98
THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NES S
APRIL'S, 1944 CHRIST’S VICTORY OVER DEATH M ark 16:1-8; 1 C orinthians 15 (Easter Lesson)
able, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (v. 58). They are not asked to abound in work for the Lord; such service inevitably brings disap pointment, discouragement, and heart ache. But abounding in the work of the Lord brings satisfying results, be cause it “is not in vain in the Lord.” When it is the work of the Lord—that is, the work He Himself ' is doing— and for His glory'alone, it is never “in vain.” It may seem to be. Once Paul wrote that possibly his work with the Thessalonians had been “ in vain,” meaning that it seemed of little value to them. Always he was caused to tri umph in Christ, because he labored always in the work of the Lord (cf. 1 Thess. 3:5; 2 Cor. 2:14-17). * Points and Problems 1. "It is sown . . . sown . . , sown . . sown" (1 Cor. 15:42-44). This in real ity is what it means when the body of some loved one in Christ is laid in the grave. The body is sown, not buried. We merely plant the body in the soil of the earth in anticipation of a glori ous resurrection. 2. "As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly" (v. 49). Our bodies now bear the likeness of our fatjier, Adam. However, in 1 John 3:2 we learn that in the day of the resur rection “we shall be like h?m; for we shall see him as he is.” This does not mean that we are all to be like Christ in the sense that we shall all be iden tically the. same in appearance, no more than it teaches that we all look just like Adam because we bear his image. However, in the midst of in finite and appealing variety of ap pearance among God’s children, there will be likeness to Christ in the in corruption, glory, power, and spiritual nature of our bodies (cf. vs. 42-44). (3. "We shall not all sleep" (v. 51). Death spoken of as “sleep” in the Scripture does not refer to the soul, but only to the body. When the be liever comes to the experience called death, his body is put to sleep for a little while until Jesus comes to raise it in power and glory. But as far as the soul and spirit are concerned, they live on in the presence of the Lord. The
There is an earthly body, such as was possessed by the first Adam, who became a living soul, and there is a heavenly body such as is ’ possessed by our risen Lord, who is the quicken ing spirit; giving life to all whom He chooses (cf. John 5:21). The earthly ¡s' first, and afterward the spiritual; the first is of the earth, and the second is of heaven. As we have borne the image of the earthly, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly. The one is as certain as the other. II. T he N ew H ope (51-54) In Scripture, a mystery is something that can be understood only by divine revelation. It is something beyond man’s reason or imagination to dis cover. The "Toly Spirit here "gives to us a revelation concerning the fact' that all believers will _not pass through death (vs. 51, 52). But, while all will not “sleep” (the New Testament word for the death of believers), all will be changed, and each one will be given a glorious body like that of the risen Lord. This change will come to all the saints, or believers, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” This Scripture nullifies the idea that only a portion of the church will be caught away to be with Christ when the trumpet is sounded. The only qualifi cation for one’s being caught away when the Lord com°s is one’s personal acceptance of the death of Jesus Christ upon the cross. The chanfge is certain to occur. “This corruptible [that is, the bodies of be lievers sown in the grave] must put on incorruption and this mortal [the bodies of saints living upon the earth] must put on immortality.” It is for the redemption of the body that be lievers — both living and dead — are now waiting (cf. Rom. 8:23). When'this change takes place, the prophecy (Hos. 13:14) will be fulfilled, and death will be swallowed up in victory. III. T he N ew A ssurance (55-58) So sure is this new hope that even now believers can utter the glad cry of triumph, the triumph of Easter morning, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (v. 55). In the atoning work of Christ, sin has been removed forever, and the law has been vindicated. The com pleteness of the victory is certain to be manifested in the physical, bodily resurrection of all believing in Him. The result is that believers are called upon to be “steadfast, unmov
1 Corinthians 15:41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon» and another glory of the stars; for one star dif- fereth from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in irt- corruption: 43 it Is sown in dishonor, It is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness, it is raided in power: 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it Is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of , the heavenly. 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth, corruption Inherit Incor ruption. 51 Behold, I show 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 trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put On in* corruption, and this mortal must put on Immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on Incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall, be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding In the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. LESSO N T E X T : 1 Cor. 15:41-58. GO LD EN T E X T : “ But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1o:57). D EV O TIO N A L R EA D IN G : Psa. 73:23-28. Outline and Exposition I. T he N ew B ody (41-50) T HE DEATH and burial of the tion; it will be raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, to be raised in glory; in weakness, to be raised in power. It is sown a natural body, to be raised a spiritual body. This spiritual body is like the one in which our Lord rose from among the dead— a body of flesh anr bones, but without blood (cf. Lk. 24:36-43). The bodies of believers are to be transformed, to be like the Lord’s risen and glorious body (cf. PhiL 3:20, 21).
physical body of one who has “fallen asleep in Christ” (v. 18) is as seed sown. It is sown in corrup
BLACKBOARD LESSON
f
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker