Untitled Sermon (18)

1 Cor. 15:20

King James Version Chapter 15

20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

The First Epistle to the Corinthians B. But Christ Is Raised (15:20–28)

If Christ is not raised, as the logical consequence of your present position requires, then the further consequence is disaster for both the living and the dead.

The First Epistle to the Corinthians B. But Christ Is Raised (15:20–28)

Believers are still in their sins and the dead in Christ have perished.” In contrast to that Paul asserts, “But as it is, Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” The point of course is that those who have fallen asleep in Christ will not perish, but are destined for resurrection.

The First Epistle to the Corinthians B. But Christ Is Raised (15:20–28)

This is the final mention of Christ’s resurrection in the argument, but everything that follows is predicated on it. Paul’s present concern is to demonstrate not only that the resurrection of Christ stands logically against their view that there is no resurrection of the dead (vv. 12–19), but that his resurrection has inherent in it that which makes the resurrection of the believing dead inevitable. He does this first by calling Christ the “firstfruits 13 of those who have fallen asleep.”

Colossians 1:18 “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

Revelation 1:5 “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,”

2 Timothy 2:8 “Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:”