Bible Study Materials

THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION

by   04/03/2009  

Question

1. What “if” statements does Paul make in verses 12-19? If these “if” statements were true, what would be the result? What is Paul’s point of using this kind of writing? 2. What is Paul’s assertive declaration? (20) How does his resurrection affect mankind? (20-23) When will the end come? (24) How is Christ’s victory and reign emphasized? (25-28) What does it mean that “God may be all in all”? (28) 3. How does the lifestyle of those who have resurrection faith differ from that of those who do not? (29-32) What is Paul’s strong admonishment? (33-34)

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Question

1. 1. What was a problem the Corinthian Christian had regarding the resurrection? (12) How does Paul relate the resurrection of the dead to the resurrection of Christ? (13) What contestation does he make continually? What would be the results if Christ had not been raised? (14-19) What is the point of this sequential contestation? 2. Now what does he say convincingly? (20) What does this assertion mean? What certain claims does he make from Christ’s resurrection? (21,22) Think about these claims. How does this reveal the power of the resurrection? When and how will the resurrection of the dead happen? (23) 3. How will the end come? How extensive is the power of the resurrection? (24-25) How sure was Paul about the restoration of the kingdom? (26-28) 4. What does Paul say about the life of those who believe in the resurrection? (29-32a) What is the alternative lifestyle? (32b) What strong warning does he give? (33-34) How can we keep resurrection faith in this world?

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Message

Thank God for blessing our Easter Bible conference so abundantly. We studied the gospel of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Severely punishing his Son on the cross showed how much God loved us. The resurrection of Jesus Christ showed that we have a living hope in the kingdom of God, so we can live with resurrection faith in this world. Today we are going to study the power of the resurrection on 1 Corinthians 15:12-34. Let’s think about what power Christ’s resurrection has. First, the necessity of the resurrection (12-19). In verses 1-11, Paul writes about the events of Jesus’ death and resurrection, introducing resurrection witnesses. In verses 12-19, Paul argues for why resurrection is necessary using seven literal “if” statements. In this way he makes a logical case for Christ. He appeals to the sound minds of Christians. Resurrection is something logically sound, though it is revolutionary in history. Fact is important, so is a logical dispute. Sometimes when we talk with campus students, we say, “If the resurrection of Jesus is true, then this is the most amazing news to all mankind.” Then they all agree. But as for Paul, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a sure fact. So he uses negative “if” statement mostly, saying, “If Christ has not be raised.” In short without the resurrection of Christ the world would be horrible and and Christianity is non-sense and Christians are most miserable people. We never heard of someone’ being raised from the dead, except the resurrection of Jesus Christ. So, “not even Christ has been raised,” meant the world would be the sea of death. And all people are swimming in the sea of death. People work hard and eat some grummet food and have some fun and sometimes fight one another only to be buried in the graveyards. This kind of life is no better than that of animals, probably worse. But human life is so precious and our life is not to be like that. Human life going in that way is not logically right. And verse 14 says, “…if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” If a professor prepares a lecture wholeheartedly, yet it turns out to be useless to the students, how frustrating it will be? I prepare Sunday message wholeheartedly with my best. But if it turns out to be useless, it is really despairing. Then I have been doing the useless job for the last more than 20 years. You also have been doing useless 1:1 studies year after year, sacrificing your time and money. “Our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” Our faith is truly a matter of life and death. A life of faith is, in a sense, a adventurous journey. Our faith is to choose between God and the world. When we believed in Christ, we chose God giving up worldly life. But if our faith turns out to be useless after a long life of faith, where can we find compensation? Nowhere. Just full of regret and sense of loss. And then we are found to be false witnesses about God only to be punished most severely. For according to the Bible false teachers will be punished most severely at the time of final judgment. What kind of life a Christian has! It is non-sense. Christian life is not to be like that. And verse 17 says, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” We worked hard to prepare 2009 EBC. We renewed out faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Without the resurrection of Christ, then we renewed what is futile. Who could do such a thing in the world? When we heard the messages of Jesus on the cross, it moved our hearts. Jesus did not save himself to save us. There was no hint of saving himself, in soldiers’ mockery, on the way to Golgotha, at the time of crucifixion, when he was hanging on the tree. It was to save us. When Jesus cried, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”, It was God’s thorough and dreadful judgment upon his Son due to our sins. At the same time it was the demonstration of how much God loved us. God’s love is forgiving and embracing repentant sinners through his Son Jesus Christ. At the conference people received God’s grace of forgiveness and his acceptance through repentance. But without the resurrection of Jesus Christ our faith in such a beautiful cross is futile and we are still in our sins. How could such a life be on earth? It is non-sense. Paul continued to say, “Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.” As we heard in the resurrection message, the resurrection of Jesus Christ gave us a living hope in the kingdom of God. Then no resurrection means no living hope. Whenever we think about the living hope of the kingdom of God, we are greatly encouraged and comforted, imaging to live in the paradise eternally, where there is no sin and Satan but are only our Good Shepherd Jesus and his redeemed and sanctified people. What an amazing and fascinating hope we have in our Lord Jesus Christ? If only for this life we have hope in Christ, Christians are the most pitiful people in the world, just pretending to be happy with plastic smiles. Christian life is not like that. It is a logically total nonsense. Second, the power of the resurrection (20-28). After writing the fact of Jesus’ resurrection and logical discourse, now Paul declares with full conviction, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.” When Paul used the word, “indeed,” this statement is the most truthful, most important statement; and inflexible beyond time and space. The resurrection of Christ is the most significant and reliable truth to all mankind. Then what does it mean that Christ has indeed been raised from the dead? His resurrection is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. The firstfruits signifies hope. The firstfruits are to be followed by the second, and the thirdfruits. And it goes on and on. There are various kinds of the firstfruits. Farmers are happy to see the firstfruits of crops. As for us we have the firstfrits of Ph.D., M. David Kim. We earnestly pray that M. Moses Jung be the secondfrits of Ph.D. Knowing the importance of the firstfruit, we also earnestly pray that God may establish one ancestor’s family from U of T. But the most important firstfruits is the firstfruits of resurrection. And it has no human boundary at all. Look at verse 21. “For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.” What an understanding of mankind! At first there was no death. But death came through a man’s sin and influenced all men. If the resurrection of the dead comes through an angel or other celestial being, then it has no part with human beings. It is true that the resurrection of the dead should come through a man, and it did so. Now this is what Paul wants to declare. Look at verse 22. “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” What a vision; what a hope! At that time Christianity was less than 1 century. But Paul has such a sure hope and vision in Christ! From time to time we wonder why Adam’s influence is so strong. It is hard to understand God’s way of working. But in 1 Corinthians 15:22, we can understand it satisfactorily. It is because there is the same counter punch (??). “For as in Adam all die,” what a truthful statement! Numerous people throughout history tried to get out of the territory of Adam. However, it was of no use. Only we cried and cried. But the solution comes. Here is a truly wonderful declaration, “…so in Christ all will be made alive.” The solution is “in Christ.” It is so simple and profound. The influence of Christ overrides the influence of Adam for those who are in Christ. There is no human condition but only a spiritual condition, that is, “in Christ.” We could see the examples of this at the conference. S. Bushay was dead because of her sin of hatred toward people. She regarded Christians as lost people. But in God’s mercy she was invited to Bible study. When she accepted one word of Jesus, “I am the gate,” she was made alive being assured that he would enter the kingdom of God through the gate Jesus. Amazingly she even entered the kingdom of Canada through the gate Jesus. Jesus is indeed the all powerful gate to S. Bushay. A beautiful and smart lady like S. Oksana, her wish in Adam was to sleep deeply and not to wake up in the next morning. What a horrible wish! When she heard Jesus’ word, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drink the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring water welling up to eternal life,” she was made alive. Now she not only got Ph.D., but also wanted to be a great mother of prayer and live as a disciple of Jesus for Odessa University students. And even such a beautiful and cute girl as S. Olean was dead in Adam. Without Jesus she could have lived a miserable life making many boys sin-sick and herself becoming sin-sick. It was due to her sin that was inherited from her unfaithful mother in Adam’s life. But now she was made alive in Christ. She became so lively and jolly. Now her desire is to receive more and more spiritual training and grow as a good shepherdess and Bible teacher with a great hope for Ukraine to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. And at the conference our 2nd gens being made alive was remarkable. Through this we could have a vision that all our 2nd gens would be made alive in Christ one by one. “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” Here we see God’s heart desire that all will be made alive in Christ, as all die in Adam.” God wants to compensate Adam’s loss fully in Christ. People’s difference can be one; that is whether they are in Adam or in Christ. The purpose of our Bible teaching is to lead our Bible students to be in Christ. Then it is assured that they will be made alive. And as for his people, as much as they were defeated in Adam, God wants them to fight back and make a full recovery in Christ. It is good to keep in mind that “the mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Sprit is life and peace.” (Ro 8:6) And let’s always remember that the power of resurrection is greater than the power of death. Look at verses 23,24. “But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he had destroyed all dominion, authority and power.” Here we see the power of resurrection more. The Risen Christ is personal, restoring each individual. But his works go further. He will destroy all evil government and evil nations. We wonder why there are so many injustice and unrighteousness. Those who try to be just and righteous look strange and seem to become victims of evil. Still, God wants his people to overcome evil with good, believing that the Risen Christ will destroy all unrighteous dominion, authority and power. Then what will happen? The kingdom of Christ comes. Look at verses 25-28. “For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.” The kingdom of Christ comes not through compromise but through completely destroying all his enemies. The word, “under his feet” or “under him” or “under Christ” is written 5 times. This shows the complete victory of the Risen Christ over all his enemies including death, the last enemy of mankind. In the kingdom of Christ God will be all in all. The order of love will be fully restored. Third, “Do not be misled” (29-34). When Paul had resurrection faith, his practical life was “I die every day.” The alternative lifestyle is “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” The difference is to die today or to die tomorrow. The difference seems to be small, just one day different. However, the difference is huge. Every day is today and tomorrow never seems to come. But it comes suddenly. To die today or everyday is a willing death, but to die tomorrow is a fatalistic and inevitable death after enjoying a hedonistic life in the world. Now Paul gives a very strong warning. Look at verse 33. “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’ Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.” Here we see the new concept of bad company. They are those who have no resurrection faith, not those who are bad humanly. According to Paul so many humanly nice people become bad companies when they do not live with resurrection faith. They corrupt good characters. This warning is given to every Christian. Having no resurrection faith is even sinning against God. So he said, “Stop sinning.” And it is to the shame of his people who have such a wonderful matchless Lord, the Risen Christ. In this passage we learned that resurrection is necessary in Christianity and in this world. The resurrection of Christ is really powerful. “As in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” With the power of his resurrection the kingdom of Christ will come. May God help us to live with resurrection faith each day in this world.

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Message

anyone. May the gospel of Jesus should truly be of first importance in our lives! Today let’s think about the power of the resurrection. First, the necessity of the resurrection (12-19). In this part Paul helps the Corinthian Christians to think logically, using “if” statement 7 times. Look at verse 12. “But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?” Here we see that one problem of the believers in Corinth was that they did not believe the resurrection of the dead. It was probably because they were too busy living day-to-day’s life to think about what would happen after death. They were only engrossed by the things of the world. Or it was because the resurrection of the dead did not appeal to their logic, although they recognized the resurrection of Christ. How did Paul help them? Did he say to them, “Since Christ was raised from the dead, Certainly there is the resurrection of the dead”? No. He did not speak to them straightforwardly using an affirmative sentence. Rather, he used a negative and subjunctive sentence: “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.” What did it mean, when he said, “not even Christ has been raised”? As we studied in the Gospel, the message of Christ’s resurrection, “He has risen!” was truly the most amazing news mortal ears could hear. The resurrection of Christ is like a pillar of hope in this dark world of death. The resurrection of Christ is the only hope amid countless deaths of men in history. So “not even Christ has been raised,” is an awful statement that cannot be true. Now in verses 14-19 Paul helped the Corinthians think about what the results would be if Christ had not been raised. Look at verse 14. “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” Who wants to do useless preaching and have useless faith? How about doing such things for one’s whole life time? The implications of there being no resurrection from the dead did not match the fact that Corinthian Christians still chose to live a life of faith.” Look at 15. “More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead.” When we read Revelation, the devil and the beast and the false prophet were all thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur (Rev 20:10). False prophets and false teachers are to be punished most severely, for they mislead people bluntly. God is truthful. Proverbs 16:13 even says, “Honest scales and balances are from the LORD.” False teachers and false witnesses are terrible people before God. Being found to be such people is frightening. Paul used such extreme expressions so that the believers might know it was unthinkable for him and his coworkers to be such terrible people. Look at verse 17. “For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” Faith without Christ’s resurrection is pointless and fruitless and in vain. However, our faith is not like that. And “you are still in your sins” means Christ’s heart-breaking atoning death is ineffective and failed. Yet in truth Christ’s atoning death is true and works in the heart of those who believe as remedy for sin Look at verse 18. “Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.” Those who had fallen asleep in Christ did so believing in the resurrection of Christ. So if Christ has not been raise, they are lost. They have become lost dead people. However, they are found in God’s kingdom like Moses and Elijah who appeared at the transfiguration mountain to talk with Jesus. And Paul said in verse 19, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.” Without the resurrection of Christ Christians are pitiful people, especially sincere Christians. There are Christians who do not have the living hope of the kingdom of God but try to be prosperous in this world only. If Christ had not been raised, such Christians would be the best kind of Christians. And those who struggled hard to follow the way of the cross for the sake of Christ’s kingdom would be the most pitiful people. In this logic Paul let the Corithian Christians know that in real Christian lives the results are not true. Their preaching is not useless; they are not false witnesses about God. Their faith is not futile. Their lives of mission are not pitiful but glorious. So Paul claims that the resurrection of Christ is necessary. Second, the power of the resurrection (20-28). Paul did not just dispute that the resurrection of Christ was necessary and reasonable. Now after a hypothetical explanation he declares the fact. Look at verse 20. “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.” The resurrection of Christ is not an abstract theory, but a concrete fact. It is an undeniable historical event as we studied in 15:1-11. When he said, “indeed,” it was his sure conviction. The message, “He has risen!” is certain and true. This message rang out since it was proclaimed, is still ringing and will ring out to the end of the age: “He has risen!” And then it says, “…the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” “Firstfruits” means it will be followed by the second, and third and many others. Firstfruits are important. Jesus’ death on the cross is not such a thing. It took place once for all. We are not to die just as Jesus died, although we follow the example of his cross in life. However, just as Christ Jesus was raised from the dead, there will be the resurrection of the dead. It is likely that apples come from apple trees continually, fruits of resurrection will come continually from the source of life after the firstfruits, Christ. Paul explains further this wonderful analogy. Look at verse 21. “For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.” What an excellent discovery of a simple truth! It must have come from his deep understanding of human history. Death did not come out of nowhere or from animals like swine (swine flu) or cow (mad cow disease) or from bird (avian influenza). Death came through a man, Adam who sinned. In the same way the resurrection of the dead does not come out of nowhere or through miracle herbs or medicine or heavenly angels. It comes through a man Jesus Christ, who was sinless yet died for man’s sins and was raised on the third day. Death and resurrection both come through humans, yet two different humans. Look at verse 22. “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” It is a truly amazing succinct statement of human history. This can be the summary of the whole Bible and the summary of the history of mankind. In Adam, Alexander the Great (Jun 10, BC 323) died. His last wish before his death was, “Both my hands be kept dangling out of my coffin.” And he wanted the world to know that he came empty handed into the world and empty handed went out of the world. Anyway, with these last words, he died. Julius Caesar (March 15, BC 44), Muhammed (June 8, 632 AD) Napoleon Bonaparte (May 5, 1821 AD) and other people, great or small alike, all died. And all will die. But in Christ all will be made alive. All those who are in Christ are made alive and will be made alive. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Jesus said in John 5:24, “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Anyone or whoever in Christ is made alive and will be made alive. All those who are in Christ are cut off from the line of Adam. Death has no longer mastery over them, as death no mastery over Christ (Ro 6:9). Of course, they die physically. But to them death is a transition step into a new eternal world. “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” We know that there should be no distinction among human beings. All human beings are equal being made in the image of God. Also all humans equal as sinners as Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” And all die once. But there is an inevitable difference between those who are in Adam and those who are in Christ. The differences in gender, age, title, wealth, health, intellect, colour, race, etc, are not really important. The truly substantial difference is whether one is in Adam or in Christ. There are two undeniable streams in human life in the world. Paul wanted the Corinthian Christians to see the human history and the world from this prospect, “As in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” And he wanted them to know who they were and who they would be in Christ by God’s mercy and grace. We also should have this perspective of life. Whether one is in Adam or in Christ makes all the difference. This prospect of life will make us ever thankful for God’s grace and make us humble and brokenhearted for the people of this world whoever they are. Look at verse 23. “But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.” We all know the importance of belonging, whose team we belong to. I still remember that when Canadian Hockey team won against American tem in 2010 Vancouver winter Olympic final match, all Canadians rejoiced at the victory. It is because we belonged to the Canadian team. And last Friday Toronto Blue Jays won over Kansas City Royals, and the people in Toronto were happy. Yet, this kind of belonging is not that serious. Again, whether one belongs to Christ is serious and critical. When we belong to Christ, his victory and all of his are ours. We cannot fathom all the blessings of those who belong to him. Look at verse 24. “Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.” When we look at the world, we are frightened wondering where the world is going. We don’t know to what extent we can believe the media. We hear about the global world and global village. People in the world try to do many things in the name of New World Order. However, in all their attempt they want to get rid of Christ. While on earth, Jesus talked about the prince of this world, the devil (Jn 14:30). Paul also said about the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit of the evil one (Eph 2:2). In the heavenly realm only Christ is above the ruler of the kingdom of the air. So when they try to eliminate Christ, they are completely in the control of the ruler of the kingdom of the air. Only evil power rules. In this rule power begets power and money begets money. It will be so more and more as the end approaches. But Christ will come and destroy all dominion, authority and power and hand over the kingdom to God the Father. How can we be sure of this? It is because of the power of his resurrection. Ephesians 1:19-21 says, “and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” We don’t need to worry about any worldly power and the power of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, but believe the power of Christ’s resurrection. Paul writes more about this exciting victory. Look at verses 25-28. “For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he (God in ESV) ‘has put everything under his feet.’ Now when it says that ‘everything’ has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.” This is the way the new world order is established. Paul was so sure of this established of the new order by Christ that he repeated the expression, “under his feet” or “under him.” Christ’s kingdom will come. Praise God for this wonderful hope and his incomparable power which was demonstrated when he raised Christ from the dead. Third, “Do not be misled” (29-34). In this part Paul makes a contrast between the life of those who believe in resurrection and that of those who do not. Those who believe in resurrection endanger themselves every hour. As for Paul he said, “I die every day.” What does this mean? We do not know it’s meaning completely, but we can imagine that he participated in the sufferings of Christ every day and experienced the power of resurrection every day. As for him, resurrection faith was practical. He said that he even fought wild beasts, not merely for human reasons but surely in the course of doing the gospel work in Ephesus. If the dead are not raised, the best lifestyle can be the hedonistic lifestyle. They can say, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” Paul said, “I die every day,” being ready to die. There seems to be not much difference to die today or to die tomorrow, just one day different. But there is a huge difference in their ways of thinking and their lifestyles, and there will be the difference in eternity. Nowadays so many young people are misled with this philosophy. Even if they die tomorrow, they want to enjoy pleasure and get high today. To them life is not that precious or serious. They are right if death is the end of everything and there is no resurrection. But in truth they are deceived and misled. Paul gives a strong warning against such idea: “Do not be misled (deceived): ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’ Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.” Here who are bad company? They are those who do not believe the resurrection. They corrupt good character (good habits, good morals). Here we see that the fundamental reason of moral corruption is having no resurrection faith, that is, no true hope. One’s habit or character is related to one’s faith and hope. Paul really used a strong expression, saying continually, “Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for they are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.” Having no faith Christ’s resurrection is sinning against God. The ones who have no faith in the resurrection of Christ are those who are ignorant of God shamefully. Here we learn that we should watch out bad company, and more than that watch out ourselves whether we keep faith in Christ’s resurrection. Thank God that we are assured Christ has indeed been raised from the dead. In Christ all will be made alive. He will destroy all dominion, authority and power and the end will come, and God will be all in all. May we keep faith in Christ’s resurrection against the corruption of the world and willingly participate in the sufferings of Christ with assurance of his ultimate victory and his kingdom coming.

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