Sunday, March 17, 2013 pm
Studies in 1 Corinthians
Christ, The Firstfruits of the Dead
1 Cor. 15:20-28
In the text we will study this evening we notice some things
about the current reign of Jesus.
This is also an important text is describing the order of the end
things. A careful study of
this text reveals error in the doctrines of premillenialism, the 70 AD
doctrine (realized eschatology) which says ALL things have been
fulfilled and other errors.
It also establishes another point which relates the resurrection of
Jesus to our resurrection – namely His power over ALL things.
Let us examine the text and notice some of these points.
a.
In that statement Paul
acknowledges that we too will be raised from the dead, just as Christ is
living.
b.
He is the “firstfruits
of those who have fallen asleep –
i.
What does firstfruits mean? IT is a
word that means, “the first in a set.”
The actual idea is the first of a crop.
The implication is that where there are firstfruits, almost
always there is going to be more – a harvest.
Jesus was described as the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep
(and been raised).
The word is found 8 times in the New Testament – Rom. 8:23, 11:16, James
1:18, etc.
ii.
But, there were some
raised before Jesus. Jesus
raised a widow’s son, the daughter of Jairus, and Lazarus to name a few.
In addition to this there were resurrections in the Old Testament
including miracles at the hands of Elijah and Elisha.
And AFTER His resurrection, Paul (and perhaps others) raised some
as well.
iii.
So what does it mean that Christ is the firstfruits?
In all the above examples, they were raised to prove a point, but
they died again. Jesus is
the first to arise NEVER to die again.
When He appeared out of the grave, His body was the one that
died, but it was changed to a glorious state never to die again.
c.
In Christ all shall be
made alive
i.
The contrast is made
between Adam and Christ.
1.
By man (Adam) because of his sin,
all men die. In our
context it is evident that the death which resulted from Adam’s sin
is physical death. It was a
part of the curse (Gen. 3:19).
Since the time of Adam, ALL of humanity has died (with 2
exceptions – Enoch and Elijah – and both were special circumstances).
2.
By Man, (Christ) came
the resurrection of the dead.
This is dealing with our physical resurrection.
Put this in the context of our chapter – early Paul noted that
Jesus PHYSICALLY arose and was seen by many witnesses (15:3-8), THEN he
addressed how if Jesus physically arose, then so will we (15:12-19) AND
noted how they are connected.
In this text Paul is continuing along this line of thought.
And later in this chapter he will address what we will be like
when we physically arise from the dead (15:35-58).
3.
Jesus also provides
spiritual resurrection from the death of sin.
In fact, Paul deals with that in part in Romans 5:12-21 (he also
deals some with physical death there) but that is not the best
understanding of our text tonight.
ii.
But Jesus conquered death and gives mankind hope.
The resurrection has always been a point of contention with
critics and cynics of God’s word.
Sadly, there were probably some in Corinth who still questioned
whether we will arise. That
is what Paul dispels in this text.
UP until Jesus arose, man did not have an example of TRUE hope
beyond this life. But Jesus
arose from the dead and thereby we DO have hope.
The empty tomb cannot be disproved!
iii.
ALL shall be made alive – NOTICE also how as in Adam ALL will die, even so in Christ
ALL will be made alive. The
text does NOT say that only the righteous will die.
ALL mankind will arise – both good and wicked.
John 5:28 says, “the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear his
voice and come forth – those who have done good, to the resurrection of
life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation.”
NOTE: This text refutes those who teach that only the righteous will
arise. Whether we want to
admit it or not, there WILL be a hell for the ungodly.
d.
The order of
resurrection (23-24)
i.
Christ first
(as we have already noted) – HE is the firstfruits and the example &
hope.
ii.
Afterward, those who are Christ’s at His coming
(presence) – the righteous are described here.
Considering John 5:28 (above) and other passages (Matt.
25:31-46, 2 Thess. 1:6-10, etc.), there is no indication that there will
be separate resurrections for the righteous and the wicked.
PAUL HERE mentions the righteous simply because that is his
audience – recall how he has dealt with some in their midst who have
“fallen asleep in Christ” (vs. 18).
iii.
Then comes the end –after the resurrection, there will be an end.
This is a reference to the end of the world!
It follows His appearing.
NOTHING is mentioned in between these two events (i.e. a 1000
year reign, separate resurrections for the righteous and the wicked, the
battle of Armageddon, etc.), either here or in other texts.
a.
There WILL be an end! The word for end (τέλος,
telos) indicates the final event or conclusion.
When the Lord returns we are told in 2 Pet. 3:10-12 describes how it
will be the end.
Even 1 Thess. 4:15-18 speaks of the righteous being caught up in the air
at His appearing (παρουσία, parousia – same word as our text) “and thus
we shall always be with the Lord.” (vs. 17)
b.
WHEN the kingdom will be
delivered to God the Father
(24-25) –
i.
WHEN? In comparison to
what? The word is descriptive of what will happen when “the end” comes.
ii.
AT that time, Jesus will
deliver the kingdom to the Father – NOTICE how when “the end” comes
Jesus will DELIVER the kingdom which must already be in existence for
this to happen. Is Paul
speaking of a future time at the end of a 1000 year reign on earth in
Jerusalem? READ ON!
c.
WHEN He puts an end to ALL rule and ALL authority and power.
i.
Consider this in light
of Matt. 28:18, where before Jesus ascended He said, “All authority has
been given to me in heaven and on earth.”
ii.
My question: Does Christ
NOW have all authority? We
know He does!
In Acts 2:36 Peter declared that God had made Jesus, “both Lord and
Christ.”
Eph. 1:20-22 Paul speaks of the authority Christ has, “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every
name that is named, not only in THIS age but also in that which is to
come. And He put all things
under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church…”
iii.
NOTE: The KJV and ASV
both in using this phrase says, “when HE shall have put down
all rule,…” The
indication of the grammar is that Jesus will reign until He has put an
end to ALL rule, authority and power AND THEN He will deliver the
Kingdom to God.
d.
FOR He MUST REIGN, until
He has put ALL enemies must be put under His feet.
i.
The word “for” (γάρ,
gar) is a conjunction that ties this expression to the previous one.
ii.
He must reign – the word
for reign is a word that speaks of one ruling as a king (over a
kingdom). It is a present
tense verb meaning ongoing action that is in existence as it is
said. Paul is declaring that
the kingdom is ALREADY in existence.
And this accords with Col. 1:13 speaks of having been delivered
from darkness and conveyed into the kingdom.
Recall also Matt. 16:19 where Jesus promised the “keys to the Kingdom”
to Peter and the other apostles AND Matt. 16:28, “Assuredly,
I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death
till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
Mark. 9:1 says they will see the “kingdom
of God present with power.”
iii.
How long will He reign? Until ALL enemies
are put under His feet.
Psalm 110:1 says, “The Lord said
to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your
footstool.” We know this
was a Messianic psalm as this verse is quoted in Heb. 1:13, Acts 2:34,
etc.
Jesus, in dying on the cross overcame MOST of His enemies!
iv.
But there remains ONE enemy! The last enemy
that shall be destroyed is death (vs. 26).
Friends, people are still dying physically – so Jesus is still
reigning to this day.
WHEN will death be destroyed?
When all who are in the grave hear His voice and come forth (John
5:28).
NOTE: This was actually a word of comfort to these brethren indicating
that there was hope for the dead, the point Paul has been trying to make
all along. Furthermore, to
DENY the resurrection was to deny the power of Christ over ALL things!
e.
The Father is exempted
from “all things” being under His feet.
i.
This is an obvious
observation. God gave Jesus
His authority where this world is concerned (cf. Phil. 2:9-11), but God
is still God supreme!
ii.
Why would Paul say this?
Perhaps it was so that we would not diminish the sovereignty of
God as we look at the life of Jesus.
iii.
Paul even says here that
in the end, when all things, including death, are made subject to Him,
the Jesus Himself will also be subject to the Father (vs. 28).
iv.
NOTE: This is NOT an
indication that Jesus is NOT God!
As an illustration of this consider how the wife is to be in
subjection to her husband, but that doesn’t diminish her humanity.
f.
NOTE: What Paul says
here about the order and about the kingdom being in existence
demonstrates the fallacy of premillenialism.
g.
NOTE: Those who teach
realized eschatology also have to deal with why we still face death
(which indicates Christ has NOT yet delivered the kingdom to the Father)
AND explaining how even though “the end” has come and Christ has
appeared (so THEY say), why are we still here and what is our purpose?