The Resurrection of the Dead (Or: A Study of 1 Corthinthians 15, called "the resurrection chapter") Jesus is the first to have been risen from the dead, nobody has risen before Him. Not to heaven (John 3:13) or anywhere else. We all remain dead, or asleep until Jesus returns at the earliest. 1 Corinthians 15:20 (NIV) But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. The dead are reussurrected when Jesus returns "when he comes", those who belong to Him first. 1 Corinthians 15:22-23 (NIV) For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Jesus is the son of God the Father. Jesus is not the Father, but they are separate beings as this verse clearly indicates. The Father is not subject to the Son, but the Son, Jesus, is subject to the Father, and always has been. 1 Corinthians 15:27-28 (NIV) 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. Note that the physical body is perishable, or can die and decay. But the spiritual body is imperishable and cannot die. We will be resurrected with a spirit body. 1 Corinthians 15:42&44 (NIV) So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. We will bear the same image as Christ, an eternal spirit body. 1 Corinthians 15:49 (NIV) And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man. Fleshly, physical bodies cannot inherit the kingdom of God, we must be spirit beings first, and only the dead in Christ are raised with a spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:50 (NIV) I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. We will not all sleep, or die, but we will all be changed from perishable (flesh) to imperishable (spirit). The reason why we will not all die is because some will still be alive when Christ returns, and they will be changed to spirit at that time and will not experience death or "sleep" (most of us will of course). This will happen in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, instantaneously. And it will happen "at the last trump" which is the final trumpet blast at the END of the tribulation (not at the start) when Jesus returns. Verse 53 reiterates the fact that we must clothe ourselves with an imperishable, immortal body, ie; spirit body. 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 (NIV) Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. "Grace only, no works"? Clearly we are to work and labourr in the Lord. I agree that it is God's grace that saves us, but this does not eliminate the need to continue to do good works and obey God's commandments. The two concepts are not mutually exclusive, but live in harmony together. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV) Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain. This is a chapter that many ministers who believe in the truth as it is stated in God's word preach from at funerals. It gives the truth about death and gives us hope in Christ for a resurrection in the future to eternal life.

No amount of emergency food, special tools, livestock, ammo, or earthly survival skills - without Him - will help us stand as this day unfolds. TiborasaurusRex Chapter 14 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. 6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. 14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. 17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

James 1:17-18 17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

Proverbs 3:9-10 9. Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10. So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

4 JANUARY (PREACHED 5 JANUARY 1868) Creation’s groans and the saints’ sighs ‘We know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.’ Romans 8:22–23 SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: 2 Corinthians 5:1–10 The other night, just before Christmas, two men who were working very late, were groaning in two very different ways, one of them saying, ‘Ah, there’s a poor Christmas day in store for me; my house is full of misery.’ He had been a drunkard, a spendthrift, and had not a penny to bless himself with, and his house had become a little hell; he was groaning at the thought of going home to such a scene of quarrelling and distress. Now, his fellow workman, who worked beside him, as it was getting very late, wished himself at home, and therefore groaned. A shopmate asked, ‘What’s the matter?’ ‘Oh, I want to get home to my dear wife and children. I have such a happy house; I do not like to be out of it.’ The other might have said, ‘Ah, you pretend to be a happy man, but here you are groaning.’ ‘Yes,’ he could say, ‘and a blessed thing it would be for you if you had the same thing to groan after that I have.’ So the Christian has a good Father, a blessed, eternal home, and groans to get to it; but there is more joy even in the groan of a Christian after heaven, than in all the mirth, merriment, dancing and lewdness of the ungodly when their mirth is at its greatest height. We are like the dove that flutters and is weary, but, thank God, we have an ark to go to. We are like Israel in the wilderness and are footsore, but, blessed be God, we are on the way to Canaan. We are like Jacob looking at the wagons and, the more we look at the wagons, the more we long to see Joseph’s face; but our groaning after Jesus is a blessed groan, for ‘’Tis heaven on earth, ’tis heaven above, To see his face, and taste his love.’ FOR MEDITATION: The Christian groans in anticipation of a groan-free future in heaven, that totally groan-free zone (Revelation 21:3–4); the unbeliever ought to groan in expectation of a future full of groaning in the most user-unfriendly hell imaginable (Matthew 13:41–42, 49–50). C. H. Spurgeon and Terence Peter Crosby, 365 Days with Spurgeon (Volume 3), (Leominster, UK: Day One Publications, 2005), 11.

How should a Christian live? James 1:2–27 (ESV) 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. 12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Hearing and Doing the Word 19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

1 Corinthians 15:12–28 (ESV) The Resurrection of the Dead 12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 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 futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits 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 firstfruits, 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,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

The ancient nations of Israel and Judah are not what is important to us when we read this, nor are the names of the many long gone enemies of them, but think of America, once such a land of promise founded upon Christian principles, think of what it now is. Now read this timeless passage of scripture. Jeremiah 2:1–37 (ESV) Israel Forsakes the LORD 1 The word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the LORD, “I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. 3  Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of his harvest. All who ate of it incurred guilt; disaster came upon them, declares the LORD.” 4 Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the clans of the house of Israel. 5 Thus says the LORD: “What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless? 6  They did not say, ‘Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us in the wilderness, in a land of deserts and pits, in a land of drought and deep darkness, in a land that none passes through, where no man dwells?’ 7  And I brought you into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruits and its good things. But when you came in, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination. 8  The priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?’ Those who handle the law did not know me; the shepherds transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and went after things that do not profit. 9  “Therefore I still contend with you, declares the LORD, and with your children’s children I will contend. 10  For cross to the coasts of Cyprus and see, or send to Kedar and examine with care; see if there has been such a thing. 11  Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. 12  Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, 13  for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. 14  “Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant? Why then has he become a prey? 15  The lions have roared against him; they have roared loudly. They have made his land a waste; his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant. 16  Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head. 17  Have you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the LORD your God, when he led you in the way? 18  And now what do you gain by going to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? Or what do you gain by going to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates? 19  Your evil will chastise you, and your apostasy will reprove you. Know and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the LORD your God; the fear of me is not in you, declares the Lord GOD of hosts.