March 1931
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on. The apostle referred particularly to his own body. The word “must” points back to th'e principle stated previously (v. 50). Putting on incorruption implies that the same person abides—once clothed with a mortal body, finally clothed with an incorruptible body. Repetition of this idea adds emphasis. Death is swallowed up. Quoted from the Hebrew of Isa. 25:8 (cf. 2 Cor. 5:4). In victory. Or “unto victory” ; so that victory is finally accomplished and established. V. 55. O death, where? Quoted from the Septuagint of Hos. 13:14. The fear of death has vanished (cf. Heb. 2:14, 15), for we “have passed out of death into life” (cf. John 5:24; 1 John 3:14). The Serpent’s “sting” has been robbed of its venom as far as the child of God is con cerned. V. 56. The sting o f death is sin. By sin, death obtained its control over man. The law which provokes fallen man to sin makes him a rebel against the author ity of God. By reason of this rebellion, he merits death (cf. Rom. 3:20; 7:7-13). V. 57. But thanks be unto God. The thought that pardon and peace are freely given to the rebels, and that final over throw of the last enemy is assured (cf. vs. 25, 26), calls forth thanksgiving. Who giveth us the victory. The present tense of the Greek indicates that the Lord is now giving us victory over sin as we ap propriate what He has done for us (cf. 2 Cor. 12:9), and that He will not rest until our victory is complete and final. But it is only through Christ’s atoning death, His present work of intercession, and His future coming in power and glory that we are saved from the guilt, the power, and the presence of sin. III. Practical Application and Exhorta tions (58). Wherefore. Because of the comfort and assurance that comes to the one who understands the full meaning of the resurrection of Christ, he is to go on to practical, useful living. Be ye sted- fast. Become and continue to show your self “stedfast” in faith, unshaken by doubts as to the resurrection or any other vital Christian doctrine, and “unmovable” in times of severe temptation or persecu tion. Always abounding in the work. No laziness, no shirking, no vacations are allowed. It must be work, not talk alone. And it must be “the work of the Lord.” Labor not in vain. Labor is different from work. It denotes toil that is wearisome, and that tends to discouragement because it is so hard and at times so unpromising. But in the light of the resurrection, it is not useless or profitless. This is seed time ; the harvest will come. Therefore, “work and pray till Jesus comes.” * * ♦ A lternative E aster L esson I llustration Out in our western country, in the autumn, when there has not been rain for months, sometimes the prairie grass catches fire. Sometimes, when the wind is strong, the flames may be seen rolling along, twenty feet high, destroying man and beast in their onward rush. When the frontiersmen see what is coming, what do they do to escape? They know they cannot run as fast as that fire can travel. Not the fleetest horse can escape it. They take a match and light the grass around them, and then take their stand
BLACKBOARD LESSON
had believed “in vain.” If their conver sion was unreal, based upon a bit of su perficial thinking and shallow enthusiasm, there was of course no genuine salvation. V. 3. I delivered . . . first of all. That is, first in importance; Paul always made the doctrine of the resurrection the cen tral and essential truth of the gospel. Which I also received. Paul tells the Galatians (1 :12) that he had received the gospel by direct revelation. This does not exclude the idea that he received light from human testimony also, as, for instance, from those who had seen the ris en Christ (cf. 5-7). Christ died for our sins■. The Greek preposition may be read “on account of;’.’ It does not of it self imply a vicarious death, but the con text plainly demands that idea. Accord ing to the scriptures. The vicarious death of Christ had been foretold in many scriptures. New Testament writers fre quently call attention to that fact (cf. Acts 2:25-27 ; 3:35; 13:34, 35; 17:3; 18: 28). God had foreordained and made known through the prophets what would take place; the apostle briefly tells how the prophecies had been fulfilled. V. 4. Buried. The burial of Christ is recorded in each of the four Gospels. All the details—-the linen clothes, the sealed tomb, the Roman guard, etc.—are given in order to make the evidence for a bodi ly resurrection beyond dispute. Hath been raised. The perfect tense in the Greek is used to declare that that which has been done still abides. He has been raised and is still alive. V. 5. Appeared to Cephas. Cephas is an Aramaic word meaning “stone.” The word “Peter” is from the Greek and Latin form of the word. Jesus met Peter on the resurrection day (cf. Lk. 24:34). Paul may have received information from Peter himself concerning this meeting (cf. Gal. 1:18). To the twelve. “The twelve” is an official title. At their first meeting with the risen Christ, only ten disciples were present (cf. John 20:19) ; Thomas and Judas were missing. A week later, Thomas was present (cf. John 20: 26). V. 6. To five hundred brethren. The occasion of this appearance is not known. The importance of the testimony of so great a company, many of whom still lived when Paul wrote, is self-evident. One or two people might possibly be de ceived by their senses or by their over wrought imaginations when under strain, but it is impossible to believe that hun dreds of people could have the same de luding vision or hallucination at the same time. V. 7. To James. Nothing is known of this appearance. It is doubtless James the Lord’s brother who is meant. He had not always believed on Christ (cf. John 7:5), but he was found among the faithful disciples after the ascension (cf. Acts 1:14). To all the apostles. Either the appearance to the eleven, a week after the resurrection (cf. John 20:26), or, more likely, His last manifestation of Himself before the ascension (Acts 1: 1-9). V. 8. To. me also. This occurred at least five years after the ascension. The manner of Paul’s conversion was well known to the Corinthians. II. Victory Over Death (50-57). V. 50. This I say. Paul had answered
PLAN T J E S V 5 IN Y 0 V/R H EA R T. ____________ l-CbH. Apr,s
two possible objections. First, to the questioner who asks how a body that has been dissolved in the grave can be raised, he replies that such dissolution is nec essary in order to set free a new principle of life (v. 36). Next, to the inquirer about the nature of the resurrection body, he answers that it is to be like that of the risen Lord—a spiritual body suited to the new conditions, as the natural (psychical) body is suited to conditions in the life on earth. After meeting these objections, the apostle anticipates another; that is, what will happen to those who are alive when Christ returns. Flesh and blood cannot inherit. Natural bodies, subject to their ordinary limitations, are wholly inadequate and unfit for the new life of the kingdom of God because a corruptible body cannot be wholly subject to.the Spir it of God. V. 51. I tell you a mystery. A mystery is not something that cannot be known, but something beyond the knowledge of the natural man, which can be made, known through revelation. The word is often used by Paul (cf. 2:1, 7; 4:1; 13:2; 14:2). We shall not all sleep. Some of us will die, but some will escape death (cf. 1 Thess. 4:15). We shall all be changed. This is the “mystery” ; the frail, corruptible natural body will, at the coming of Christ, be transformed in to the likeness of His resurrection body (cf. Phil. 3:20, 21; 1 John 3:1-3). V. 52. In a moment. The change from corruption to incorruption will be instan taneous, completej and final. A t the last trump. Trumpets were used to call peo ple to assemblies or to summon soldiers to war. The language here is symbolical, describing the signal to be given simul taneously to the dead in Christ and to the living saints, when Christ returns. The apostle evidently expected to be found among the living at that time. Vs. 53, 54. This corruptible must put
The Coming Easter
May the glad dawn Of Easter morn Bring holy joy to thee! May the calm eve Of Easter leave A peace divine with thee! May Easter day To thine heart say, “Christ died, and rose for thee!" May Easter night On thine heart write , “O Christ, I live to Thee!”
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