And Killed the Prince of Life, Whom God Hath Raised From the Dead; Whereof We Are Witnesses. - Part 1401

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel, which I preached unto you, which also ye have received and wherein ye stand, by which also ye are saved if ye keep in memory what I have preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain." (I Corinthians 15:1)

Too many in the world today are teaching ideology and traditions of men that have no scriptural basis, and this erring of the scriptures is causing spiritual havoc within the body of believers who profess to believe. What should be happening is a reconciling of the scriptures so that the Word and the Spirit agree -- so that we as Christians are in one accord as these were on the day of Pentecost, but sadly, instead, many trust in what they are being told, without the evidence of two or three witnesses to confirm the teaching as truth.

Still, we are instructed to remain steadfast in the apostles' doctrine so that we do not become like the foolish Galatians who apostle Paul said were bewitched by yet "another" gospel, which was/is contrary to the good news gospel of Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:36-47; Galatians 3:1; Galatians 1:9-16) It is for this reason that we need to understand the principles of the doctrine of Christ and of the resurrection of the dead so that we can go on unto perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.

"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment." (Hebrews 6:1-2)

To that end, it is the resurrection of the dead that I would like to address here today. I Corinthians 15 speaks to this subject -- "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable .... BUT NOW IS CHRIST RISEN FROM THE DEAD AND BECOME THE FIRST FRUITS FOR THEM THAT SLEPT, FOR SINCE BY MAN [CAME] DEATH, BY MAN CAME ALSO THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD." (I Corinthians 15:19-20)

Apostle Paul here is declaring the gospel which he preached unto us, and have now received, "wherein ye stand. By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain." (I Corinthians 15:1-2) This gospel wherein we stand -- the Word of God -- which after Jesus was taken up, He THROUGH the Holy Ghost gave commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen." (Acts 1:2-3)

So, Paul is writing, "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He was buried and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures, and 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. After that, He was seen of James, then of all the apostles, and last of all He was seen of me also, as one born out of due time." (I Corinthians 15:1-8)

Paul explains here why he was one born out of due time -- "For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God ... 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. Therefore, whether [it were] I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed." (Acts 15:9-12; Philippians 2:13; Acts 8:3)

"Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of His power -- unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all [men] see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ ... according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Ephesians 3:7-11)

So Paul begins by asking: "Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen; and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain." (I Corinthians 15:12-14)

Moreover, Paul is saying that if the resurrection of the dead is not true, then, "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 ..... for if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised, and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." (I Corinthians 15:15-19)

These are good questions. If there be no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And therefore, if Christ is not risen, our faith is in vain and we are yet in our sins. But did Paul stop there, as do some of the teachers who err today? No, apostle Paul continued to explain in detail from whence comes our hope and our salvation -- so that we are anything but "men most miserable." (I Corinthians 15:19)

Indeed, Paul states: "But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the first fruits of them that slept [have died], for since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead. For in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order -- Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming, then [comes] 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. For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet -- the last enemy [that] shall be destroyed [is] death.

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, 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." (I Corinthians 15:20-28)

"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? And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. If after the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage it me, if the dead rise not? "Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die." Be not deceived: evil communications [company] corrupt good manners [habits]. Awake to righteousness and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God -- I speak [this] to your shame. But some [man] will say, "How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?"

[Thou] fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened [made alive], except it die; and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare [mere] grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other [grain -- perhaps, wheat], but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased Him, and to every seed his own body.

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. [There are] also celestial [heavenly] bodies, and bodies terrestrial [earthly]; but the glory of the celestial [is] one, and the [glory] of the terrestrial [is] another. [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. So also [is] the resurrection of the dead.

It is sown in corruption [a perishable state]. It is raised in incorruption [as imperishable].

It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.

It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.

There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

And so it is written: "The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [was made] a quickening Spirit."

Howbeit, that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward, that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy. The second man IS THE LORD FROM HEAVEN. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy, and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither doth corruption inherit incorruption." (I Corinthians 15:29-50)

But now Paul is about to shew to us a mystery, revealing to us the truth about the resurrection of the dead, so that we are not misled and tossed to and fro with every doctrinal whim that passes by.

Indeed, as Paul writes, "We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality. 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. O, death, where is thy sting? O, grave, where is thy victory?"

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. (I Corinthians 15:56; Hosea 13:14; Isaiah 25:8; Romans 3:20; Romans 4:15; Romans 7:8)

But thanks be to God which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain [futile] in the Lord." (I Corinthians 15:51-58; Romans 7:25; I John 5:4; II Peter 3:14; I Corinthians 3:8)

This is why Jesus said, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live ..." (John 11:25)

Other scriptures to read and contemplate:

"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him." (I Thessalonians 4:14)

Jesus said,"And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which sees the Son, and believes on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40)

"And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by His own power." (I Corinthians 6:14)

Jesus said regarding the parable of those bid to the wedding feast, "And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just." (Luke 14:14) This is why he that heard them sat at meat and heard these things said unto Jesus, "Blessed [is] he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God." (Luke 14:15) But I digress.

"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." (Romans 6:4)

"But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you." (Romans 8:11)

Jesus said, "Yet a little while, and the world sees Me no more; but ye see Me: because I live, ye shall live also." (John 14:19)

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord , that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first ...

... then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words." (I Thessalonians 4:16)

"Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time, wherein ye greatly rejoice ..." (I Peter 1:3-25)

"And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame [and] everlasting contempt." (Daniel 12:2)

"And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust." (Acts 24:15)

Most of all, like Mary Magdalene, and Mary, the mother of James and Salome, and the other disciples which later came to the tomb, we know that Jesus was risen early the first of the week because as we also know in our hearts death could not hold the King of kings and Lord of lords. (Mark 16:1-9) He was no longer numbered with the transgressors but took upon Himself the sins of His people. (Mark 15:28; Matthew 1:21-23)

Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (I Peter 2:24)

Stand in the offering plate.