1 CORINTHIANS LESSON 25


     We will begin this lesson in I Corinthians 15:19 "If in this life
only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."

     Many religions of the world do not offer life after death. Paul
is saying here, if Christianity did not offer everlasting life, the
hardships that we face in this life would make us miserable. He even
goes so far as to say, that he would be leading the list of those who
would be miserable. The last lesson dealt with the resurrection of our
bodies after death on this earth. It would be worth trusting in
Christ, if it were just for this earth, but praise God, Christ brings
us everlasting life.

     I Corinthians 15:20 "But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and]
become the firstfruits of them that slept."

     The fact of the death of the body of Jesus Christ is not argued
by anyone. Paul, also, established the fact that Jesus rose from the
dead by all the witnesses who saw him after he arose. A witness is
someone who tells something that they have seen with their very own
eyes. Just the word "firstfruits" tell us that there was more to come.

     I Corinthians 15:21 "For since by man [came] death, by man [came]
also the resurrection of the dead."

     Adam and Eve first sinned, but all of mankind since Adam and Eve
have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The punishment for sin
is death. All of mankind were dead in trespasses and sin, until the
Lord Jesus Christ took on the form of man and came to the earth and
took our punishment for our sin on His body. In the first Adam, all
have sinned. In the second Adam {Jesus Christ}, we have been made free
from sin. Jesus took our punishment and set us free in His
righteousness. Jesus defeated sin on the cross and defeated death when
he rose from the dead. We should all memorize this last statement. We
are free from sin and death, if we continue to place our faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ and live accordingly.

     I Corinthians 15:22 "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ
shall all be made alive."

     By Adam and Eve, sin entered into the world, and death in payment
for that sin entered, also. Jesus Christ is the Tree of Life. Those of
us who have partaken of Jesus, have partaken of Life. We are no longer
dead to sin, but alive in the Lord Jesus Christ.

     I Corinthians 15:23 "But every man in his own order: Christ the
firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming."

     Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Because He lives, I
will live, also. Jesus had to open the door to heaven for us. He did
that very thing, when the curtain was torn from the top to the bottom,
as He gave His body in death on the cross. The way to the Father had
been forbidden, until that happened. Now the way to the Father is open
to all who believe in the name of Jesus. Revelation 15:5 "And after
that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the
testimony in heaven was opened:"  Revelation 4:1 "After this I looked,
and, behold, a door [was] opened in heaven: and the first voice which
I heard [was] as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said,
Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter."
This door into heaven has been opened to the believers, ever since the
curtain in the temple was torn.  The invitation to come has been to
all who believe, as well.  Remember with me, to when Stephen was
stoned to death. He looked into that open door and saw Jesus standing
at the right hand of the Father.  Jesus was the first to enter in, and
He paved the way for us to enter in. Jesus was the first of the
firstfruits. The Lord Jesus will come and call the believers into
heaven with Him. I am looking forward to that day.

     I Corinthians 15:24 "Then [cometh] the end, when he shall have
delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have
put down all rule and all authority and power."

     There is a time when the kingdoms of this world become the
kingdoms of our Saviour. Revelation 11:15 "And the seventh angel
sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms
of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our Lord, and of his
Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever."  I had mentioned in an
earlier lesson, that we Christians are the Lord's kingdom on this
earth now. We are a kingdom in exile, until our Lord who is in exile
too, comes and sets His kingdom up on this earth. Jesus will be King
of kings and Lord of lords. Philippians 2:9 "Wherefore God also hath
highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:"
Philippians 2:10 "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of
[things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the
earth;"  This has already happened. This is in the past tense.

     I Corinthians 15:25 "For he must reign, till he hath put all
enemies under his feet." I Corinthians 15:26 "The last enemy [that]
shall be destroyed [is] death."

     We said earlier, that Jesus defeated death, when He rose from the
dead. We will defeat death, as well, when we rise to meet the Lord in
the air. We will die no more. This enemy is already defeated.  We have
just not seen the manifestation of it in our body yet.

     I Corinthians 15:27 "For he hath put all things under his feet.
But when he saith all things are put under [him, it is] manifest that
he is excepted, which did put all things under him."

     Ephesians 1:20 "Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him
from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly
[places]," Ephesians 1:21 "Far above all principality, and power, and
might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this
world, but also in that which is to come:"  Ephesians 1:22 "And hath
put all [things] under his feet, and gave him [to be] the head over
all [things] to the church,"   The Word of God {Jesus as we know Him}
created all things. It is only correct that He would rule over His
creation. Read the first chapter of John to find that the Word is
Creator God.

     I Corinthians 15:28 "And when all things shall be subdued unto
him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all
things under him, that God may be all in all."

     When Jesus is spoken of as the Son, that has to do with His being
in the flesh of man on this earth. When Jesus was in the flesh of man,
He was subject to the Father. In fact, Jesus was the Son, while He was
here on the earth as our Saviour. In heaven, before He came to the
earth, He was the Word of God.  The one we know as Jesus is eternal
Spirit, the same as the Father, and the Holy Spirit in heaven.

     I Corinthians 15:29 " 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?"

     This is not suggesting that being baptized for the dead is the
thing to do. It is just stating that people who believe in baptizing
for the dead, must believe in life after death, or why would they
bother to baptize for the dead? If there is no life after death, this
would be an act in futility. Paul is not saying that he believes in
baptizing people for the dead. Many would ask, why are they baptized
for the dead anyway. It is appointed unto man once to die, and then
the judgement.

     I Corinthians 15:30 "And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?"

     He is saying here, why would we go through the persecutions on
this earth in the name of Jesus, if there were no eternal life?

     I Corinthians 15:31 "I protest by your rejoicing which I have in
Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily."

     Paul endured great persecution for the church of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Romans 8:36 "As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all
the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."  Paul
endured whatever hardship was necessary to bring the gospel to all who
would hear. I am sure, to him, it seemed as if the persecution was
constant. We are told also, if we are Christians, to take up our cross
daily and follow Jesus. If you are sold out to the Lord Jesus, you
will suffer persecution from the world. We do not have to die on the
cross for Christianity, but we do have a cross to bear. Luke 9:23
" And he said to [them] all, If any [man] will come after me, let him
deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."

     I Corinthians 15:32 "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."

     This reminds me very much of the way many of our young people
feel about their lives today. Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow
we die. You see this would be a statement from a person who did not
believe in life after death. I believe that much of the suicide today
is a way of escape from realities. Young people have so many problems
to face that people growing up 50 years ago did not have. The problem
is a spiritual problem. Children, who have not been schooled in the
teachings of the Bible, do not realize that there is help for the
problems they are facing. The world can not help them face tomorrow.
The world has no solutions to the problems. The only solution to their
problems is found in the Lord Jesus Christ and in His Word {Bible}.

     The beasts, here, are not animals, but men with beastly natures.
He is saying, why did I fight so hard to win them to the Lord, if
there is no resurrection?

     I Corinthians 15:33 "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt
good manners."

     The statements of those, who are not saved, and those who do not
believe in life after death of the body, are just confusing and
deceiving. Why listen to the statements of those who are lost? If you
wanted to find your way, you would first find someone who knew the way
and then follow them. Paul is saying, do not even listen to their
doubting.

     I Corinthians 15:34 "Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for
some have not the knowledge of God: I speak [this] to your shame."

     Stay in the path that the Light of Jesus has illuminated for you.
Do not walk in the dark. This "awake" means wake up from a stupor. We
Christians are warned over and over to walk in the Light. We are to
have no fellowship with darkness, if we are Christians. Righteousness
means in right standing with God. If we are to stay in right standing
with God, we must not sin. Sin separates us from God. Even some who
proclaim Christianity, are still walking in darkness. If they are
walking in darkness, they will stumble and fall, because they do not
have the Light of God directing them. Paul is saying, that even some
of the Corinthians have not the knowledge of God. Definitely the ones
who do not believe in life after death of the body, do not have the
knowledge of God.

     We will see in the next lesson some of the arguments these people
who do not have the knowledge of God bring up.












                      1 Corinthians 25 Questions


1.  Quote 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 19.
2.  What is this verse speaking of?
3.  Who did Paul say would lead the list of the miserable, if there is
    no life after death?
4.  What is Christ called in verse 20?
5.  What do all agree on about Christ?
6.  How had Paul established the fact of the resurrection of the Lord
    Jesus?
7.  What does the word "firstfruits" indicate?
8.  Who did death come by?
9.  The punishment for sin is ______.
10. In the second Adam {Jesus Christ}, we have been made free from
    ___.
11. When did Jesus defeat death?
12. In Adam all die, in _______ shall all be made alive.
13. Who is the Tree of Life?
14. Quote 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 23.
15. Jesus is the ___,the _____, and the _____.
16. Quote Revelation chapter 15 verse 5.
17. When was the door in heaven opened to the believer?
18. Who was the invitation to come given to?
19. When Stephen saw into heaven, what did he see?
20. The kingdoms of this earth have become the kingdoms of whom?
21. Quote Philippians chapter 2 verses 9 and 10.
22. What is the last enemy destroyed?
23. What lesson do we learn from Ephesians chapter 1 verses 20, 21,
    and 22?
24. Who is the Word of God?
25. Who is Creator God?
26. Why is Jesus spoken of as the Son in verse 28?
27. Who is the Eternal Spirit?
28. Is Paul promoting baptizing for the dead in verse 29?
29. How often did Paul say we are in jeopardy?
30. Quote Romans chapter 8 verse 36.
31. We do not have to die on the cross for Christianity, but we do
    have to do what?
32. What is similar to our day in verse 32?
33. What is the only solution to problems we face?
34. Who are the beasts in verse 32?
35. Evil ___________________ corrupt good manners.
36. What lesson can we get from verse 34?