1 CORINTHIANS

Chapter 15, Verses 1-11

“The Gospel That Saves!”

[6-12-22]

 

Review: “Instruction Manual For Tongues And Prophecy!”

1 Corinthians 14:36-40) [NAS] Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only?

37) If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment.

38) But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

QUESTION: What is the Apostle doing here?

ANSWER: He’s reminding his readers that they had received the Word of God; it didn’t originate with them. They must listen to the Apostle’s instruction or be ignored by the church.

39) Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.

40) But let all things be done properly and in an orderly manner.

QUESTION: What’s his final instruction to the Corinthian church?

ANSWER: Speaking in tongues is to be allowed, but it must be done in an orderly fashion.

 

This Week’s Lesson: “The Gospel That Saves!”

1 Corinthians 15:1-11) [NAS] Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand,

2) by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.

(TLB) and it is this Good News that saves you if you still firmly believe it, unless of course you never really believed it in the first place.

QUESTION: What does the Apostle remind his readers about concerning the gospel he preached?

ANSWER: They had received it, they were standing in it, and they were saved.

NOTE: They must “hold fast the word” he preached to them, a.k.a., they must remain grounded in that gospel. If they didn’t it meant that they never truly believed it in the first place!

QUESTION: What would the doctrine of Divine Election say on this subject?

ANSWER: Please note:

This doctrine can be remembered by the acrostic T.U.L.I.P.

T – Total Depravity – Man is dead in his sins and does not and cannot please God in any way.

U – Unconditional Election – Before time began, God chose certain people to be saved solely based on His own desires.

L – Limited Atonement – Jesus’ atoning death was limited in that it only paid for the sins of God’s elect.

I – Irresistible Grace – God will draw all of His elect into a saving relationship with Christ.

P – Perseverance of the Saints – All those who have been elected, redeemed and called will persevere in faith until the end.

NOTE: I disagree with the above doctrine! I believe all of mankind is offered salvation by faith!!

3) For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

4) and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

QUESTION: What is the gospel message?

1. Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures,
2. He was buried,
3. He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures.

5) and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

6) After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;

7) then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles;

8) and last of all, as it were to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.

QUESTION: What part of the gospel message is he providing eye witnesses for?

ANSWER: His resurrection.

QUESTION: Who are those witnesses?

1. Cephas, which is Peter,
2. The twelve,
3. The five hundred who saw Him at one time, many of whom were still alive,
4. James,
5. All the apostles,
6. Paul, himself.

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

QUESTION: Why did this most notable apostle feel unfit to be called an apostle?

ANSWER: He could never forget that he had once persecuted the very church he now loved.

10) But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.

QUESTION: Why was this man who once persecuted the church now an apostle?

ANSWER: It was “by the grace of God.”

QUESTION: What does that mean?

ANSWER: He was an apostle because God made him one. He was called to be an apostle by grace; i.e., as a result of God’s unmerited favor towards him.

QUESTION: What did Paul say about the fact that God had graced him to be an apostle?

ANSWER: He said that God’s grace toward him “did not prove vain.” In other words, God used the man abundantly.

QUESTION: What was the result of God gracing Paul with the call to be an apostle?

**ANSWER: He “labored even more than all of” the other apostles.

QUESTION: In what way did Paul labor more that the other apostles?

• Perhaps he meant that his mission field was of greater size, because he was called to go to the Gentiles, not the Jews.
• Perhaps he meant that he had greater results.
• More likely, he meant that, as a result of all his trials and persecutions his work was harder labor than the work of the others.

QUESTION: How was Paul able to accomplish this task of laboring “even more than all of them”?

**ANSWER: It wasn’t him doing it; it was “the grace of God with” him.

QUESTION: What does that mean?

ANSWER: God’s favor towards you doesn’t only result in His calling you to a task; it results in you being empowered to do that task.

QUESTION: What, then, are the two sides of grace?

• God’s grace is unmerited favor,
• God’s grace is Divine enablement.

11) Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

QUESTION: What can we learn from this passage?

• It doesn’t mattered whose preaching led you to believe, just as long as you believe,
• All of the apostles preached the gospel message that leads sinners to repentance.

QUESTION: What is that gospel message they all preached?

ANSWER: Again:

1. Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures,
2. He was buried,
3. He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures.

QUESTION: What part of that gospel message did he highlight earlier, and will highlight again?

ANSWER: He highlighted the importance of understanding that Christ rose from the dead.

NOTE: There is no gospel without the resurrection! If Jesus is still dead then He can’t save you!

 

1 CORINTHIANS

Chapter 15, Verses 12-22

“What If There Is No Resurrection From The Dead?”

[6-14-22]

 

Review: “The Gospel That Saves!”

1 Corinthians 15:10-11) [NAS] But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.

QUESTION: Why was this man who once persecuted the church now an apostle?

ANSWER: It was “by the grace of God.” He was an apostle because God made him one. He was called to be an apostle by grace; i.e., as a result of God’s unmerited favor towards him.

QUESTION: What did Paul say about the fact that God had graced him to be an apostle?

NOTE: Paul said that God’s grace toward him “did not prove vain.” In other words, God used the man abundantly. He “labored even more than all of” the other apostles.

QUESTION: In what way did Paul labor more that the other apostles?

ANSWER: Perhaps he meant that his mission field was of greater size, because he was called to go to the Gentiles, not the Jews. Perhaps he meant that he had greater results. More likely, he meant that, as a result of all his trials and persecutions his work was harder labor than the work of the others.

QUESTION: How was Paul able to accomplish this task of laboring “even more than all of them”?

ANSWER: It wasn’t him doing it; it was “the grace of God with” him.

QUESTION: What does that mean?

ANSWER: God’s favor towards you doesn’t only result in His calling you to a task; it results in you being empowered to do that task.

QUESTION: What, then, are the two sides of grace?

• God’s grace is unmerited favor,
• God’s grace is Divine enablement.

11) Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

• It doesn’t mattered whose preaching led you to believe, just as long as you believe,
• All of the apostles preached the gospel message that leads sinners to repentance.

 

This Week’s Lesson: “What If There Is No Resurrection From The Dead?”

1 Corinthians 15:12-22) [NAS] Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

13) But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised;

QUESTION: What is Paul getting at here?

ANSWER: You can’t have it both ways. If “there is no resurrection of the dead not even Christ has been raised.”

14) and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.

QUESTION: What else is true if there is no resurrection of the dead?

***ANSWER: Preaching is vain; it’s foolishness! Our faith is also vain; it’s foolishness!

15) Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we witnessed against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.

QUESTION: What other conclusion does Paul reach if is there is no resurrection of the dead?

ANSWER: Everyone who claimed to have seen the resurrected Jesus was a liar!

1 Corinthians 15:5-8) [NAS] and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

6) After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;

7) then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles;

8) and last of all, as it were to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.

“This appearance was probably on the mountain (Tabor, according to tradition), in Galilee, when His most solemn and public appearance, according to His special promise, was vouchsafed (Mat 26:32; Mat 28:7, Mat 28:10, Mat 28:16)” [JFB].

 

***NOTE: It appears that when Jesus told the women to tell His disciples to go to Galilee (Matthew 28:5-10) where He would appear to them that those disciples told others in Galilee what the women had told them, and those others followed the disciples and were present when Jesus appeared to them at some point during the 40 days He remained before ascending to Heaven!

QUESTION: Who were those who claimed to have seen the resurrected Savior?

ANSWER: Cephas/Peter, the Jerusalem 12, the more than 500 brethren at one time, James, all the apostles, and Paul himself all claimed to have seen the resurrected Jesus.

NOTE: They were all liars if Jesus did not resurrect, and if Jesus did not resurrect there is no resurrection from the dead.

16) For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;

17) and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.

18) Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

QUESTION: What does Paul go on to say?

ANSWER: If Jesus hasn’t been raised from the dead then even our faith is worthless, empty, and we are, therefore “still in” our “sins.” Also, every Christian believer who has died has “perished.” We will never see our loved ones again if there is no resurrection of the dead.

19) If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.

QUESTION: What else does Paul go on to say?

***ANSWER: Paul tells us, in essence, that if all the Christian religion provides us with is a trust that God will be with us in this life we are a pitiful bunch.

QUESTION: Why?

ANSWER: The entire Christian hope is the hope of glory! Please note:

1 John 3:2-3) [NAS] Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is.

3) And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

***NOTE:”Paul makes morality turn on the hope of immortality. Is he not right? Witness the breaking of moral ties today when people take a merely animal view of life” [Robertson] {his notes on verse 19 of our study}.

QUESTION: Why should we try to live contrary to the current ideology if there is no future glory? Why should we oppose abortion, euthanasia, gay marriage, gun control and other issues if “today we live and tomorrow we die”? Let’s just get with the flow!

NOTE: If there is no future reward for our faithfulness, or future judgment for our sin, then let’s just get along with everyone. In that case there is no incentive to live contrary to those who try their best to make our lives miserable for refusing to fall into line with their issues. In other words, as Paul put it, without the hope of the resurrection of the dead Christians are just a pitiful bunch.

20) But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.

QUESTION: What do we learn from this verse?

ANSWER: Paul thought the entire argument against the resurrection of the dead was foolishness! There were too many witnesses who saw the resurrected Christ, and he was one of them.

NOTE: Jesus has risen and those who have, and will die with faith in the risen Savior will also rise from the dead to live with Him in glory. WE ARE NOT TO BE PITIED!

21) For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.

22) For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive.

QUESTION: What do we learn from these 2 verses?

ANSWER: Adam sinned and death passed on to the entire human family! Jesus never sinned and life and resurrection from the dead passed on to all who are born into Him!

A CLOSING THOUGHT: Romans 5:12-21 shows us that everyone born into Adam (the entire human family) was born into sin and death; everyone born again into Jesus was born into life. This resurrection of the dead begins at the new birth and continues into eternity. First, we were the spiritually dead who resurrected into spiritual life; next, we will die physically and arise into glory. We who were dead now live, and physical death cannot change that.

 

 

 

Born Into Adam, Then Born Into Jesus:

Romans 5:12-21) [NAS] Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned —

13) for until the Law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

14) Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

15) But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.

16) And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification.

17) For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

18) So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.

19) For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

20) And the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,

21)  that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1 CORINTHIANS

Chapter 15, Verses 23-28

“Then Comes The End!”

[6-19-22]

 

Review: “What If There Is No Resurrection From The Dead?”

1 Corinthians 15:20-22) [NAS] But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.

QUESTION: What do we learn from this verse?

ANSWER: Paul thought the entire argument against the resurrection of the dead was foolishness! There were too many witnesses who saw the resurrected Christ, and he was one of them.

NOTE: Jesus has risen and those who have, and will die with faith in the risen Savior will also rise from the dead to live with Him in glory. WE ARE NOT TO BE PITIED!

21) For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.

22) For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive.

QUESTION: What do we learn from these 2 verses?

ANSWER: Adam sinned and death passed on to the entire human family; Jesus never sinned and life, death, and resurrection from the dead passed on to all who are born into Him.

A CLOSING THOUGHT: Romans 5:12-21 shows us that everyone born into Adam (the entire human family) was born into sin and death; everyone born again into Jesus was born into life. This resurrection of the dead begins at the new birth, then comes the physical, and it continues into eternity.

 

This Week’s Lesson: “Then Comes The End!”

1 Corinthians 15:23-28) [NAS] But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming,

QUESTION: What does this verse show us regarding the resurrection?

ANSWER: Though the resurrection from the dead begins with the new birth when we spiritually rise from death to life, this verse shows us that the resurrection that Paul has in mind is the physical resurrection of the dead. That’s the resurrection that was being challenged by false teachers.

24) then comes the end, when He delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.

“this ‘will’ be the ending, the winding up, the consummation of the affairs under the mediatorial reign of Christ” [Barnes].

We “believe, to the end of the resurrection. At the close of Christ’s Millennial Reign, when He shall have put down all His enemies, there will be the resurrection of the wicked dead. This is the last resurrection ever to take place” [BBC].

QUESTION: What is Paul talking about when he says, “then comes the end”?

ANSWER: Both of the above arguments fit the narrative.

1. This will be the end of all that has already happened, and all that is yet to come, regarding God’s grand redemption plan. That’s what Barnes is talking about when he refers to the “mediatorial reign of Christ.” This will end the age when we approach the Father through the Son.
2. 2. This will also, as BBC comments, end the age of resurrections.

NOTE: One could argue that since the subject at hand is the resurrection of the dead that the comments of the BBC Commentary are the likely choice. However, Paul could be showing is readers that the purpose of the resurrection of the dead is to reach the climax of “His Redemption Plan” that was set in motion:

1. In the mind of God IN eternity past;
2. In the selection of God IN the choosing of Abraham, and;
3. In the actual fulfillment of that plan through the coming of the Messiah IN the birth of Christ.

QUESTION: What must Jesus accomplish before the end?

ANSWER: He must abolish all rebellious authorities and powers.

QUESTION: Then what happens?

ANSWER: “He delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father.”

25) For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.

QUESTION: When will “the end” happen?

ANSWER: It will happen after Christ puts all “His enemies under His feet.”

QUESTION: What else might this verse show us?

NOTE: Verse 25 lends credence to Barnes’ argument regarding what “the end” is.

QUESTION: Why?

ANSWER: Paul is now talking about the reign of Christ.

26) The last enemy that will be abolished is death.

NOTE: Make no mistake about this truth; death is an enemy!

QUESTION: Why?

ANSWER: It separates the loved ones of the deceased from those who loved him/her.

QUESTION: In spite of the fact that death is an enemy how does God use it for His glory?

ANSWER: God uses death to bring those who love Him into eternal fellowship with Him.

27) For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him.

28) And when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, that God may be all in all.

Psalm 8:4-6) [NAS] What is man, that Thou dost take thought of him? And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him?

5) Yet Thou hast made him a little lower than God, And dost crown him with glory and majesty!

6) Thou dost make him to rule over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet,

QUESTION: What is Paul telling us here?

ANSWER: Jesus is the man Who will realize all that man was intended to be when He walks in the fulfillment of that promise.

QUESTION: What happens then?

ANSWER: The man Jesus, He Who fully realizes and walks in the promise that everything has been subjected to Him, will then willingly subject Himself to the One Who subjected everything to Him.

QUESTION: What is Paul telling us when he says, “that God may be all in all”?

Philippians 2:5-8) [NAS] Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

6) who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7) but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

8) And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

ANSWER: When Jesus became man he humbled Himself by subjecting Himself to His Father. When He resurrected from the dead God made all things subject to Him. When Jesus stands before the Father after destroying the last enemy, death, then the man Jesus will subject Himself to the Father, placing all that the Father has put under the Lord Jesus’ feet back under the very feet of God, Almighty.

NOTE: Here’s where it gets tricky. Commentators believe that this passage is not talking about God, the Father, but rather, the Triune God. Please note:

Colossians 1:17-20) [NAS] And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

18) He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place [preeminence] {KJV} in everything.

19) For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fulness to dwell in Him,

NOTE: Until “the end” arrives God, the Father, is pleased that Jesus should be the One Who holds first place in the hearts of God’s people.

A CLOSING NOTE: It appears that prior to the KENOSIS “of Christ Christ’s voluntary renunciation of certain divine attributes, in order to identify himself with mankind (Philippians 2:6-7)” (Collins English Dictionary) that the Son was on equal ground with the Father and the Holy Spirit. We are familiar with “the head of Christ is God” [1 Corinthians 11:3], however, it seems that prior to His becoming a man that there was equal standing among the Godhead. After all, when there is total agreement headship is not required.

 

1 CORINTHIANS

Chapter 15, Verses 29-38

“Really? The Dead Don’t Rise! Really?”

[6-21-22]

 

Review: “Then Comes The End!”

1 Corinthians 15:28) [NAS] And when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, that God may be all in all.

NOTE: Jesus is the man Who will realize all that man was intended to be when He walks in the fulfillment of that promise.

NOTE: The man Jesus, He Who fully realizes/walks in the promise that everything has been subjected to Him, will then willingly subject Himself to the One Who subjected everything to Him.

Philippians 2:5-8) [NAS] Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

6) who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7) but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

8) And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

NOTE: Here’s where it gets tricky. Commentators believe that this passage is not talking about God, the Father, but rather, the Triune God. Please note:

Colossians 1:17-20) [NAS] And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

18) He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place [preeminence] {KJV} in everything.

19) For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fulness to dwell in Him,

NOTE: Until “the end” arrives God, the Father, is pleased that Jesus should be the One Who holds first place in the hearts of God’s people.

A CLOSING NOTE: It appears that prior to the KENOSIS [“Christ’s voluntary renunciation of certain divine attributes, in order to identify himself with mankind (Philippians 2:6-7)”] (Collins English Dictionary) of Christ that the Son was on equal ground with the Father and the Holy Spirit. We are familiar with “the head of Christ is God” [1 Corinthians 11:3], however, it seems that prior to His becoming a man that there was equal standing among the Godhead.  After all, when there is total agreement headship is not required.

 

This Week’s Lesson: “Really? The Dead Don’t Rise! Really?”

1 Corinthians 15:29-38) [NAS] Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?

In regards to, “who are baptized for the dead,”

“it means that they had been baptized with the hope and expectation of a resurrection of the dead. They had received this as one of the leading doctrines of the gospel when they were baptized. It was a part of their full and firm belief that the dead would rise” [Barnes].

“Paul could simply be addressing how absurd the position that these false teachers took was because on the one hand, they taught there was no resurrection of the dead, and on the other hand, they taught that the living should be baptized for their dead relatives who had died without being baptized. Why would you be baptized for a dead relative if that relative will never rise from the dead?” [Hannah].

 (GW) However, people are baptized because the dead will come back to life. What will they do? If the dead can’t come back to life, why do people get baptized as if they can come back to life?

(GNB) Now, what about those people who are baptized for the dead? What do they hope to accomplish? If it is true, as some claim, that the dead are not raised to life, why are those people being baptized for the dead?

30) Why are we also in danger every hour?

31) I protest, brethren, by the boasting in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

32) If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. 

QUESTION: What is Paul using as an argument this false doctrine?

ANSWER: Why would he, or any other apostle, or any other Christian for that matter, face life threatening persecution for the sake of the Gospel if there is no resurrection of the dead? It would be foolish to subject yourself to such abuse if there is no reward for that dedication.

NOTE: Even radical Islamic terrorists don’t blow themselves up to kill the infidels for no reason. They believe in a resurrection of the dead where they will receive special rewards for their service.

QUESTION: What does Paul mean when he says, “I die daily”?

“We do not believe that he was actually thrown into the arena with wild beasts, but rather that he is speaking here of wicked men as wild beasts. Actually, as a Roman citizen, Paul could not have been forced to fight with wild animals” [BBC].

“Does the apostle mean to say that he had literally fought with wild beasts at Ephesus? or, that he had met with brutish, savage men, from whom he was in danger of his life?” [Clarke].

QUESTION: Is Paul merely speaking of confronting savage men, or did he, in fact, face “wild beasts” in the arena at Ephesus?

ANSWER: We don’t know for certain which it is; however, most commentators are convinced he is speaking about savage men.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST IT BEING ACTUAL WILD BEASTS:

1. Luke doesn’t record what would have been an amazing event in the Book of Acts.

1. Paul doesn’t mention such an event in 2 Corinthians 11:22-33 where he lists many of his trials.
2. Paul was a Roman citizen, and as such would not have been thrown to the lions.

ARGUMENTS FOR IT BEING ACTUAL WILD BEASTS:

1. If he was merely speaking of savage men then why not use the example of Acts 14:19-20 where men stoned him to death {God raised him from the dead}?
2. “There was a legend that Paul was thrown, first of all, to a lion; then to other beasts, but was left untouched by them all” [Vincent].

3. His life wasn’t in danger at Ephesus.

NOTE: An evil person could throw him to the lions in spite of his Roman citizenship figuring that a dead man cannot complain to Rome. At any rate, Paul’s main point is that his life was at risk often because of his preaching the Gospel message that included the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead. Why would he subject himself to such a life if there were no resurrection of the dead?

33) Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”

(BBE) Do not be tricked by false words: evil company does damage to good behavior.

NOTE: It matters who you hang around with! The wrong crowd can cause you to question sound teaching from the Scripture.

34) Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

(GW) Come back to the right point of view, and stop sinning. Some people don’t know anything about God. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

NOTE: The people who have been influencing them with this anti-resurrection talk were spiritually ignorant. His readers should be ashamed of themselves for listening to such nonsense.

NOTE Paul’s telling them that it’s sinful to entertain doctrines that are contrary to the Gospel, or, that believing such a doctrine will cause you to live in sin, because there is no judgment. Or, he could have both ideas in mind.

35) But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?”

36) You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies;

37) and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else.

38) But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own.

QUESTION: What is Paul telling his readers in the above verses?

ANSWER: Death is an important part of the resurrection doctrine.

 

 

 

1 CORINTHIANS

Chapter 15, Verses 35-38

“Precious Seed Of God, Break Forth!”

 [6-26-22]

 

Review: “Really? The Dead Don’t Rise! Really?”

1 Corinthians 15:33-34) [NAS] Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”

(BBE) Do not be tricked by false words: evil company does damage to good behaviour.

QUESTION: What is this verse teaching us?

ANSWER: It matters who you hang around with! The wrong crowd can cause you to question sound teaching from the Scripture.

34) Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

(GW) Come back to the right point of view, and stop sinning. Some people don’t know anything about God. You should be ashamed of yourselves.c`1

QUESTION: What is Paul telling his readers in vs. 33-34?

ANSWER: The people who have been influencing them with this anti-resurrection talk were spiritually ignorant. His readers should be ashamed of themselves for listening to such nonsence.

QUESTION: What is Paul saying when he tells them to “stop sinning”?

ANSWER: He’s telling them that it’s sinful to entertain doctrines that are contrary to the Gospel, or, that believing such a doctrine will cause you to live in sin, because there is no judgment. Or, he could have both ideas in mind.

QUESTION: What is Paul telling his readers in the verses 35-38?

ANSWER: Death is an important part of the resurrection doctrine. More about that next time.

NOTE: Guess what, it’s next time.

 

This Week’s Lesson: “Precious Seed Of God, Break Forth!”

1 Corinthians 15:35-38) [NAS] But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?”

QUESTION: What seemed to be a big argument being made against the resurrection of the dead?

ANSWER: Their dead bodies had been decaying for a long time. They would not be presentable.

QUESTION: What is Paul’s goal here?

ANSWER: He wants to debunk that horrendous doctrine.

36) You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies;

37) and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else.

QUESTION: What is Paul’s argument here?

ANSWER: He compares the resurrection of the dead to farming.

QUESTION: Had this idea of a seed dying before it springs forth with life been used before?

ANSWER: Please note:

John 12:23-24) [NAS] And Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

24) “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

QUESTION: What is John talking about when he quotes Jesus saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified”?

ANSWER: Jesus is about to fulfill His purpose for coming to earth. That purpose is to die for the sins of humanity.

QUESTION: When did God devise this plan of redemption?

ANSWER: Please note:

Revelation 13:8) [KJV] And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

QUESTION: Again, when did God devise this plan of redemption?

ANSWER: The above passage tells us that it dates back to, at least, when earth was formed.

1 Peter 1:18-21) [NAS] knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,

19) but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

20) For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you

21) who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

NOTE: The plan of redemption dates even further back to before the earth was formed.

NOTE: Humanly speaking God devised this plan in eternity past. Speaking in the splendor of Who God is, this plan had no beginning! It has forever been in the mind of God!!

QUESTION: What steps did God take to initiate this plan of redemption?

ANSWER: Please note:

Genesis 3:14-15) [KJV] And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

15) And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

(BBE) And there will be war between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed: by him will your head be crushed and by you his foot will be wounded.

QUESTION: What did God do after Adam and Eve sinned?

***ANSWER: He prophesied about the coming seed of Eve that would “bruise” the head of Satan; that seed being the Lord Jesus Christ.

Genesis 26:4) [KJV] And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

QUESTION: When other steps did God take to initiate this plan of redemption?

ANSWER: He covenanted with Abraham to raise up a people through whom His Son would be born.

Luke 1:26-38) [NAS] Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee, called Nazareth,

27) to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

28) And coming in, he said to her, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.”

29) But she was greatly troubled at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this might be.

30) And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.

*31) “And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.

32) “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;

33) and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end.”

34) And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”

35) And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God.

36) “And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.

37) “For nothing will be impossible with God.”

38) And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

NOTE: God sent Gabriel to tell Mary that God had chosen her to give birth to His Son, the promised Messiah. He was born to die for our sins. The eyes of the infant were fixed upon Calvary.

38) But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own.

NOTE: Paul’s telling us that God will give us eternal bodies that will please Him.

 

1 CORINTHIANS

Chapter 15, Verses 39-50

“From One Glory To Another!”

 [6-28-22]

Review: “Precious Seed Of God, Break Forth!”

1 Corinthians 15:35-38) [NAS] But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?”

QUESTION: What seemed to be a big argument being made against the resurrection of the dead?

ANSWER: Their dead bodies had been decaying for a long time. They would not be presentable.

36) You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies;

37) and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else.

QUESTION: What is Paul’s argument here?

ANSWER: He compares the resurrection of the dead to farming.

QUESTION: Had this idea of a seed dying before it springs forth with life been used before?

John 12:23-24) [NAS] And Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

24) “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

QUESTION: What is John talking about when he quotes Jesus saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified”?

ANSWER: Jesus is about to fulfill His purpose for coming to earth. That purpose is to die for the sins of humanity.

38) But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own.

NOTE: He’s telling us that God will give us eternal bodies that will please Him.

 

This Week’s Lesson: “From One Glory To Another!”

1 Corinthians 15:39-50) [NAS] All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish.

QUESTION: Why is Paul stating the obvious here?

**ANSWER: He’s building on verse 38. Just as God was able to give every living thing on this planet a unique body, one the pleased Him, He will have no trouble giving each of us a resurrected body that will please Him.

NOTE: He already sees the body He will give you!

40) There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another.

41) There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

QUESTION: What is Paul telling us here?

**ANSWER: It might simply be that he’s telling us that each of those heavenly bodies has a different glory to it in the sense of how bright they appear to us.

42) So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body;

43) it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;

44) it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

QUESTION: What is Paul referring to when he says, “So also is the resurrection of the dead”?

ANSWER: He’s telling us that the resurrection of the dead is like the points he has been making, beginning with verse 35. The resurrection of the dead is like a seed being sown and bringing forth a harvest; and it’s like the differences of the earthly bodies to one another, and the heavenly bodies to one another, and the earthly bodies to the heavenly bodies.

QUESTION: How is your resurrected body different from the one you now have?

• The one you now have is capable of dying, and will one day do so. It will then decay. Your resurrected body will not be capable of dying or decaying.

• Your current body is subject to dishonor because of the things you do; your resurrected body will only be subject to glory because of the things God has done.
• Your physical body is weak, and will grow weaker. It’s weak physically, and because sin dwells in its members it’s weak morally. Your resurrected body will be strong in every sense of the word, including morally. You will never sin throughout eternity because you will be dressed in a powerful body that has no sin dwelling in its members.
• It will be a spiritual body.

QUESTION: How does Paul sum up verses 42-44?

ANSWER: He states emphatically that if there are natural bodies then there will be spiritual ones.

45) So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

*46) However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.

47) The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven.

QUESTION: Why does Paul tell us that Adam was here before Jesus, Who is eternal?

ANSWER: He’s talking about Jesus, the man, Who is referred to as the “last Adam.”

QUESTION: What is Paul’s point?

ANSWER: The first Adam/representative man came before the last Adam/representative man.

QUESTION: What is the difference between the two Adams?

ANSWER: The first Adam was a natural man; the second Adam, eternal God in the flesh, though dressed in a natural body was a spiritual man.

48) As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly.

49) And just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

QUESTION: What is Paul telling us here?

ANSWER: Everyone born into the first Adam is “earthy,” but everyone born-again into the last Adam is heavenly.

NOTE: We might not look and act all that heavenly at this moment. However, when we lay aside the “earthy” body that we inherited from the first Adam then the image of the last Adam, that we have been born-again into, will manifest itself. We are already holy by virtue of being born-again into the last Adam, but that holiness is often obscured by the fact that we are yet wearing the “earthy” body that has sin dwelling in its members. When we enter into the resurrection of the dead the “earthy” body will have decayed and will be left behind. A brand new heavenly body will encase our redeemed spirit and holiness will be fully realized in the practical sense. Paul said it best, “we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”

50) Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

QUESTION: What is Paul doing here?

ANSWER: He’s wrapping up his teaching on the resurrection of the dead before he introduces another avenue, besides death, through which we can enter into glory.

QUESTION: What’s his main point in the above verse?

ANSWER: Either way, through natural death and resurrection, which he has been talking about, or through rapture, which he is about to mention, “flesh and blood” are not making the trip with us. What’s in store for us, as believers, is that we will be motivated to moral victories, and to spiritual works.

 

1 CORINTHIANS

Chapter 15, Verses 51-58

“The Amazing Victory Christ Has Won For Us!

 [7-3-22]

 

Review: “From One Glory To Another!”

1 Corinthians 15:48-50) [NAS] As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly.

49) And just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

QUESTION: What is Paul telling us here?

ANSWER: Everyone born into the first Adam is “earthy,” but everyone born-again into the last Adam is heavenly.

NOTE: We might not look and act all that heavenly at this moment. However, when we lay aside the “earthy” body that we inherited from the first Adam; then the image of the last Adam, Jesus, that we have been born-again into, will manifest itself. We are already holy by virtue of being born-again into the last Adam, but that holiness is often obscured by the fact that we are yet wearing the “earthy” body that has sin dwelling in its members. When we enter into the resurrection of the dead the “earthy” body will have decayed and will be left behind. A brand new heavenly body will encase our redeemed spirit and holiness will be fully realized in the practical sense. Paul said it best, “we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”

50) Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

NOTE: Paul’s wrapping up his teaching on the resurrection of the dead before he introduces another avenue, besides death, through which we can enter into glory.

NOTE: Either way, through natural death and resurrection, which he has been talking about, or through rapture, which he is about to mention, “flesh and blood” are not making the trip with us.

 

This Week’s Lesson: “The Amazing Victory Christ Has Won For Us!

1 Corinthians 15:51-58) [NAS] Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

53) For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.

NOTE: The end result of the rapture will be the same as the end result of death and resurrection, that being the perishable putting on the imperishable and the mortal putting on immortality.

Philippians 3:20-21) [NAS] For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

21) who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

QUESTION: How does the “perishable put on the imperishable” if we are caught up in the rapture and never die?

ANSWER: We change clothes, that is we change bodies on the way up, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.”

54) But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.

55) “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

Hosea 13:14) [ERV] “I will save them from the grave. I will rescue them from death. Death, where are your diseases? Grave, where is your power? I am not looking for revenge.

***NOTE: The resurrection of the dead, and the rapture, which will occur simultaneously, will both steal away the victory of death, and the sting of death and the grave.

56) The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;

QUESTION: Why is sin the “sting of death”?

ANSWER: Sin makes us aware that we are entering the afterlife with charges against us.

NOTE: The unredeemed man must give an account of his actions and face the penalty for his transgressions. If a man is not forgiven then;

Hebrews 10:30-31) [NAS] For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”

31) It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

NOTE: When someone dies with unforgiven sin in his/her life then there is a terrible sting/fear attached to dying. If we haven’t fled to the Savior during our time on earth it will be a “terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

QUESTION: What does Paul mean when he says “the power of sin is the law”?

Romans 4:15) [NAS] for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there violation.

Romans 5:13) [NAS] for until the Law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Romans 7:7-11) [NAS] What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

8) But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.

9) And I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive, and I died;

10) and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me;

11) for sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me.

NOTE: There are two possibilities:

1. The Law condemns sin and therefore empowers the court of Heaven to judge sin and to pass sentence on the sinner.

1. The “thou shall not” commandments of the Law actually entice us to do the very things the Law forbids. Sin works in us “coveting of every kind.”

QUESTION: Which of the two possibilities are more likely what Paul is referring to?

NOTE: I’m convinced that it’s probably number 2.

Romans 6:14) [NAS] For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace.

QUESTION: What is Paul telling us in the above verse?

ANSWER: He’s telling us that sin can’t be our master because we are not under the law, but, rather, under grace. That means that if we are under the law then sin can, and will, be our master.

NOTE: Paul is telling us that sin takes the holy commandments of the Law and uses them to work all sorts of evil desires in us. The Law says, “You shall not!” Sin says, “Yeah, but doesn’t it look good?”

• The Law says, “You shall not commit adultery!” Sin says, “Yeah, but she looks mighty fine!”

• The Law says, “You shall not commit murder!” Sin says, “Yeah, but he has to go!”
• The Law says, “You shall not covet!” Sin says, “Yeah, but I could sure use that stuff!”

NOTE: Satan started using this very tactic when God gave His first Law in the Garden of Eden. That Law said, “You shall not eat of that tree!” Sin said, “Yeah, but it will make you be like God!” It worked then, and it still works to this very day.

57) but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

NOTE: Paul’s referring to the victory over death that we have won through the conquest of the Lord Jesus Christ. He paid the penalty for our sins, and, as Christians, we don’t have to fear death and the coming judgment.

58) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

A CLOSING NOTE: Paul is wanting us to understand what lies in store for us, as believers, that we will be motivated to moral victories, and to spiritual works.