May 31, 2015
Morning Service

I Cor. 15:1-34

 

            Last week in chapter 14:

1.       Paul encouraged the church to seek after spiritual gifts.

2.      Encouraging them to prefer the gift of prophecy in order to edify the church.

3.      We saw possibly the only place in the N.T. where it describes what they did when they came together for a meeting.

4.      He compared the importance of preaching to the gift of tongues, saying that preaching edifies the church, whereas tongues edifies the one speaking in the foreign language.

5.      Paul told them again of his authority, and how that He spoke the Words of God.

6.      He told them to covet to prophecy, and to not forbid the speaking in tongues, but said let everything be done decently, and in order.

So now, as we begin chapter 15, one of the most enlightening chapters concerning Christianity.  The Apostle Paul is going to explain the gospel that he had  been given to deliver to mankind, from God, and also, things concerning the resurrection, and how important it is to our faith.   Let’s begin:

 

1Co 15:1-34  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  (2)  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 

NOW THE GOSPEL.

(3)  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 

·         I received = Gal 1:11-12  But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.  (12)  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

·         Died for our sins = Paul had a vast knowledge of the O.T. Scriptures.  He would’ve used them that spoke of the Messiah dying for our sins.  Such as:  Ps.22; Isa. 53; Daniel 9:26; Zec. 12:10.

·         And he says that this was one of the first things he told them.

(4)  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 

·         Psa. 16:10;  A Scripture that Peter used in his Pentecost message. 

(5)  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:  (6)  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.  (7)  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 

·         Here Paul uses the testimony of others to confirm that Jesus arose from the dead.

·         He says most of these are still alive today, but some have fallen asleep, which means they were dead.  A common expression for the dead, from Paul.

(8)  And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 

·         Paul refers to his conversion in Acts chapter 9.  No devil in hell can take this away from him.

(9)  For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 

·         When the first martyr of the church (Stephen) was stoned, the ones doing the stoning laid their clothes at the feet of Paul, then known as Saul of Tarsus.  After this he went everywhere persecuting the church.

(10)  But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.  (11)  Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed. 

·         They would have shown their belief, or faith, by being baptized in the name of the Lord, the one Christian baptism that Paul spoke of in the 4^th chapter of the letter to the Ephesians.

(12)  Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 

·         This was a common argument.  Paul is explaining the truth of the matter.

(13)  But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:  (14)  And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.  (15)  Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 

·         You will notice Paul does not mention the name of Jesus, only Christ, but Jesus is the only One that fulfills all these O.T. Scriptures.

(16)  For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:  (17)  And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.  (18)  Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.  (19)  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 

·         Not only do we enjoy a good life now, but there is more, and much more.

(20)  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.  (21)  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  (22)  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.  (23)  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 

·         Paul says this very clearly in the his first letter to the Thessalonicans.   IThess.4:13-18.

·         Jesus said this Himself in St.Jn. 14:1-3;           NOW NOTICE:

(24)  Then cometh the end, when he (Jesus) shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he (Jesus) shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.  (25)  For he (Jesus) must reign, till he (Father) hath put all enemies under his (Jesus) feet.  (26)  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.  (27)  For he (Father) hath put all things under his (Jesus) feet. But when he (Father) saith all things are put under him (Jesus), it is manifest that he (theFather) is excepted, which did put all things under him (Jesus).  (28)  And when all things shall be subdued unto him (Jesus), then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him (the Father) that put all things under him (Jesus), that God may be all in all. 

·         As we should acknowledge, this is an area that is still a little dark.  If we are not careful, and rightly divide the Word, we might think we see Jesus turning the keys back to the Father, who is an elderly figure with a long white beard.  But the Word tells us that the Father is Spirit, and also Love, and in Matthew 1:18 it says that the Holy Ghost is the Father of Jesus.  SPIRIT.     

·         Some things remain a mystery.

(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? 

·         I understand that the Mormons baptize people for their dead loved ones that have gone on.  This is not rightly dividing this Scripture.  It goes along with Paul’s teaching on baptism in Romans chapter 6, where Paul says, “Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

(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.  (33)  Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.  (34)  Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

·         The encouragement from the Word of God is that we do our best to live the way the Lord teaches His disciples to live.  The Word says He died on Calvary to deliver us from this present evil world.  He expects us to be a shining light to this lost and dying world.

FATHER HELP US TO BE WHAT YOU WOULD WANT US TO BE.  HELP US TO LOVE, AND BE EVER THANKFUL FOR THIS WONDERFUL GOSPEL YOU’VE GIVEN US.   AMEN