I. Intro: In 2014 there was a TV show called “Resurrection” in which people from a small town who had died as much or more than a generation ago begin reappearing and reintegrating back into their society... or seemingly at least until they accomplish something.
It was a fascinating look at the notion of life after death--what it might be like (none of these characters seem to be aware of the time loss), what it means for a “resurrected” person to suddenly reappear and interact with people whose lives are now disrupted by these occurrences
How does (or should) the reality of resurrection affect our lives and our interactions with those around us?
II. The Resurrection of Christ (vv. 1-11)
A. Context
1. Paul has just finished reprimanding the Corinthian church for thinking their novel, haphazard style of worship was in some way superior to everyone else’s
2. We make the same mistake when we brag about our own methods, or when we bemoan the notion that we’re not doing this or that like some church down the street
3. This leads directly to Paul’s first principle
B. Principle #1: Hold Tight to the Preached Word (vv.1,2)
1. This is not a new message; they’d heard of the resurrection, believed in it, and were saved by it
2. By qualifying his statement, Paul recognized and pointed out that some may have had a shallow, non-saving faith
a. Matt. 7:22,23–”On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
3. Like demons, they may be convinced the gospel is true, but have no love for God, Christ, or righteousness
a. James 2:19–”You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!”
4. True believers “hold fast” to the gospel (John 8:31–”So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,”)
C. Principle #2: Hold Tight to the Manifested Messiah (vv.3-7)
1. Jesus, Peter, and Paul all spoke of Messiah’s sufferings and referred to OT passages regarding the work of the Christ
a. Jesus in Luke 24:26-27–“‘Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’ 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (See Psalm 16:8-11)
b. Peter in Acts 2:25-31 (Pentecost) (see Psalm 22)
c. Paul in Acts 26:22-23–”To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” (See Isaiah 53)
2. Jesus appeared in resurrected form to others over a period of 40 days (Acts 1:3)
a. John and Peter together (John 20:19,20)
b. The Twelve (Luke 24:36, Acts 1:22)
c. The 500 (here only)
d. James–not sure which one: one of the disciples (Mark 3:17,18) or Jesus’ half-brother (Acts 15:13-21)
e. The Apostles (John 20:19,20)
C. Principle #3: Hold Tight to Personal Testimony (vv.8-11)
1. Paul was saved too late to be one of the 12 apostles; Christ had already ascended before his conversion
2. He was saved miraculously when Christ revealed Himself (Acts 9:1-8) and called Paul by divine purpose to be an apostle
3. Paul called himself as “last of all” and “least” (1 Tim. 1:12-17)
4. His ministry was longer and richer than all those named in vv. 5-7; John only lived longer
III. The Resurrection of the Dead (vv.12-34)
A. The Disagreement over Resurrection (vv.12-19)
1. Some Corinthian Christians believed in Jesus’ resurrection, but had trouble accepting and understanding believers’ resurrection
2. Some of this confusion was result of their experiences with pagan philosophies and other religions
a. Dualism--the spiritual and physical were completely separated, and the physical was intrinsically evil–the idea of a resurrected body was repulsive and disgusting
b. Some may have been influenced by Sadducees, who did not believe in resurrection, even though it was taught extensively in the OT
c. But Jesus taught extensively on resurrection (John 5:28-29; 6:44; 11:25; 14:19), and it was the theme of Apostolic preaching (Acts 4:1,2)
3. Paul gives seven disastrous consequences if there is no resurrection:
a. Preaching would be senseless (v.14)
b. Faith in Christ would be useless (v.14)
c. All witnesses and preachers of the resurrection would be liars (v.15)
d. Believers’ resurrection is linked with Christ’s; if no one is resurrected, neither was Jesus (v.16)
e. No redemption from sin (v.17)
f. All former believers would have perished (v.18)
(1) “fallen asleep”–a euphemism for physical death
g. Christians would be the most pathetic people on earth (v.19)
B. The Effect of the Resurrection (vv.20-28)
1. Christ is the “firstfruits”–the first installment of harvest to eternal life, Christ’s resurrection comes before and guarantees all the saints who have died will be resurrected also (John 14:19–”Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.”)
2. Adam, whose sin brought death on the whole human race, was human. So was Christ, whose resurrection brought life to the race (Romans 5:12-19 makes this argument also)
3. The two “alls” in v. 22 are alike only in the sense that they apply to respective descendants: the second “all” applies only to believers (Galatians 3:26–”for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.”) and does not imply universal salvation (no need of faith)
4. “In his own order”
a. Christ was first, as the firstfruits of the resurrection harvest
b. Because of his resurrection, “those who belong to Christ” will be raised and enter the eternal heavenly state in three stages at His coming (Matt.24:36,42,44,50;25:13)
(1) Believers from creation to rapture will meet living saints in the air at the rapture and go to heaven (1 Thess.4:16-17)
(2) Tribulation saints will come before the Millennium (Rev. 20:4, Daniel 12:2)
(3) Believers who are born and die during the millennial kingdom will be raised when it is completed (Rev. 20:5; death is not completely eliminated until Rev. 20:14)
(4) Everyone else left will be raised to be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment, then eternal death in hell (Rev. 20:11-13)
c. The “end” in v.24 restores the earth to Christ’s rule (so it’s no so much about what is over “time-wise,” but what is complete and fulfilled)
d. At the end of the world’s history, Christ will rain over the earth for 1000 years, returning all things to the way God designed them to be (Rev. 21-22)
e. During the millennium, sin and rebelliousness will still exist, but Christ will rule them with a “rod of iron” (Rev.19:15); at the end, Satan will be released for a brief but pathetic insurrection (Rev. 20:10-15)
5. When it says “God has put all things in subjection under his feet,” it doesn’t mean that God the Father will be subordinated to Christ; everything else will be, then Jesus will turn around and be subject to His Father (“that God may be all in all”)
C. The Certainty of the Resurrection (vv.29-34)
1. A compelling incentive for salvation (v.29)
a. While this verse is a bit difficult, other passages make it clear: not that a dead person can be saved by someone else’s actions (baptism has no part in salvation), but that water baptism gives outward testimony of a conversion that had been influenced by deceased witnesses
b. If there is no resurrection and no life after death, why do people come to Christ to follow the hope of those who have died?
2. A compelling incentive for service (vv.30-32)
a. Paul continually risked his life in self-sacrificing ministry. Why would he risk such constant suffering unless there were life, reward, and eternal joy?
b. There is no point but to “live it up” if this is all there is
3. A compelling incentive for sanctification (vv.33-34)
a. Paul warns that evil friends are a corrupting influence, but hope in a resurrection leads to godly living
b. There are always some in the church who do not know God (and are a corrupting influence)
IV. Conclusion
A. Resurrection is always about hope--hope for second chances, to be better than what we were before
B. But resurrection hope for the believer is an empowerment for life right now, to take the power of Christ through His Spirit to live victoriously in this life
