Thursday: The Last Enemy
Evidently some in the church at Corinth were confused about the resurrection. Paul carefully explains its importance as a key element of the gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-4). It seems there is some concern about the believers who have died (1 Cor. 15:6), and some are suggesting that those who have died would miss out on Jesus’ return (1 Cor. 15:12). This is similar to the situation in Thessalonica (1 Thess. 4:13-17).
Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-18. What is the implication of denying the resurrection of the dead?
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Paul concludes his argument by saying that “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable” (1 Cor. 15:19, NKJV). To the contrary, Christ has indeed risen and has become “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor. 15:20, NKJV).
Then Paul compares Christ with Adam: “as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive” (1 Cor. 15: 22, NKJV) and specifies when that general resurrection will be: “at His coming” (1 Cor. 15:23, NKJV). Later in the chapter he continues with the comparison of the two “Adams” (1 Cor. 15:45-49). The first man was made from the dust, but the heavenly Man is from heaven, and so one day He will change us. What this means is explained in a description of what happens at the Second Coming-“the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Cor. 15:52-53, NKJV).
Although Adam was at first made to live forever, the human race soon deteriorated to the point of living only for a relatively short time. If we are to inherit eternal life, we will be made to last forever, and that’s what we will be given.
Read 1 Corinthians 15:23-26. Though we are immersed in the great controversy now, and though death and evil and unholy forces seem to dominate the world, what do these verses tell us about how the great controversy ends? How can we learn to look beyond what we see and grasp what these promises mean for each one of us, personally?
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To be Born, Dead, Buried, Risen and Ascended, are all present with God, He Lives not by Time, as we do- A Thousand years to him are but as the day that is past. And again," One Day is as a Thousand Years" ( 2 Peter 3:8). Eternity, which is God himself, Admitted of no First, Second, Third; All things are Naked and Bare before Him, and Present with Him" ( Hebrews 4:13; Isaiah 46:9-10). All His live unto Him, There shall be a Resurrection of the Dead, Both of the Just and Unjust. ( Romans 8:26-34 ). AMEN!
Allelulia Allelulia Allelulia
Praise the Lord we will be changed may this hope be a constant in our lives that one day soon Jesus will come.How I long to see my savior
The denial of the teaching of the resurrection places all of scripture into question. The covenant was given to people who have all died, save two, and without the hope of being resurrected the promises are empty. This implies God is unfaithful and casts doubt on the whole Bible as Divinely inspired.
So what makes each believer have faith in these promises? What evidence has God provided for the believer that removes all doubt? What brings hope when empirical evidence seems lacking to those living today? Why do so many in the field of science deny the possibility of there being a God as described by the Bible?
We can argue "it's true!", but based on what; our pastor's belief? Someone's 2000 year-old testimony, someone who themselves is dead?
What makes your belief in the scriptures unshakable?
Robert, The answers to your questions are reliable from our understanding of at least one belief. That of Hebrews 11:1. Faith is the substance, whether we believe, or disbelieve. Scientist will claim that faith has no place, but many will prove or attempt to prove, by using infinite time, that the theory is factual. We have many evidences. Some strong, others questionable at times. We are all created differently, and God allows us to form what ever opinion of choice we choose.
Paul, does God expect our faith to be based on nothing? Some call this "blind faith". Can true faith be blind, without any evidence for it? Can we expect someone who has come to believe there can be no God to exercise faith in this non-existent God?
So where does faith come from and in what does it take hold of? What is the evidence which allows faith to exist?
If evidence exists there is no need of faith, my friend. But you believe otherwise. When Jesus asked the Pool of Siloam lame if he wished to get well, he said he had no one to put him in the pool... Jesus said to him "Get up, pick up your pallet and walk." Did his atrophied muscles suddenly grow? Was there some twitching that propel him up? For 38 years he couldn't get up and nothing changed when Christ, whom he did not know, commanded him to get up.( I shouldn't have to go to this length...) But he exerted effort to stand, without any evidence that it could be accomplished, and he stood and walked, because of the faith he received from the word of Christ. Where there is evidence there is no need of faith. Check the thief on the cross, the woman with the issue of blood, and every other miracle performed in Scripture, including Salvation.
Kenny, are you suggesting the lame man presumed? Or was he planning to demonstrate to Jesus what an absurd command He gave to a man lame for 38 years? Do you not know how Jesus spoke always with an authority that others could not deny? This is what perfect faith does to our speech. How else did He drive out all the crooks from the temple by Himself clad in the garment of a poor nobody? This lame man was inspired to faith and yes, given a measure of faith through the very command given with no pretense, but with utmost encouragement and compassion.
We can only read the words, but don't those words fill in the missing details if we meditate on them even for a moment prayerfully?
This inspired quote seems to agree with your comments, Kenny.
According to this inspired quote, our faith must rest on evidence, not on demonstration (that is, not on positive proof). Sometimes I hear people say that there is no evidence for something, when in fact only proof positive is lacking.
R.G., that's one of the quotes I had in mind when I made my first comment on the need of basing our faith on evidence, since "blind faith" is nothing less than presumption. As it is written, faith is "...the evidence of things not seen".
I was hoping others would share the evidence that gives them faith in what has been promised. For all, one evidence should be the mercy they have received from God and the "right spirit" He has renewed in all who pray for that in faith. Also the transformation we might witness in one who was far from God at one point. One of the greatest evidences is prophecy and it's precise fulfillment which leads us to have confidence in that which is yet to come. One evidence that I have come to understand more is summed up by the psalmist: "The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul". Once we see this, we realize how real and infinite in wisdom God is. If all would follow this law, the world would be heaven. It's possible through faith in the exceeding great and precious promises, though few will exercise such faith as Jesus demonstrated for us to follow.
What do these verses tell us about how the great controversy ends?
-- 1 Cor 15:22, 23 . . . so also in Christ all will be made alive but each in his own order. . .
When people tend a garden by hand, instead of huge machines, they tend to pick the 'fruit' in order of ripeness and leave the rest to ripen naturally. Fruit that is picked first is processed for eating first (i.e. washed, cooked, frozen, etc.)
Those who have died in Christ are done fighting the great controversy -- they ripened first and will be processed first. Those who are alive in The End are still fighting and may get to see the wonder of God's glory and promises, though quickly, before they're processed for life.
-- 1 Cor 15:23-27 . . . the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father . . . for He must reign until he has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy . . . is death.
I wonder if this doesn't reference the 1000 years of reign in heaven. The books are opened to the saints and God answers their questions re: who, why and where. I'm wondering if the governing cannot be set aside 'til all the tears are wiped away (Rev 21:4). A 'government' of full exposure.
We know that death is not truely conquered 'til the second death is accomplished. After which, Christ's duties toward the lost are done.
As the Apostle Paul alludes in (1 Cor.15:12-18), the whole point to our religion is the fact that Christ has risen from the dead and now holds the key of death and the grave. That makes it possible for those of us who fall asleep believing this truth and claiming God's promises found in (1 Thess. 4:13-17)to have this hope that we also will be made alive again at the sound of the first trumpet, when Jesus bursts through the eastern sky.
Without this hope, for me, it really doesn't even make sense that I was born if I am merely existing in this world and then die - end of story. God's word says it and I believe it, and that settles it for me. In view of this promise I must therefore, order my life daily, so that if He sees fit for me to sleep before the return of Jesus our Lord, I will be ready to respond to the sound of the first trump when He calls His children up from the dust.
The sobering reality for me is that once that final breath of air expires, THAT IS IT for there is no repentance in the grave. I am hopeful like you, that Jesus will come soon but we all have a ask that He assigned us in (Matt. 24:14). I am kind of tired of going to funerals and watching people grieve for the loss of loved ones and experiencing that grief myself. I look forward with great anticipation to the time when death, the last enemy will be destroyed (1 Cor 15:26).
I have heard of a land
On that far away strand
'tis the beautiful home of the soul
Built by Jesus on high
Where we never shall die
In a land where we'll never grow old.
Never grow old, never grow old
In a land where we'll never grow old
Never grow old, never grow old
In a land where we'll never grow old
“…by one man sin entered into the world, and death [entered] by sin; and so death passed upon all men, because all have sinned” (Rom 5:12)
“All have sinned”, and for that reason death passes upon EVERY child of Adam that is born into the world.
But how far should we take this?
Death passes upon all. Death passed upon Enoch, and it passed upon Elijah too… because “all”, including those two men, sinned.
But it is clear I think, that at some point, death passed “OFF” of them, because of course they did not die. Did God show favoritism to Enoch and Elijah? (Despite His assurances that He does not do that kind of thing?) Or did these two come to a point of maturity, a certain “fullness” of stature, that gave God room to translate them, so that they did not need to experience death?
In my view, the latter concept is the real reason -- they reached the fullness of stature that was needed.
“Enoch and Elijah are the correct representatives of what the race might be through faith in Jesus Christ if they chose to be. Satan was greatly disturbed because these noble, holy men stood untainted amid the moral pollution surrounding them, perfected righteous characters, and were accounted worthy for translation to heaven.” (3Selected Messages p.146)