1 Cor 15:50-58 • Perfection Through Resurrection

Review & Overview

1. Previous Study’s Review

This section really begins back in Ch. 7 where the Apostle Paul begins by saying this statement: Now, concerning the things you wrote to me...

Ch. 7 - Ch. 16 Paul is responding to a series of questions that the Corinthian Church asked of Paul.

There was a letter written to Paul asking him all sorts of questions regarding Christianity:

About marriage, remarriage, divorce, and being single.

About our Christian freedoms in Christ.

About how we are to conduct ourselves in the Church service the house of God.

About the Manifestations of the Holy Spirit

Now here in Ch. 15 they had questions and doubts regarding the Resurrection of the Dead.

Look at the end of Vs. 12

1 Corinthians 15:12 NKJV

12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

Gospel Message - Paul begins this section by explaining to them that the Gospel message 100% hinges on the resurrection of Jesus Christ - If Jesus did not rise from the dead there would be no Resurrection!

Importance of Resurrection - He then further explains the importance of Jesus’ Resurrection. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, our preaching is empty, our faith is empty, we are wasting our time, we might as well leave and go to el Torito and have brunch.

Because if Jesus did not rise form the dead we are still dead in our sins.

The Agenda for the Resurrection - Where Paul talks about some of the key events that will happen around the resurrection. Which we will talk more about today.

Now more recently Paul gives us some details regarding our resurrected bodies Vs. 35-49.

2. Current Study’s Overview

And that brings us to our portion of scripture for today, Vs. 50-58, still dealing with the the Resurrection of the Dead. Let’s start our reading from Vs. 35 for context. Read...

As you can see in our quick reading of todays scripture...

If your taking notes...

1. The Mandate for the Resurrection Vs. 50 & 53

2. The Mystery Regarding the Resurrection Vs. 51-52

3. The Message Predicting the Resurrection Vs. 54-56

4. The Motivation Derived from the Resurrection Vs. 57-58

1. The Mandate for the Resurrection Vs. 50 & 53

Flesh & Blood & Corruption:     speak of our Natural Bodies…     Our present bodies… Our existing condition...  

Back in vs.42 our natural bodies are sown in corruption,     

vs.43 Our natural bodies are dishonorable & weak,     

vs. 47 we’re made of dust…

APPLICATION: Point is, we’re really messed up.  &  in our current condition we’ll never inherit the Kingdom of God...

Our present body is not suited for the Kingdom of God, it’s not suited for heaven.

So there is a conundrum that we all face, there is a dilemma that all believers have.

Philippians 3:20 NKJV

20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

But at the same time, we have this corruption, this mortal body that we are trapped in.

It’s not wonder why, the Apostle Paul said in...

Romans 7:24 NKJV

24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

1. The Mandate for the Resurrection Vs. 50 & 53

Corruption Definition - Decay, the moment we are born we are decaying

Our present bodies are subject to disease, decay, & decomposition, it’s corrupt.

So it’s not suited for a place where there is no corruption.

Incorruption:  speaks of our Spiritual Body…  our new condition, our new body...   when we’re resurrected… Go back to...

1 Corinthians 15:44 NKJV

44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

So we need a change…  a transformation…    because there is no way we can inherit the Kingdom of God in this natural body… Turn w/ to...

2 Corinthians 5:1–8 NKJV

1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Now, it’s important to understand that this change is not just about the External (The new body) - But it’s also about the Internal (The new heart)…

John 3:3 NKJV

3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

We must be born again...

STINGER: We must first be resurrected spiritually before we are resurrected physically. (Pause)

This comes by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ…     

Romans 4:25 NKJV

25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

1 Cor.15:17 if Christ is not risen… we are still in our sins...

APPLICATION: At the end of the day Getting into the Kingdom of God is not by good works or good deeds…    not by coming to church...  or      giving to the church...         but        through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ...

2. The Mystery Regarding the Resurrection Vs. 51-52

Now, this mystery involves 3 things:

2.1 The Change Derived from the Mystery Vs. 51

This is referring to the Rapture of the Church - Where at any moment God can catch us up to the clouds.

Go over end times outline: Currently we are living in what’s called the church age, also known as the last days, Acts 2

The Church age will end when the Rapture occurs, 1 Thess 4:16, Rom 11:25

Once the rapture happens, the day of the Lord begins, the great tribulation. 7 years of God pouring out His wrath on a God forsaken world. Rev 6-18

So the rapture can happen at any time, it can happen today, it can happen at any second.

More on that in a moment, hold that thought.

Mystery: musterion:  not something mysterious or spooky per say…     but   something that was hidden and is now revealed.  

So, this change would be a mystery...     if God had not revealed it to us in His Word...

Point:  When the resurrection takes place there will be those who are not asleep or dead, but will be alive and they too will be changed.

2.2 The Swiftness of the Mystery Vs. 52a

So the Rapture of the Church will happen in a moment we are going to be changed in a moment...

Atomos Definition - at'-om-os; Only here, it’s the word indivisible, meaning it cannot be cut in two.

It’s a span of time so short that it is no longer divisible into smaller units.

So this change that we will undergo will happen in a moment, less than second..

In Twinkling of an eye, which by the way is measured in thousands of a second…

APPLICATION: And I think the Application for us is urgent:  at the rapture, there will be NO OPPORTUNITY to repent or to get right with God. (Pause)

Unfortunately, there are many people today that think they’ve got plenty of time…  

The Bible says that Jesus will come as a thief in night…    unexpectedly...

There is a tendency for some to procrastinate when it comes to their salvation. But the truth is, we do not know when our last opportunity to repent and accept Jesus Christ as our Savior will be.

The rapture serves as a final reminder that time is running out. When this moment comes, the door to salvation will close, leaving behind those who did not heed the call to turn to Christ.

APPLICATION: The question for us is are we spiritually prepared...

someone said this should not scare us, but prepare us.

2.3 The Schedule of the Mystery Vs. 52b

What is the schedule of this Mystery? When will this Mystery take place? At the last trumpet. (Pause)

Now there are different views as to when this trumpet will sound.

Some use vs.52 to point to a mid-trib rapture…  because of the term Last Trumpet… &  they use Rev.8 & 9 & 11 where there are a series 7 trumpets that will sound during the great tribulation period.

But there are a couple of issues with that view:

Different Purposes - The trumpet here in Vs. 52 and the last trumpet in Revelation 11 serve different purposes.

The trumpet here is associated w/ the blessing and transformation of believers.

Whereas the trumpets in Revelation are associated w/ judgment & wrath upon the earth. Another issue...

Trumpet After Tribulation - In Matthew 24:31 after the 7 trumpets in the tribulation, at Jesus’ 2nd coming. Jesus will be there with a trumpet, so obviously it’s not the last trumpet.

Matthew 24:31 NKJV

31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

2.3 The Schedule of the Mystery Vs. 52b

So the term last trumpet here is not meant to indicate chronological order within a series of trumpets,

But it’s to emphasize the finality and completeness of the church age. Turn w/ me to...

Because there we get a little more information regarding this trumpet...

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 NKJV

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Both scriptures speak of the rapture of the church - And the trumpet here is the trumpet of God. The trumpet in Revelation is blown by an angel. I like what Pastor Clark says...

The trumpets in Rev. is blown by an angel & it’s a Woe.  trumpet here is blown by God & it’s a Wow.  

So this trumpet will sound before the tribulation period as a signal that the church age has come to an end.

And when that happens the great tribulation period will begin. A period of time you do not want to participate in.

2 Thessalonians 2:11–12 NKJV

11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Laodiceans = Lukewarm Church

1. The Mandate for the Resurrection 2. The Mystery Regarding the Resurrection

3. The Message Predicting the Resurrection Vs. 54-55

Here we have two portions of Old Testament Messages or Scriptures predicting the Resurrection of the Dead. 

3.1 Death is Destroyed Vs. 54

Here Paul quotes from Isaiah 25:8-9 and at the Resurrection or the Rapture of the church we will have Victory over Death.

1 Cor.15:26 the last enemy that will be destroyed is death... 

Revelation 20:14 NKJV

14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Revelation 21:4 NKJV

4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

3. The Message Predicting the Resurrection Vs. 54-55

APPLICATION: I can’t wait for that day…      to hear that trumpet of God blow…

POP OFF

3.2 The Taunt Vs. 55

HERE AS PAUL is quoting from Hosea 13:14 you can’t help but look back to the apparent victories of satan in the Garden of Eden in Gen 3 and on Golgotha with the crucifixion of Jesus.

Because all those supposed victories by satan were reversed by the finished work of Jesus Christ and His resurrection.

Colossians 2:14–15 NLT

14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

Here Paul is voicing his taunt against death and Satan. He said Death where is your sting? Where is your victory?

APPLICATION: Family, we too should be living a life of assurance and certainty, that death is not the end for us.

During our darkest moments, during the most painful of times, we can stand boldly in victory.

We don’t need to fear our circumstances but we can look at the face of our circumstances with hope & all boldness.

Because though you may feel you’ve lost this battle, the Lord has given you the victory to the war.

1. The Mandate for the Resurrection 2. The Mystery Regarding the Resurrection 3. The Message Predicting the Resurrection

4. The Motivation Derived from the Resurrection Vs. 56-58

4.1 Sin Brings Death Vs. 56-57a

Sin brings death… Rom.5:12

Romans 5:12 NKJV

12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—

The strength of sin (death) is the Law and the law can’t save us…  it kills us according to 2 Cor 3:6

Romans 3:20 (NKJV)

20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified...

Romans 7:8–11 NKJV

8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. 9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.

But in Rom.7:12 & 14.The Law is perfect, holy, just, spiritual...   why,   because it’s a picture of God...     

So if the law can’t save us, what’s the point of the law:   

Galatians 3:24 NKJV

24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

which is a good segue for the end of Vs. 57 because notice how we receive this victory?

4. The Motivation Derived from the Resurrection Vs. 56-58

4.2 Victory Through Jesus Christ Vs. 57b

The Victory over death comes by Jesus alone,   

1 John 3:8 NKJV

8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

4. The Motivation Derived from the Resurrection Vs. 56-58

Jesus fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Law...

Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law...      

Matt.5:17 Jesus fulfilled the law & prophets...

Victory only comes in & through Jesus Christ…

4.3 Steadfast, Immovable, Abound Vs. 58

Here, because of the Resurrection we should be motivated we should receive strength to be steadfast, immovable, and to abound in the work of Jesus.

Steadfast:  to sit down,   in the sense of rest…   contentment…    peace…

Since we have this promise of life after death and death is not the end for us.

We shouldn’t change our behavior there shouldn’t be any variation in our walk with Christ.

APPLICATION: Even when times are dark we should continue in the ways of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 6:9 NKJV

9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

APPLICATION: Be steadfast family. Maybe you’r here and you are discouraged for whatever reason?

I’m here today to tell you, that God has promised you that one day your tears will be wiped away forever.

Maybe your here today, and life has become mundane, God has promised you that one day you will reap your reward. Be steadfast.

Immovable: This word immovable is interesting to me because I don’t know if you guys have heard of the Irresistible Force Paradox.

ILLUSTRATION: Relativity tells us that there is no such thing as an immovable object.

If you pick a supposed immovable object like a sky scraper or the earth.

I can make it move, all I need to do is start to move relative to it.

for example if I take a rocket and go to outer space from my perspective i’m not moving but the earth is floating by.

ILLUSTRATION: And what people normally think by immovable objects is something that can never be moved by pushing on it.

And according to Newton’s Second Law an objects acceleration is equal to the force on it divided by its mass.

For example, you look at a wheel barrel filled with rocks that’s the mass.

The man pushing the wheel barrel is the force and depending on the mass that will determine the acceleration.

When you reduce the mass and the force remains the acceleration increases.

So an object to be immovable it would have to be an object with infinite mass.

And there is no object that contains an infinite amount of mass.

With all that being said, we are told here to be immovable. (Pause)

Be Greek - Is in the passive voice meaning, this is an action that is not accomplish but it is received.

APPLICATION: In other words, being immovable is a work of God! Only God infinite amount of resources.

For us to be steadfast, immovable and to abound in the work of Jesus these things are not something we work at or strive for…    

1 Corinthians 15:10 NKJV

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

APPLICATION: The Point is:  Our labor for the Lord,   our service to the Lord,  our worship before the Lord…     is not in vain…  

Because listen, all this would be in vain if Jesus never rose from the dead. We learned this already if Jesus never rose from the dead....

Now go back to Vs. 29 because here Paul gives us an argument against those who believe that there is no resurrection.

Because Paul thinks we would all be crazy if there was no resurrection, all this would be in vain.

Crazy To The Martyrs Vs. 29 - During the time of this letter, there was a general persecution against those who took a public stand for Christ. Though, Paul may not be necessarily speaking of the church in Corinth, but generally speaking during this time, the global church was experiencing persecution.

And presumably, this persecution often happened when a Christian would publically proclaim their faith in Jesus through baptism. Because baptism, as you may know, is a public display of what God has done inside of you.

So these enemies of the Church would see these people publically proclaim their faith in Jesus through baptism and would be killed shortly after their baptism.

But did this stop people from coming to Jesus and being baptized? Not at all. New people were coming to christ, replacing those who were being murdered for their faith in Christ.

As these new people stepped into the waters of baptism, in a very real sense they were being baptized for, or in the place of (Gk. huper) the dead.

The word “for” in Vs. 29 is Hyper - A preposition a place of position.

So the dead here in Vs. 29 I believe refers to those who died as a result of their bold witness for Christ.

So Paul’s argument here is that it would be crazy to be baptized in the place of those who had died if there is no such thing as resurrection from the dead.

ILLUSTRATION: It’s like sending substitutes in a basketball game and your losing by 50 points with only 5 min left. It’s hopeless, there’s no point.

Which is why Paul says at the end of Vs. 29, “why then are they baptized for the dead?

Crazy To Paul Personally Vs. 30-32a - The Apostle Paul was constantly exposed to danger. Because of his boldness for the Lord, he made enemies wherever he went. Secret plots were schemed against him to take his life.

And he could have avoided all this by denying Jesus Christ. In fact, it would have been wise for him to abandon his faith if there was no such thing as a resurrection from the dead.

Because in Vs. 31 he says he dies daily, or every day of his life he is exposed to death. Imagine that!

In Vs. 32 he said he fought beasts at Ephesus, and I think he speaking metaphorically about an incident found in Acts. 19 - Where a huge mob of people came against him.

So Paul is saying, if there is no resurrection of the dead what advantage do I have for all this persecution that I experience.

What is it that I gain from this persecution if there is no resurrection?

APPLICATION: And that is a really good question. Because listen, there is a resurrection.

For us Christians, death is not the end! We continue to have faith in spite of the struggles and persecution we experience in this life because we know that one day we will be resurrected in heaven with the Lord. Can I get an Amen!

But if there isn’t a resurrection, might as well live for today. YOLO. And that is a good segue for the middle of Vs. 32.

Crazy For All Christians Vs. 32b - the argument is clear: Paul would be crazy to continually experience dangerous persecution if there is no resurrection from the dead.

He would be much wiser to have the mindset stated at the end of Vs. 32: “If the dead do not rise, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!’ ”

And you know what’s also crazy? I have heard Christians say, “if this life is all we have, I would still be a Christian”. What!??? That’s crazy...

And we see here that the Apostle Paul also disagrees with that notion.

APPLICATION: If there was no resurrection it would make sense to make the most of this life! Go eat the food, go work for the nice clothes, go indulge in the pleasures of the flesh.

Because if there is no resurrection this life would be the only heaven we can look forward to. (Pause)

But for those of us who have genuinely & sincerely placed our faith in Jesus, that’s not the case is it?

For us, death is not the end of the story! Since there is a resurrection, we are to live for the next life.

We must live for the life after, and not for the now.

APPLICATION: Going back to Vs. 58 it says abound in the work of the Lord, increase what you do for Jesus Christ.

Allow your life to be filled with your labor for Jesus, why? Because it’s not in vain, you are not wasting your time.

Your on the right track, your doing what’s right, and you are storing up treasure in heaven where neither moth or rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal.

ENDING....