faced death by considering the certainty of death daily. He did seriously test your hope and experience every day. He lived in such a manner that he would not be ashamed to die at any moment. He was literally ready for Jesus’ name sake.
Paul also tells us how the Risen Christ changed his own life drastically. Paul’s life was full of suffering and danger while he lived as a missionary.
Before he met Jesus, he had been full of selfish ambition for power and recognition. He had spent all his time, and strength just to build up his career.
The Risen Christ changed his life and his hope. With the resurrection faith he literally face death every day to preach the gospel of Jesus.
Seeking the living hope in the kingdom of God, he lived for the glory of God with all his strength, all his money, all his time and all his life. Then, he could become a powerful gospel worker and experienced the power of the resurrection.

Likewise, we can say many things about resurrection faith. If we truly believe the resurrection, this faith is reflected in our lives and in the choices we make.
The resurrection faith changes how we live life, how we spend our money and our time, and how we invest ourselves.
Because Abraham had resurrection faith, he offered Isaac thinking God has the power to raise the dead (Heb 11:19).
All the ancestors of faith in Hebrews 11 choose to be mocked, scourged, imprisoned, stoned, afflicted, and even put to death.
When Jesus had resurrection faith, he endured the cross and scorned its shame (Heb 12:2).
When Paul had resurrection faith, he died everyday and experienced the resurrection life here and now (15:31).
“As surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord”: Paul will boast a little here. His boasting is in the Corinthian Christians and in Christ Jesus. In other words, His pride was in their growth in the Lord through resurrection faith!

32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained?

Paul may be using the term beasts figuratively, in reference to his violent and wild human opponents as he faced at Ephesus in Acts 19:21-41.
Paul faced all of this for the sake of the resurrection of the dead, both Jesus' resurrection and the believer's.

Acts 23:6 reads,

Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.”

Acts 24:15 reads,

and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.

3-3, What is the lifestyle of those without resurrection faith? (32b-33)

If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

To eat, drink and die will be the rational thing if there were no resurrection. If there were no resurrection, we should party and take life easy.
If the dead are not raised, there will be no moral accountability and there will be no need to walk the straight and narrow road.
If there were no resurrection, there is no need to get up early to eat daily bread. There is no need to do Bible Study weekly. There is no need to go out campus.
Sharing one word of God is like fighting wild beasts. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.

33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

Those who live without resurrection faith are ignore the power of God which raised Jesus from the dead. We should not be deceived by bad company.
Those who seek the hope of this world only will be raised to eternal death and God’s eternal punishment.
But those who seek the living hope in the kingdom of God will be raised to eternal life. (Jn 5:28-29)
Paul warns believer not to be fooled by people that deny the resurrection or follow people that pursue a party lifestyle

3-4, What is Paul’s warning? (34)

34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

We need to come back to senses. This is the gospel; Jesus died for our sins, he was buried and he was raised from the dead.

Conclusion

May God bless us to meditate on the word of God until it changes our hearts. The resurrection faith may strengthen us to preach the gospel of Jesus to all campus. The hope of resurrection may enable us to choose to take up our cross and follow Jesus. The power of resurrection may strengthen us to make decision of faith to be shepherds for this campus.

One word: Jesus has indeed raised from the dead!