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Sunday, June 16, 2013 pm            Studies in 1 Corinthians Index

STUDIES IN 1 CORINTHIANS (57)
We Shall All Be Changed
1 Corinthians 15:50-58

 As we continue our study of 1 Corinthians, we have been dealing with the resurrection.    That is the theme of chapter 15.  Paul has established that Christ did arise and that we too will arise from the dead.  As a part of his discourse, he addressed questions associated with the resurrection.  1) One might have asked, “How is it possible for a dead body to be raised?”  Paul answered with the analogy of a seed – that dies and withers away, but the “spark of life” brings forth a plant that is different from the seed. (vs. 36-41)  2) Some would want to know, “What will our bodies be like?”  Paul noted that we will be like Christ, who when He arose, it was Him, but His body was not immortal (never to die again). (vs. 42-49)  This leads to a third and final question, “What about those who do not die when the Lord returns?”  It is that question that we want to examine in our text tonight.

 I.                    Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God (50-53)

a.        Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God (50) - That applies both to the dead who are to be raised AND those living at His return.
Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.  Why? Because corruption cannot inherit incorruption.  Our bodies ARE corruptible, but heaven is not.  To enter heaven, we need an incorruptible body. 

b.       We will be like Jesus - ONE of the points Paul has emphasized in this chapter is how Jesus is raised.  He is the illustration of the seed dying and being raised in a different form.  We noted how His post-resurrection appearances were in a glorified state (yet it was Him). It is THAT state that we must take on to enter the kingdom of Heaven.  Paul concluded our last section,  in which he noted that the physical body must come BEFORE the spiritual body, by saying, “And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly man.”   (1 Cor. 15:49) NOTE  1 John 3:1-3 which tells us that we are going to be changed, and our appearance is going to be like His.

c.        WE shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed (51) -
“Behold, I tell you a mystery” - The “mystery” simply means a revelation from God (man can’t figure it out on his own).  Something that has not been revealed before.  (Rom. 16:25-26, Eph. 3:3-4, 1:9, 1 Cor. 2:7, 13:2, etc.). 
NOTE: One of the unique qualities of “Christianity” that sets it apart from the religions of the East is God’s direct revelation to us – we are not left go guess what He would have us do.
IN this chapter Paul has revealed (or expounded upon) several thoughts about the resurrection: 

                                                   i.      How our resurrection is tied to the resurrection of Jesus – if one occurs, so will the other.

                                                  ii.      How we will be raised – our corruptible body is the seed that must first die so that the incorruptible body can be raised.

                                                iii.      The necessity of this new body to enter the kingdom of heaven

                                                iv.      This resurrected body will be like that of Jesus.

In all of these, we find the reality of our coming resurrection.  Perhaps some of the thoughts had been discussed before, but not everyone to whom Paul was now writing had heard it.  Furthermore, in some instances we find details not mentioned elsewhere.

d.       In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye – among the things revealed in this “mystery” is the brevity of our change.  We are told it will be done in a very brief moment of time.   The word “moment” is from the same word that we get our word atom, an extremely small particle that cannot be divided any further without consequence.  This is how quickly the end and our change will come.

e.       For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised and we shall be changed (52-53).  IN these verses we find the summary of what Paul has been talking about concerning our future state.  We find here 3 things that will happen (instantly) at that time.

                                                   i.      The trumpet will sound – this is a reference to the Lord’s return.  The trumpet is frequently used in reference to days of judgment (Used with Jericho – Joshua 6, Isa. 27:13, 1 Thess. 4:16, John 5:25 says, “the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God.”

                                                  ii.      The dead will be raised incorruptible – that which we have discussed in this chapter.

                                                iii.      WE shall be changed – both the dead and those who are alive.  VS. 53 is an elaboration of this

                                                iv.      Consider 1 Thess. 4:13-18 with our text – it describes these three events with different details, but it references that the Lord will return.

                                                  v.      NOTE: BOTH of these texts indicate that it will all happen in a moment (not in stages as some teach with premillenialism).

 

 II.                  Victory over death (54-57)

a.        When  these things happens –

b.       “it shall be brought to pass” – a reference to prophecies being fulfilled.

“Death will be swallowed up in victory” -   This is probably a quote from Isaiah 25:8 which gives the sense of this text.  It says, “He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces…”   (see also vs. 26 of our chapter – the last enemy that will be destroyed is death).

Hosea 13:14 is the other text quoted here. “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction! Pity is hidden from My eyes.”
 Both texts speak of death being conquered.   In Hosea, the text is in the midst of warnings of Israel’s rejection of God and how He intended to utterly devour them. However, in this verse, we have a promise of hope and a demonstration of God’s power.  He can bring Israel back from their dead state (and indeed He did to complete His purpose).  JUST as He could to that for Israel, so He can do that with our bodies – defeating death ultimately.  

c.        The sting of death is sin – death is the result of sin.  Death is the punishment for man’s sin.  Earlier Paul noted that as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive (1 Cor. 15:22, cf. Rom. 5:12-21).  Christ is the answer to that punishment. 

d.       The strength of sin is the law – it is because of law that there is sin.  By definition, sin is transgression of the law. (1 John 3:4)  For there to be sin, there must be a law to transgress (cf. Rom. 7:7, 3:20).  God has revealed to us His law to keep.  (Rom. 4:15 – where there is no law, there is no transgression).   
Since sin comes because of law, ONE might then ask, why did God give us law?  Would we not be better off if we didn’t have laws we had to keep?  The answer is NO!  Where there is no law there is chaos.  Law brings order.  1 Tim. 1:8-9 tells us that the Law is good if one uses it lawfully.  Furthermore, the law was not actually made for the righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners.  IT regulates and makes us better.  Like it or not, we need law, even the laws of God!  Man is NOT free to do what he wants or even to serve God how he wants to  - he must respect God’s will!
BUT, the strength of sin is found in the law.  Sin gains momentum and power as man continually BREAKS God’s laws.  IF there we no solution, there would be no hope!

e.       But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Here we find our hope.  Even though sin destroys, because God sent His Son (John 3:16) who died AND arose from the dead, thereby conquering BOTH sin and death, we have hope.  Sin doesn’t have to rule us.  We can conquer it and receive eternal life.  Why? Because Jesus arose from the dead!

 III.                  Therefore be steadfast, immovable, always abounding (58)

a.        A final exhortation to these brethren.   In this chapter Paul has established the reality of the resurrection.  He has noted that when the Lord returns, ALL will stand in judgment – both the dead who are raised and those still living.  John 5:28-29 tells us there is ONE resurrection for the dead and the living, the just and the unjust.

b.       Because of this it DOES matter how we live our lives.  So in Paul’s conclusion he describes the conduct that these brethren ought to embrace.  Instead of giving up he says for them to be:

                                                   i.      Steadfast – one firmly established.  He endures and does not give up.  Col. 1:23, “If indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven…”
We know that we cannot give up!  Gal. 6:9, Heb. 12:1-2 – run with endurance, etc.

                                                  ii.      Immovable – used only here, it is a word that means one is not easily shaken in his beliefs.  I think of a tree that is firmly rooted and cannot be budged (Psa. 1:3).  The idea is taught in other places.  In Eph. 4:14-15, as we are taught and built up, we are not tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine. 

                                                iii.      Always abounding – to be considerably more than what is expected.   This is one who is not just maintaining the minimum.  He is working and growing.  He is progressing in his service and attitude toward God.   Consider 2 Pet. 1:5-11 where we find the growth of a Christian’s faith. 
Abounding in what?  The work of the Lord – doing what He would have you to do!  WE call this OBEDIENCE!  Eph. 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
We have to keep busy!

c.        Knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord – this is the motivation.  IN summary, the reason we are persistent in our service to God – we do what He desires, even when it is not easy or pleasant; we DON’T do what He forbids regardless of our own will and passions; we endure persecutions, sacrifices, and disappointments.  Why? Because He arose from the dead and we have confidence that we too will be raised to be with Him forever.

 Truly there is hope in the resurrection of Christ.  We are confident that one day we too will be raised and we will have opportunity to spend eternity with God and Jesus in heaven.  BUT, that will only come to those who obey the gospel.  Have you obeyed the gospel – Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, 1 Pet. 3:20-21, Gal. 3:27, etc.  That is where you hope begins.  AND having obeyed, are you faithful?  Notice our final verse again – a call to remain faithful till the end.  Rev. 14:13 says, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”    Rev. 2:10 says, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”  IF you have been unfaithful, then I urge you to take care of it – repent (Acts 8:22) and go to God for forgiveness (1 John 1:9).  If we can help we are here.

Friends, in this chapter Paul has established that we WILL be raised.  The only question that remains is WEHRE will you spend eternity? That is answer is up to you.  Why not take care of your needs today.