1 Corinthians 15:12-34
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Have you given much thought as to the differences between an emcee and a ringleader?
Have you given much thought as to the differences between an emcee and a ringleader?
Emcee — Carson, Crystal, Harvey — elegant, enjoyable, clean
Ringleaders aren’t like that.
Ringleaders are the point people for groups that assemble around things from the illegal to the audacious to the unbelievable.
Paul much more like a ringleader than an emcee.
Last week I likened the first 11 verses of 1 Corin 15 to an OVERTURE in a musical or an opera.
Last week I likened the first 11 verses of 1 Corin 15 to an OVERTURE in a musical or an opera.
What an overture doesn’t do well is let us know exactly what kind of characters we have on our hands.
In today’s passage we find out quickly (which of course has been revealed in the earlier chapters of 1 Corin — so, in truth, this is a continuation of what we come to understand about Paul there) is that Paul is NO EMEEE — Paul is a RINGLEADER.
In today’s passage we find out quickly (which of course has been revealed in the earlier chapters of 1 Corin — so, in truth, this is a continuation of what we come to understand about Paul there) is that Paul is NO EMEEE — Paul is a RINGLEADER.
Provocative; Gritty; Audacious; A Rebel.
With the OVERTURE completed, let the RECITATIVES, SOLOS, AND CHORUSES OF 1 CORIN 15 BEGIN...
With the OVERTURE completed, let the RECITATIVES, SOLOS, AND CHORUSES OF 1 CORIN 15 BEGIN...
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
29 Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? 30 Why are we in danger every hour? 31 I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! 32 What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 34 Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
1 CORIN 15:
Vs 12 — we find the reason for this section of this letter:
Vs 12 — we find the reason for this section of this letter:
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
For our ringleader, Paul, this is an unthinkable thought — Christianity without the resurrection of the dead at its center.
It is resurrection, NOT Heaven, that is at issue here.
The word heaven does not appear in all of this chapter. An entire chapter — the most extensive chapter in the Bible on resurrection — and the word heaven doesn’t appear.
We should pause to consider this.
And if we do, we are forced to consider that, for Paul, the heart of the Christian matter is that those who RECEIVE, STAND, AND BELIEVE the gospel (15.1-2) shall COME ALIVE, again and anew.
Just as Jesus CAME ALIVE in a new body, so too those who embrace Jesus and the gospel of shall also COME ALIVE.
Just as Jesus CAME ALIVE in a new body, so too those who embrace Jesus and the gospel of shall also COME ALIVE.
However they look… whatever they have done… wherever they have been… whatever the insults they have received, Paul is doing what ringleaders do:
He is calling any and all who will believe the gospel of Jesus to offer the message to the world that Jesus came to life again — was resurrected — and if he was, then any and all who trust him will also COME ALIVE.
As Ringleaders do, Paul outlines an ironclad argument as to the ramifications of saying “there is no resurrection of the dead.” We find those listed in 15:12-19
As Ringleaders do, Paul outlines an ironclad argument as to the ramifications of saying “there is no resurrection of the dead.” We find those listed in 15:12-19
If there is no resurrection from the dead:
Pau
Christ himself has not been raised (15:13, 16)
Paul’s preaching is empty and in vain (15:14)
Your faith is empty and in vain (15:14)
Paul and those preaching the gospel are misrepresenting God (15:15)
You are still in your sins (15:17)
Those who have passed away/”fallen asleep” have perished (15:18)
If our only hope is in Christ is this life, we are the most pitiable people of all people. (15:19)
You can see how this happens, right? Paul is with them… preaching and teaching them all the resurrection promises, provides and delivers:
You can see how this happens, right? Paul is with them… preaching and teaching them all the resurrection promises, provides and delivers:
Christ raised
Full and vibrant faith
Clarity about God and who God is
Their sins forgiven and removed
Hope for those who have passed or been martyred
The light of the world, the city on a hill
A LETTER from a DEPARTED RINGLEADER
A LETTER from a DEPARTED RINGLEADER
His preaching and ringleading unified them… and then he left town and they were exposed before a cynical, skeptical, judgmental community… and they headed back into the world they were living in...
His preaching and ringleading unified them… and then he left town and they were exposed before a cynical, skeptical, judgmental community… and they headed back into the world they were living in...
So this letter serves as a reminder… from their Ringleader of all they have and all they will have under the promise of Coming Alive in Jesus before the Corinthians — and inviting the Corinthians to become a part of COMING ALIVE by resurrection.
Can you hear the ringleader offering his RECITATIVES… his long list of “If’s”?
And I think this is where Paul, the old ringleader, might insert a solo… and beg a duet… and invite his Corinthian friends to chorus with him as he invites them to COME ALIVE.
PLAY CLIP 1 — COME ALIVE
English Standard Version Chapter 15
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead,
One of the great BUT’s in the Bible
19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
1 corin 15:20-
IF Christ has been raised:
IF Christ has been raised:
IF Christ has been raised:
IF Christ has been raised:
IF Christ has been raised:
IF Christ has been raised:
We have been raised and will be raised. (21-23)
The last enemy, death destroyed. (26)
All things brought under Jesus… who hands all things to God. (24-28)
God may be all in all.
What happens after we die?
What happens after we die?
We pass… “fall asleep”
Paul uses this metaphor in a number of places (1 Corin 7:39, 11:30, 15:6, 18,, 20, 51, and in )
Some believe that Paul means we are in an eternal state of unconsciousness until Christ appears. I understand that interpretation and have friends and professors who hold it.
I don’t.
22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
Just as we are guaranteed to die as Adam, by our faith in Christ, we are guaranteed to be resurrected as Christ.
Death is defeated.
God is all in all.
1 corin 15:29
29 Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? 30 Why are we in danger every hour? 31 I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! 32 What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 34 Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
Bapt for the dead
Odd practice — the point is, if dead mean don’t come alive, why be baptized for them?
If Jesus didn’t and we don’t COME ALIVE:
If Jesus didn’t and we don’t COME ALIVE:
Suffering is silly; only hedonism makes sense. (15:30-32)
If Jesus did and we do COME ALIVE:
If Jesus did and we do COME ALIVE:
We must live as men and women who are fully alive!
Pure
Awake
Sober
Humble
Integrating what we know and believe and stand in about God in our lives… Free indeed… and free from shame.
And the ringleader cries:
“QUE — THE CHORUS!”
Play clip 2
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.