From Firstfruits to Finale
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Setting the Stage
Setting the Stage
The resurrection is a matter of necessity
The resurrection is a matter of history
It was according to the Scripture
A Qualification
Resurrection is not the same as some having been brought back to life
Several in the OT, had come back to life; others in NT; these died again
Resurrected bodies will be like that of the risen Jesus; something of a different quality
A Bit of Word-Nerdiness
A Bit of Word-Nerdiness
Note that Christ “has been raised” passive; the Father was the actor upon the Son
Indicates that our resurrection will be of God, not ourselves
Take note of parallel structure vv. 20 &21: “For as....” Think of
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
Main Idea: Certainty of the past; certainty of the future
Main Idea: Certainty of the past; certainty of the future
God promised a Messiah; He came—but to the surprise of mankind, He died
But He rose—and is seated at the right hand of the Father! Still reigning; still holding our very lives…our very world…together
He will bring it to a righteous conclusion
Certainty of the Resurrection
Certainty of the Resurrection
Though the Corinthians may have been having doubts, Paul had none!
But in fact...
“But” plus “God, Jesus, Christ...” is always a game changer
Could rephrase as “But Christ, in fact....”
Greek is “In fact but Christ...”
No room for that pity of v. 19
No room for the doubt that was possible
He had laid out the arguments
It was a rational, logical argument
Resurrection itself is real; resurrection of Jesus is real; our coming resurrection is real
Jesus is now the firstfruits of those fallen asleep; build that in a bit
For as by a man...
Death came to all men by way of Adam
Eternal life—and the resurrection to life—then became available for all men
Warning!!
Nothing here guarantees the eternal life—there is a conscious choice each must make
Remember: Paul is writing to those who had heard the message
Those who (theoretically) had put trust in Christ
He will render to each one according to his works:
to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;
but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
This must be a personal relationship…we must be “in Christ” or “belong to Christ”
The reality of Hell is very strong in those verses
Hell is not going to be a pretty place
Some think it’s merely the absence of the presence of God—WRONG
Certainty of a Harvest
Certainty of a Harvest
Concept of the firstfruits; guarantee of a good harvest
Pattern began in Leviticus
Since the very Son of the Most High God was the firstfruits; how great a harvest of believers there will be
…at His coming...
This is the “rapture” of the church
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
The ungodly will also be resurrected—for a different discussion
This text does not address it; but there will be a judgment; Rev. 20:11-15
And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
This will certainly not be merely the lack of the presence of God
Certainty of Conclusion
Certainty of Conclusion
Lays out a sequence, though not an exact timeline of coming events
We also see no mention of the tribulation here
Cannot make any eschatological predictions based upon the information given
Does seem to indicate the millennium (Rev. 20)
He will deliver the kingdom to the Father
The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.
Application and Challenge
Application and Challenge
To know—with certainty—the certainty of the past—found in Scripture
To know—with certainty—the authority of Scripture—that there will be a future
In our resurrected bodies we will live eternally in a new Heaven and a new Earth
To continually strive to be assured of our salvation
We’re going to have a few bad days now and then
Related to that fact/faith/feeling concept—not feeling saved sometimes...
We return to the facts of the Gospel—including this resurrection that is so important
What’s that look like?
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,
and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,
and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Note that there must be faith before anything else!
These are the marks of an effective believer
What’s an effective believer look like in our context?
One solid in his/her faith
One with a passion for the lost—understanding the fate of the lost—that lake of fire
Our goal should be to bring in a great harvest of souls at the resurrection