LESSON 25
(15:20-58)

RESURRECTION RESULTS

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.  21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.  22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.  23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.  24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.  25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.  26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.  27 “For God has put all things in subjection under his feet.”  But when it says, “All things are put in subjection under him,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things under him.  28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things under him, that God may be everything to every one.
29 Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead?  If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?  30 Why am I in peril every hour?  31 I protest, brethren, by my pride in which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day!  32 What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus?  If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”  33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”  34 Come to your right mind, and sin no more.  For some have no knowledge of God.  I say this to your shame.
35 But some one will ask, “How are the dead raised?  With what kind of body do they come?”  36 You foolish man!  What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.  37 And what you sow is not the body which is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain.  38 But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body.  39 For not all flesh is alike, but there is one kind for men, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish.  40 There are celestial bodies and there are terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial 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.
42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead.  What is sown is perishable, what is raised in imperishable.  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 physical body, it is raised a spiritual body.  If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body.  45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.  46 But it is not the spiritual which is first but the physical, and then the spiritual.  47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.  48 As was the man of dust, so are those who are of dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven.  49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.  50 I tell you this, brethren: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
51 Lo! 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 nature must put on the imperishable, and this mortal nature must put on immortality.  54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
 55	 “O death, where is thy victory?
O death, where is they sting?” 
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

There are lost of good results of the resurrection of Jesus.  Some of them are in our lesson text.  We may not understand all that Paul wrote, but that doesn’t make the results less true.  He doesn’t tell us all we might like to know, but he does single out some things that are meaningful to our personal lives.  It may well be that this section of text as that in 15:5-19 contains answers to questions brethren had asked about the resurrection.  Let us rejoice in a living savior as we study this lesson.
15:20 – Christ has been raised – This truth makes Christianity the only valid religion in the whole world.  It is to be spread world-wide because all mean are lost unless they are Christian.  It makes the message vital to every person’s life, faith in Christ valid, hope beyond the grave realistic, etc.
fallen asleep – See on 11:30.
V. 21 – A text that is somewhat parallel to this one is Rom. 5:12-19.  The sin of Adam brought to all men physical death.  The resurrection of Christ brought to all men release from the death through a bodily resurrection yet to come.  We may no be raised again is sure.  Jesus countered the Sadducees’ argument that “none are resurrected” with His “all are resurrected” in the discussion mentioned in lesson 24.  So this verse states that pint clearly.
V. 22 – A restatement of v. 21.  The rewards of those resurrected will differ, of course, but the fact that all shall be raised is true for everyone.
V. 23 – While Christ was not the first one ver to be raised from the dead, He was the first one to rise from the dead never to die again.  Moreover, He can give to all who accept Him as savior what the Scriptures term “eternal life.”  In this sense, Jesus is the “first fruits” of the dead.
first fruits – Essentially this means the beginning of the promises in Christianity, available in Christ.  The Greek term aparch_ can be seen in Rom. 8:23; 11:16; 16:5; Rev. 14:4.  The O.T. text that is parallel to Rom. 11:16 is Numbers 15:18-21.
V. 24 – The resurrection of Christ began the Church age, the last age prior to the eternal ages in heaven or hell.  The age will end when Jesus returns again.  Of the many things that will take place at that occasion, Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords will triumph over all, bringing the kingdoms of men to judgment.  All shall kneel before Him, acknowledging Him as sovereign, Phil. 2:11.
v. 25 – As in Rom. 5:17, Jesus now reigns, and will continue to do so until He returns.  See Eph. 5:5; Rev. 1:5.
V. 26 – Though having conquered death by His resurrection, physical death is yet taking place.  When Jesus returns and the new heavens and earth are formed, II Pet. 3, then death shall be no more, Rev. 21:4; 22:5.
V. 27 – In respect to Jesus and the Church, Jesus had a specific task to accomplish.  When the Church age is ended, that task will also be over and Jesus will then have completed the “work” He came to do.  Having done so, thing will be changed.  Time will cease, eternity being, and God, His great plan for redeeming mankind in Jesus Christ being fulfilled, will become all in all.  It is a glorious picture Paul painted for future generations as well as those in Corinth.  John’s Revelation helps us see in larger detail what Paul presented in a summary form.
It might be well to notice that Paul has revealed some information to the brethren that they could not know otherwise.  More will be given in vv. 35-55.  Thus we catch a glimpse of what he had in mind in 2:6ff.; and other texts such as 11:23 and 15:3..
V. 29 -- This verse through v. 34 puts the importance of Jesus’ resurrection where the “rubber meets the road.”  It shows how a risen savior relates to Christianity.  While a glow of joy may well be felt as 15:20-28 is read, Christians need to see how faith is relevant to everyday living.
Three issues are brought into focus in 15:29-34.  They are 1) why be immersed, 2) why live a godly life and 3) why tell others.  All of these questions are answered by one statement: because Jesus is alive.
baptized . . . dead -- While this verse has about as many interpretations as any one Bible verse, the context is about the fact of the resurrection of all humanity.  If Jesus is dead, then Christianity is dead too.  As such, this life s all there is.  If so, then the demands of Christianity are irrelevant.  A person accepts Christ as savior and is immersed into Christ, among other reasons to have life both here and hereafter.  However, if the dead be not raised, then there is no future.  Hence, why be immersed?
On the other hand, if Jesus be alive, then all that Christianity is and promises is available to those who become partakers of it.  Hence, it is only good sense to accept the good news about Jesus, put Him on in immersion, Gal. 3:27, and begin to live in a godly manner both for this life and for the life to come, I Tim. 4:8.
V. 30-33 – This section continues with the point about the present value of the resurrection.  Having shown that immersion into Christ is wise, Paul now presents the case for being like Chris in every way.  A Christian may well suffer persecution or even death for Christ.  There is no reason to live so dangerously if Christ be dead.  Paul’s own life, lived so sacrificially, was senseless unless Jesus was alive.  There was every reason to do as Paul said he did in Gal. 2:20, and as he commanded in Eph. 4:18-5:19 and Col 2:20-3:17 if Jesus be reigning now and is soon to return.
V. 34 – The command is: “Awake and quit sinning.”  The brethren in Corinth needed to start acting like they professed.  Many in the congregation were not as they ought to be, and many in Corinth were unevangelized.  Both things needed to be remedied immediately.
This next section vv. 35-30 is the apostle’s response to the questions posed in v. 35.  the “how” of the resurrection isn’t explained, just stated.  However, Paul did present some analogies from the world about hem in vv. 36-41, then in vv. 42-50 reveal some information relevant to the nature of the resurrection body.  Briefly, it can be seen that death does not prohibit life but rather produces it, that God can do in the spiritual realm what he does in the material realm, and that the resurrection body is related to the physical body but is not necessarily in its makeup.
V. 35 – Whether the “some” in this verse are identical with the “some” in v. 12 is not stated.  It would not be strange though if believers in the resurrection were to ask such questions.  Probably most of us have thought about the same general things haven’t we?
V. 36 – The first illustration is form a common thing in life: a seed.  All know that when a seed is planted in the ground, that it produces something different from itself.  It “dies” in the sense of turning itself into something else.  So is the case with the physical body–when it dies, God can cause it to become the source of new life, v. 38.  In fact, God can produce a new body out of nothing, but Paul used an analogy that everyone could understand, at least in part.  (For a good cross reference here, check John 12:21-26.)
V. 39 – not all flesh is alike – A second illustration that Paul gave was also familiar: not everything is alike in the universe, either in the plant kingdom, the animal kingdom or the material kingdom.  Go has the ability to do various things in many different ways.  There was diversity evident everywhere, yet God was in it all.  So the apostle argued that what God could do in the area of the “known” He could also do in the “unknown” area.
V. 41 – glory – From the word doksa, discussed under 11:7.
V. 42 – so it is – Relationships exist between what is sown and what is brought forth from what is sown, both in the material, physical world and the non-material, spiritual world, Paul said.  However, there are differences, too, which he brought out.  He doesn’t exactly explain the nature of the imperishable spiritual body, though describing it as possessing honor and power.  That there is such a thing as a spiritual body, which some were questioning, is clearly stated, v. 44.
V. 45 – A restatement of v. 21, 22 as related tot he physical body of man.  The next four verses, 46-49, enlarge the idea of each “Adam” by showing how each affects the human race in respect to dying and living again.  (As a note in respect to comments made at the beginning of lesson 23, and on v. 22, we take the chapter as a general discourse about the resurrection body, irrespective of who might be involved, Christian or not, at least through v. 50.)
V. 49 – image – See the term under 11:7.
V. 50 – This verse reflects the same point that Jesus made in John 3:3ff.  To “inherit” the imperishable, a change must be made from mortal to immortal.  However, the change is “preplanned” and automatic.  To inherit the kingdom of God a change must also be made, Paul says.  The apostle thus changes the discussion from the question about the nature of the resurrection body to the nature of the spiritual kingdom.  the mortal puts on immortality in the sense that the resurrection body will never die again.  It is “death to mortality” as far as the physical body is concerned.  In the realm of God’s kingdom, a death must also take place, only in the realm of the spirit.  The death must take place while physical life is possessed.  When a person dies physically, the possibility that a spiritual death and rebirth can take place is gone.  Physical death seals one’s eternal destiny, whatever it may be.
Jesus spoke about rebirth.  He had in mind a birth of water and spirit.  That birth demands a death, a burial and a resurrection, where old things pass away and all things become new.  Paul described it as a “washing of regeneration and renewal of the Spirit” in Titus 3:5.  He pictured it in Rom. 6:3-6 as like unto Jesus’ death, etc.  We become united with Jesus in death to the old life and rise with Him into a new life, Ro. 7:1-6.  It is in this way that we become partakers of the kingdom and heirs of God as part of his family.
V. 51 – Since the coming of Jesus will be while people are yet alive (which evidently was “news” to the brethren since Paul used the word “mystery” which meant something unknown), then all will not die prior to Jesus’ coming.  Consequently in all the epistles, warnings about Jesus’ coming apply to us today.  Note 16:22.
V. 52 – in a moment – This is always the picture drawn: the “thief in the night” when no one is suspecting, etc.  here it is as quick as the wink of the eye.  Jesus left this warning in respect to His return: “What I say to you, I say to all: watch, for you know neither the day nor the hour,” Mark 13:32-37.
V. 53 – This text and I Thess. 4 indicate that a trumpet will sound when Jesus comes again.  Note Mt. 24:31 “a loud trumpet call.” Jesus’ coming will be quick and sudden but all will know it.  The changes that take place will happen to all, dead and alive, which means that there will be no such things as a “secret rapture” or other such false doctrine as that.
must put on – The idea is to put on as one would clothes.  See Mt. 27:31; Mk. 6:9; Lk. 15:22; Acts 12:21; Rom. 13:12, 14; Gal. 3:27; Col. 3:12.
V. 54 – immortality – While all mortals put on the immortal, because Christians are part of God’s kingdom, immortality holds a meaning for God’s children that it doesn’t for unbelievers.  In other terms, all are going to be resurrected, all will live forever.  The difference lies in what the Scriptures call “eternal life.”  This term really refers to a relationship with God and Christ that continues through physical death and eternity.  Christians have it in Christ, Who is our life, Col. 3:4. Read Jn. 11:25-26; Rev. 20:11-15; 21:1-8, 22-27; 22:1ff.
V. 54 – Quoting from Isaiah 25:8 and Hosea 13:14, the apostle shows that the Christian should have no fear in physical death but “dying” (as with an incurable disease, or slowly and painfully, etc.) may cause us fear.  Jesus has conquered death, vv. 21-26, and brought life and immortality to light, II Tim. 1:10.  Notice here the faith an life of those in Heb. 11:32ff.
V. 56. – The real problem is not death nor is it mortality.  The real problem is sin, the transgression of God’s law.  The sentence upon the sinner is death, being cut off from God Who has life.  So Paul turns from the concern of some about the nature of life after death in respect to that which ought to concern all: where eternity will be spent.  One’s status in respect to Jesus Chris is the crucial issue.  If the good news is heard, accepted and retained, 15:1-4, then sin and its penalty are vanquished.  As v. 57 tells us, it is God Who made the potential victory possible in Christ – it is up to the individual to respond.
V. 57 – This verse is parallel in thought to Rom. 7:13-25, where Paul describes the status of a person under law: sin owns that person, v. 14.  But in Christ, sin’s dominion is broken and freedom in Christ is the status, as Rom. 6:4 reveals.
V. 58 – The logical conclusion to the fact of the resurrection: Christian living.  All else is vain for all will pass away with the using, I Jn. 2:17–only those who do God’s will “abide” since their deeds are wrought in Christ, Col. 3:17.
Paul’s life is a good example of one who believed the resurrection to be true and lived accordingly.  His life of faith often brought him into perilous situations (15:30-32) but at the end the crown of life awaited, II Tim. 4:7-8.  Hence, the Christian is one who always lives with the future in mind, trusting in a God Who knows and remembers, Heb. 6:9-12, who sets his mind on things above, on the life that is life indeed, Col. 3:1-4; Titus 1:1-3.
steadfast – The idea is that found in such texts as 7:37; Col. 1:23 and I Tim. 3:15 (bulwark).  The Greek term hedraios meant something like a foundation that is firm and dependable, fixed and established.  Since the Christian’s hope is in God who never fails, Heb. 6:13-19, to keep His “end of the bargain,” there is every reason to be steadfast.
immovable – This term comes from a root kine_, from which our term kinetics comes.  It had the idea of motion or activity of some sort.  It was used to describe “wagging the head” in Mt. 27:39; or moving something.  If the resurrection be true, then the Christian ought to “stand therefore” as Paul wrote in Eph. 6:14, not moved from the hope of the gospel.
labor is not in vain – See Rev. 14:13.
vain – See on 15:14.

	LESSON 25 QUESTIONS

1. 	Review your outline of the whole chapter.

2. 	Did Paul answer some of the questions you had about life after death?

3. 	State one problem with interpretation of the whole chapter (you might want to refer to lesson 23).

4. 	Does Paul state “how” the resurrection will take place or “that” the resurrection will take place?

5. 	How many people did Paul say would be involved in the changes to take place when Jesus comes again?

6. 	Did the O.T. prophesy about death’s defeat?

7. 	What gives sin its power?

8. 	How did God provide for release from sin’s dominion?

9. 	What practical application did Paul make from the truth of the resurrection?