Download the UBF brochure here
Weekly Message | March 22nd, 2009
Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:12-34
Key Verse(s): 22
The Bible is full of God’s truth. This truth presents us the reality of this world with solid hope. The key verse contrasts two realities—death in Adam and life in Christ. How different are these two! Too often this world display quite different realities. During Spring Break I was in Moscow, Russia. There the sky was grey and dark. I wondered if this weather pattern (e.g., only 40 days a year shows bright suns in Moscow) motivates Russian Christians to think about resurrection more. Anyway, here in Toledo the sky is blue and high. The sun shines with its bright and powerful light. With joy we consider the resurrection of Jesus Christ that is at the heart and center of the good news.
First, "If Christ has not been raised…”(12-19). Here, Paul is speaking to Christians in the form of questions and answers. He certainly wrestled for the answers of these questions countless times over the years. Look at verse 12. "But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?" Many Corinthians put their cultural belief beyond God’s truths. They believed that spirit is good but matter was evil and corrupt. Therefore, they denied that God came into the world in the form of a man (i.e., Jesus’ coming into the world). They also denied that Jesus was raised from the dead (i.e., Jesus’ bodily resurrection).
Then, what is the resurrection? According to John W. Stott, Christ’s resurrection is not merely surviving legacy of Jesus in history. The resurrection is not a mere resuscitation. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, which was nothing but an example of resuscitation. The resurrection is a transformation from death to immortality. The resurrection is passing from death to life—forever. Our resurrection is both about our body and spirit. Yet, some of Corinthian Christians treated Jesus’ resurrection with ignorance and even contempt. Christ’s resurrection demonstrates that our mortal bodies will be transformed into eternal and glorious bodies.
Look at verses 13 and 14:"If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith." Here, Paul speaks about the natural consequences of denying Jesus’ resurrection. In this world that denies the resurrection of Jesus Christ all the preaching would become useless and Christian faith is empty. Christian faith is not primarily making people happy and productive in this world; rather Christian faith is to prepare people for their eternal as well as present reality. If Christian messages are constrained only to this world, they are no more than thinly disguised words of despair. Why? In the end we all die with nothing.
Look at verse 15-18: "More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost." Had Jesus Christ not been raised from the dead, all Christian testimonies are false and misleading. Had Jesus Christ not conquered the power of sin and death, we are still under the power of sin. "Those who have fallen asleep" refers to the faithful servants of God down through history who put their faith in God and his promises of the coming Savior of the world--Jesus.
Look at verse 19:"If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men." Christian life is not only hope for this life. Such life is to be pitied more than all people. Why is it so? Christian life is by nature is to live for Christ and for the gospel. Christian life is meant to be for Christ and his kingdom. Jesus said, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it….If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels”(Mk 8:35-38). Yesterday Dr. Samuel A. Lee and a few young leaders from Urbana-Champaign shortly visited Toledo. He said, “Life of mission is not stress free. It is hard and very challenging”. Even so, he does it. Why? Christians make confession of faith in Christ Jesus. Christian life is to trust Christ and live for Christ. In different parts of the world my message is simple. It is not merely about how to be better managers in this world. It is about living for Jesus and for the gospel.
Living for Christ and his kingdom can be quite costly. Read what Apostle Paul describes his life in Christ Jesus in his times: “For it seems to me that God has put us apostle on display at the end of the procession like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. We are fools for Christ…! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, and we are homeless….Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the earth”(1Cor 4:9-13). Why would someone choose to live such poor, hungry, thirsty and hard life? Even now, some Christians in other parts of the world endure such life because they belong to Christ. Christian life without resurrection hope is most pitiful because their devotion and sacrifices would be in vain. However, with the resurrection hope our labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Second, “In Christ all will be made alive”(20-28). Here is the victorious proclamation of God’s truth. It is the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Look at verse 20. "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." Paul strongly affirms that Christ has indeed risen from the dead. The first sheaf of the harvest given to the Lord is a token that all the harvest would be dedicated to God (Lev 23:10, 11, 17, 20). Spring has come. I do not doubt about the coming warm weather everywhere. I saw the sign in my frontyard—the grass is becoming green again. Similarly, Christ, who has been raised, is the sign (i.e., evidence) of the resurrection of all God's people (1Th 4:13-18).
Look at verse 21. "For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man”. People seem so different in appearance and the culture of nations so diverse, in reality they are the same. Death came through Adam. The resurrection of the dead also comes through another man, Jesus Christ.
So Paul said in verse 22, "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." Since Adam, there have been countless kings and heroes who demonstrated their power and glory. But before the power of death all of them were speechless and humbly knelt down without exception. Death has in it a sting. We receive many injuries and wounds both in body and spirit by the sting of death. Death is not the subject of very old people. The shadow of death affects everyone.
Last year 2.4 million American people died. Daily more than 6,700 people die in this country—even today. We live in this world as if death does not exist. However, sudden deaths of the loved ones remind us of this reality. Dr. Samuel Lee said, “Taking a nice swim in a calm and warm sea is very refreshing. But swimming day and night in the cold and dark sea of death is unbearable punishment.” If Jesus Christ has not been raised, then the world is full of dead things and elements of death. One time, DL Moody said, “Some day you will hear that Moody died. Don’t believe it. He never dies. He lives forever.”
Verse 24 states, “Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.” Originally, there was one kingdom--the kingdom of God. But because of Adam's disobedience, another kingdom came into the world--the kingdom of Satan. This Satan has been roaming around, capturing all people and locking them in the dungeon of his kingdom. But when God raised Jesus Christ from the dead, Jesus destroys all dominion, authority and power that opposes God and put people in bondage. This is Christian vision of the end. In the right time, the risen Christ makes everything new--the new haven and the earth. We will share his glory.
Then, what does Jesus do now? Look at verses 25 and 28: “25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27For he "has put everything under his feet."[a] 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. 28When 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” The risen Jesus reigns. Jesus is waiting for the moment when all things become new and right. Jesus will destroy the last enemy death. Until then Jesus sits on the throne of God. In the Apostles Creed we affirm, “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.” After this one sentence about God, the majority is about Jesus Christ. “And in Jesus Christ, His One and Only Son, our Lord…the third day He rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty…” Christ reigns. He rules the world. The presence of power, dominion and authority that defies the rule of Christ does not deny the supremacy of Christ Jesus now. What do Christians believe? The end will be fine. This end with Christ is victorious.
This Christian vision of the end has practical implications. A defining Christian practice is the capacity to be resilient, hopeful and faithful at any given moment. Events in this world are real but they are not final. Things are passing—good days and bad days and all the days in between. What remains is Christ. Those who do the will of God live forever. The ultimate final is our life with Christ and his victory that we will share. In view of this ultimate reality of life and victory we have reasons for hope always. Do you know what the words of St. Paul were in times of troubles? “Be joyful always, pray continually and give thanks to God in all circumstances. This is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”(1Thes 5:16-18). In the moment of frustration and disappointment we reflect our attitude toward God and this life. These days I watch myself how to myself when I am experiencing a setback. These days my prayer is, “Lord, may my departing words be those of hope and joy.” I try to practice every day, “Thank you. I have had wonderful life. By the grace of God I am what I am.”
Third, “Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning” (29-34). In Paul’s time people were baptized for the dead. Why? They could not think about the possibility that their loved ones would be in hell alone. Others who were alive received baptism on their behalf. Paul does not speak about the efficacy of such practice. Rather, he challenges people who do such things while in their own words deny the reality of resurrection. In verses 30-32 Paul gives two possibilities of life. Without the hope of resurrection the rational choice of people is pleasure-seeking and doing evil. Without resurrection why is it wrong to do evil and do all we can to entertain ourselves to death? What difference does it make?
Look at verses 33-34:"Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character. Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame'" Bad company corrupts good character. Come back to senses as we ought. Stop sinning and start living. Financial and economic troubles we face have moral implications. This week one Chinese tycoon came here and gave a lecture. He said, “Why is America so gloomy and dark these days? Where is the sense of hope and optimism?” American audience (most of them were business executives) said, “How have Chinese people developed businesses so fast in such socialist system?” He said, “China is becoming more like capitalist system. Why then is USA becoming more like socialist system in which government takes over mover and more?” His final conclusion is his expression of gratitude to the American welcoming spirit that he experienced during his student years. He trusts American resilient spirit that thrives in great adversity.
In this world bad company corrupts our character. We do not join with this pattern of the world. Paul says, “I die everyday.” With the resurrection faith we die to sin and live for God. We die to habitual despair and live for ever growing hope. We die to gloomy view of this world and hold onto the hope of God. Jesus is the resurrection and life. He who believes in him will live even though he dies. Whoever lives and believes in him will never die (Jn 11:25-26). Therefore, in Christ we shake off the despairs in this life and live a life of hope in personal level. In all the hope of God never dies. May the hope of God dwells in your soul. May this hope of God thrive in America and the world. May God help us to be the bearer of this hope of God in this world.
March 22, 2009. Toledo UBF
Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
