The Response to the Resurrection
The Response to the Resurrection
1 Co. 15:29-34
Introduction: What God has done is the greatest possible motive for our doing what He wants us to do. To deny the resurrection is, in effect, to deny the need for righteous conduct. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have the victory. We don’t have to pray for victory, we just need to thank God for the victory. We have the victory all because of Jesus and His resurrection. Do you like to win? There are many who just enjoy being in a race. Hey, we are to run to win. There is nothing wrong with liking to win. My wife tells me before I play basketball at the community center to remember that winning isn’t everything.
Winning isn’t everything in the world, but in God’s eyes He wants Christians to win. In fact, He has given us everything we need for the victory.
Paul in this text gives us four different victories. We have victory over danger, deception, death and discouragement.
I. Danger
1 Corinthians 15:29-34 29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?
Having examined 1 Corinthians 15:29, a number of conclusions can be made. First, the baptism referred to is probably literal water baptism of Christians. Second, the phrase “the ones who are baptized” most likely refers to a small group of individuals rather than the church as a whole. Third, “the dead” for whom some individuals were being baptized were in all probability dead believers. Fourth, these dead believers had presumably experienced Christian baptism before they died. If these four observations are true, it is extremely improbable that the proposition ὑπέρ denotes vicarious baptism for the benefit of the dead, as there would be no value in such a practice, since the dead in question would already have been “saved” and probably baptized.
A second possibility translates ὑπέρ with the final sense: “in order to be reunited with their loved ones at the resurrection.” A third view translates ὑπέρ with the sense of “because of”: new believers’ being baptized “because of the influence of deceased Christians.” The first suggestion is perhaps less convincing, since it could be said that all believers take the place of deceased believers and yet Paul was evidently referring to a select group within the church. The final two suggestions are closely related semantically and fit the context well, as they both refer to a select group within the church and include an emphasis on the resurrection as the implied motive for these practices.
30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? 31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
kinduneu,omen verb indicative present active 1st person plural
[Fri] kinduneu,w impf. evkindu,neuon; be in danger or peril, run a risk (LU 8.23); with an infinitive following run the risk of something (AC 19.27)
I die daily-kaqV h`me,ran avpoqnh,|skw I die daily does not refer to “dying to self,” as in Romans 6, but to the physical dangers Paul faced as a servant of Christ (2 Cor. 4:8-5:10; 11:23-28). He was in constant jeopardy from his enemies and on more than one occasion had been close to death. Why endure suffering and danger if death ends it all? “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die” (Isa. 22:13).
The work of the Lord entails untold dangers. In Acts, Luke reports many of the perils Paul encountered on his missionary journeys and in Jerusalem. Paul also lists still more dangers he and his co-workers have had to endure for the sake of the gospel: hunger, thirst, exposure, physical attack, verbal abuse, and persecution.
Paul encountered the beasts at Ephesus.
evqhrioma,chsa verb indicative aorist active 1st person singular
[Fri] qhriomace,w 1aor. evqhrioma,chsa; as a form of punishment fight with wild beasts; probably metaphorically in 1C 15.32 in the sense of being exposed to furious mobs have a great conflict
Though this was probably not an arena experience, it was like it in that Paul saw no hope of deliverance. And last, although the phrase according to man can be explained in various ways, we assume that it conveys the sense of Paul engaged in a fight with human beings, not with wild beasts. In their opposition to God and his Word, these people attempted to cause Paul bodily harm. We admit, however, that in this context the phrase remains obscure.
Illustration: In Argentina there are people who try to do each other harm. The missionaries we are going to work with have been shot. Just recently in their church some man came out and was kidnapped. A few weeks ago the missionaries were on vacation and while they were sleeping someone came in and took his computer and cash.
Why fight it? They should just come home. It is funny because when the wife of the missionary got shot, the people in America said, you need to come back it is too dangerous there. When 911 happened, the people in Argentina said, get your kids out of college and have them come here to Argentina because the U.S. is too dangerous.
Every day of the life of Paul was in danger. Praise God that we don’t face that here. However, when we face it, we have the assurance of victory because of the resurrection. Christ lives and we will live again as well.
Why face that if this life were all there is? The Epicureans (and less philosophical men before them; cf. Isa. 22:13) would be right—pursue pleasure and avoid pain.
II. Deception
The second thing that we can face because of the resurrection is deception. The Bible tells us not to be deceived. In other words, don’t allow the world to deceive you into living as if Christ is not alive. You hang around people long enough who do not believe in the resurrection, you will start to act like them.
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners
fqei,rousin verb indicative present active 3rd person plural
[Fri] fqei,rw fut. fqerw/; 1aor. e;fqeira; 2aor. pass. evfqa,rhn; 2fut. pass. fqarh,somai; ruin, destroy; (1) in relation to outward circumstances ruin, corrupt, cause harm to (possibly 2C 7.2); (2) in morals and religion seduce, corrupt, mislead (RV 19.2; probably 2C 7.2); passive be led astray (2C 11.3); be corrupt, be depraved (EP 4.22); (3) of God's eternal punishment destroy (1C 3.17b)
Illustration: We had a detention center ministry. It was great going there and being with the unsaved kids and telling them of Jesus. We saw lots get saved to the glory of the Lord. There was one named John who made a profession of Christ. About six months later I saw him again in the detention center. Immediately I thought, oh John did not get saved. However, he did get saved. He was reading his Bible every day for those six months. He told me that the reason why he was back in there was because he started to hang around his old friends. His friends were corrupting his behavior.
Don’t allow the world to corrupt your behavior. So many Christians are acting like the world that they are not making any impact for Christ. Paul says it better than I could:
34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
There are people around us who do not know Jesus. It is time for us to live like Jesus. For some have not the knowledge of God.
Illustration: In Peru we were going door-to-door. A lady came and told us that she was going straight to the pit of hell.
III. Death
The Corinthians had a question that many of us ask today. How are the dead raised up? I mean some people lose their heads, some are blown up, some are thrown in the sea, our bodies disintegrate after time anyway. You ever have that question. I have. Look what Paul calls us in verse 36. Thou fool! Fools fail to think even when all the facts are self-evident and plain. They despise wisdom, distort the truth, and display indifference to God and his revelation. On the other hand, people who fear God depend on him for the gift of wisdom.
Clear and distinct answer is given to the question, “How are the [Christian] dead raised up? and with what body do they come?” (1 Cor 15:35). Having declared the variation in bodies and in glories, the Apostle states: “So also is the resurrection of the dead” (15:42 ). In this chapter the phrases “It is sown” and “It is raised” occur four times. It is common to say that the body is buried and it is true that seed which is sown is buried; but a thing is sown with expectation that something will come up as a result of that sowing.
Illustration: Why are seeds put in the ground? We put seeds in the ground so that something much more beautiful comes forth. When someone plants a seed in fertile soil that has sufficient moisture and warm temperature, it germinates. The germination process causes the seed to disintegrate. That dying seed gives birth to new life in the form of a developing plant that eventually matures and produces seed (see John 12:24). Notice that we sow the seed but are unable to bring about germination and new life. That is God’s work.
Doubts are common ever among Christians that the actual body is raised, because of its disintegration in the grave. In spite of corruption, however, this is a work of God which is assured to us by His own promise: “All that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth” (John 5:28–29), as for example He said to Lazarus, “Come forth,” and he came. The pattern of this resurrection is that of Christ Himself. He left nothing in the grave but the grave clothes.
1 Corinthians 15:35-58 35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: 38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
Ill. In heaven, there is going to be a difference on how people radiate the glory of the Lord. It is like light bulbs. Some will be 60 watt some 120. Our faithfulness to the Lord will determine how much we radiate His glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
Our bodies right now decay. We get old and wrinkle. We are not as strong as we once were. I don’t care how many vitamins we take. When our bodies are raised, they will never decay again. We will remain strong. What is sown in corruption is declared to be raised in incorruption. Whatever is sown is raised.
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory:
“It is sown in dishonour [lack of glory]; it is raised in glory” The body is buried and in the grave it does not reflect the glory of the Lord. However, when it is raised, it will reflect the glory of God.
it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
When death separates the soul from the body, the remains are completely powerless. “It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power,” not by power, though that is true enough besides (cf. Eph 1:19). It is raised a powerful body and that according to the standards of heaven and not the standards of earth. No doubt, a powerful body is needed to carry its exceeding and eternal weight of glory (cf. 2 Cor 4:17).
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
“It is sown a natural body,” or a body adapted to the soul with its emotions; “it is raised a spiritual body,” or one adapted to the presence of God. “There is a natural [or soul] type of body, and there is a spiritual body.”
Today, we have a “natural body,” that is, a body suited to an earthly environment. We received this body from our first parent, Adam: he was made of dust, and so are we (Gen. 2:7). But the resurrection body is suited to a spiritual environment. In His resurrection body, Jesus was able to move quickly from place to place, and even walk through locked doors; yet He was also able to eat food, and His disciples were able to touch Him and feel Him
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
First Corinthians 15:46 states an important biblical principle: first the “natural” (earthly), and then the “spiritual” (heavenly). The first birth gives us that which is natural, but the second birth gives us that which is spiritual. God rejects the first birth, the natural, and says, “You must be born again!” He rejected Cain and chose Abel. He rejected Abraham’s firstborn, Ishmael, and chose Isaac, the second-born. He rejected Esau and chose Jacob. If we depend on our first birth, we shall be condemned forever; but if we experience the new birth, we shall be blessed forever.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
So it may be restated that in resurrection the believer’s body will be changed from corruption to incorruption; from limitations to glory; from weakness to a body of power; from a body adapted to the soul to a body adapted to the spirit of man. Such, indeed, is the promise for those who go by death and resurrection to be with the Lord in glory. But the Apostle also reveals that not all shall go in this way and that some shall be alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord (1 Thess 4:16–17). However, such as remain and are caught up in translation, are not to carry this mortal body into heaven. “We shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” This mortal shall put on immortality, as this corruptible puts on incorruption; the end being the same in either case—a “body…like unto his glorious body” (Phil 3:21). So it may be seen that among the future changes designed for the Christian is the gaining of a new body like unto His glorious body.
When all this happens it shall come to pass, Death is swallowed up in victory. Our last enemy which is death shall not have dominion over us.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
Illustration: You heard of the illustration of the young boy and his father in the car and bee flies in. The young boy says to his father, Daddy, please get the bee out of the car. The father says that he will take care of it. A little while longer the boy spots the bee again. Daddy the bee. The father says, don’t worry I have its stinger in my hand, he won’t hurt you. The sting of death has been taken away because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, we can face our last enemy knowing that we will be in His presence right after it happens. Just thinking of stepping on shore and finding it heaven, of touching a hand and finding it God’s, of breathing new air and finding it celestial, of waking up in glory and finding it home! Wow!
IV. Discouragement
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
e`drai/oj, ai,a, on strictly sedentary, seated; hence steadfast, firm, settled in one's thinking or belief
Unmoveable-not being swift to change.
Always abounding-continue on and do more than is expected for God.
The word “work” carries the idea of toil like shoveling snow or raking leaves. It can get discouraging when you do not see results. How discouraging it is when farmers plant and plant and plant and the harvest comes and it is terrible. Listen, Paul says, work and work for Jesus, because what we do for Him is not in vain.
It will be worth it all when we see Jesus. Life’s problems will seem so small, when we see Christ. One look at His dear face, all sorrow He will erase, so bravely run the race until we see Jesus.
Are you worried about the future? I like what one man said, we don’t know what the future holds, but we do know WHO holds the future. Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Are you willing to live for Jesus and abound in His work? Let’s pray.
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