I Corinthians 15:50-58: "Death is Conquered"
Paul has brought his readers through the most incredible event in the history of the world. He has done a masterful job, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to help us be confident of the very fact that not only did Christ raise from the dead to conquer sin, but that believers will be resurrected into glorified bodies as well. Paul has given evidence for Christ's resurrection in (vv.1-11), he has shown us how if we are Christians we cannot deny the bodily resurrection (vv.12-19), he has shown us God's plan for the resurrection (vv.20-28), he has also given us the incentives that we as believers get to be a part of because of the resurrection (vv.35-49), and now in this section he will, "proclaim the marvelous victory that resurrection will bring for those who are Christ's", according to MacArthur. This section will help motivate us to continue to strive for holiness and the furthering of Christ's gospel as we will be reminded of what the end result of resurrection is for us.
Paul begins, "Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God". Paul quickly reminds us again, that we must undergo a transformation in order to be present with God in heaven. Much like fish would not be able to live on land, our earthly bodies must be transformed in order for us to live in heaven with God. MacArthur explains, "The kingdom of God is not used here either in its universal sense, referring to God's ruling the universe, or in its spiritual sense, referring to his ruling in the human heart, but in its consummate sense, embodying both and referring to the eternal state, to heaven". Paul is making it clear that we must believe in our own bodily resurrection and transformation from old body to heavenly body as he reiterates, "nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable". Our earthly bodies are temporal and are made to endure this temporal world. However, when we are to enter heaven we must be given our new imperishable bodies, not "flesh and blood" as we have now.
Paul anticipates a question from his readers as to what will happen to those who do not die. What about those who are still alive when Christ returns? Paul writes, "Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye". Here Paul wants to illuminate something that had previously been a mystery (or not revealed) explains that those who are still living (not asleep), will immediately be ushered into the kingdom with their new "changed" bodies. They will not have to undergo death to receive their new bodies, but rather, instantaneously they will be transformed. "In a moment" and "in the twinkling of eye", gives the reader the sense that it is an immediate transformation. Paul continues to explain that this will happen "at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable". This trumpet will sound to usher out the church age and usher in all believers into heaven. "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall raise first. Then who are alive and remains shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord", according to I Thess. 4:16-17. When this occurs, Paul once again reminds us that our once perishable and mortal bodies will now be made into imperishable, immortal bodies. "For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality".
Paul really wants to reinforce the fact that our bodies must be changed and transformed, just as Christ's was before he returned to heaven, as he reiterates, "But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, 'Death is swallowed up in victory'". Isaiah predicted this very thing in Isa. 25:8, "He will swallow up death for all time". What an amazing thought to think about. Death will no longer have any part of our new lives. Think of how often we think of death. We may not realize but death has emblazoned itself on our minds in everything we do. Think of all the things we are too fearful to do or partake in because of death. Think of all the safety precautions and product that are created to help thwart death. God is the only cure for death, He is the only one who can abolish deaths affects forever, and He promises to do so when He returns. Paul quotes form another prophet, "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" (Hos. 13:14). Death was not even a part of life until sin entered the world. The moment sin entered the world, death reigned and promised to visit each one of us. Believers have been given the victory over death. We have to undergo death (unless Christ returns), however, death only ushers us into the presence of the Lord, no longer to face it ever again. MacArthur writes, "Only where there is sin can death deal a fatal blow. Where sin has been removed death can only interrupt the earthly life and usher in the heavenly. That is what Christ has done for those who trust in Him". What an amazing thought, we must only look to those who do not have Christ to understand the power of death. For those not covered by the blood of Christ their death is eternal, ushering them into an eternal torment. However, as we hope and put our trust in the Lord, He took the sting of death, He forever took the victory away from death and put it into the hands of His children.
Paul explains, "the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law". For those lost in their sins with no forgiveness there is the eternal sting of death, because their are still in their sins. When God gave us the law, He showed us what sin was. As soon as we had been given His law we had no excuse. MacArthur writes, "God's law reveals God's standards, and when they are broken they reveal man's sin. If there were no law, obviously there could be no transgression".
However, because of Christ and His atoning work on the cross for us, we have the victory over death. Paul writes, "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ". Because Christ became man, perfectly obeyed God's Law, became the perfect sacrifice on the cross, He propitiated God's wrath that was meant for us, and for those who believe imputed His righteousness and blotted out our sins. How much should we give thanks to Him who took all of that on ourselves. He raised from the dead to conquer death that we would live eternally with Him. MacArthur points out, "For Christians death has no more power (Heb 2:14-15), because God has taken away our sin. For Christians death is but the passing of our spirits from this life to the next, the leaving of earth and going to be with Christ. Paul had only one reason for wanting to remain on earth: to continue ministry for Christ on behalf of others. But for his own benefit and joy he had but one desire: 'to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better' (Phil. 1:23-24)". Let us have the same desire as Paul reminds of all Christ has done and the benefits we receive because of it.
Lastly, Paul concludes this incredible chapter in his letter, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord". Paul was always good to remind his readers to action. Paul here is telling us that because of all that I have explained that Christ has done for us, because of the immeasurable reward we receive in eternity with Christ, he tells us to persevere, to be "steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord". What's the least we can do for a God who has saved our souls. MacArthur writes, "If we really believe and if we are truly thankful that our resurrection is sure, that we will be transformed from the perishable, dishonorable, weak, natural, mortal and earthy to the imperishable, glorious, powerful, spiritual, immortal, and heavenly- we should therefore prove our assurance and thankfulness by being, steadfast, immovable [negative] and always abounding [positive] in the work of the Lord". We should constantly remind ourselves of who we are in Christ and be infectious with our words and actions. May we constantly focus our time and attention on the "work of the Lord". May we be devoted to ministry and discipleship, knowing that in the end God will use all of it for His glory and our toil will not be in vain.
Paul begins, "Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God". Paul quickly reminds us again, that we must undergo a transformation in order to be present with God in heaven. Much like fish would not be able to live on land, our earthly bodies must be transformed in order for us to live in heaven with God. MacArthur explains, "The kingdom of God is not used here either in its universal sense, referring to God's ruling the universe, or in its spiritual sense, referring to his ruling in the human heart, but in its consummate sense, embodying both and referring to the eternal state, to heaven". Paul is making it clear that we must believe in our own bodily resurrection and transformation from old body to heavenly body as he reiterates, "nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable". Our earthly bodies are temporal and are made to endure this temporal world. However, when we are to enter heaven we must be given our new imperishable bodies, not "flesh and blood" as we have now.
Paul anticipates a question from his readers as to what will happen to those who do not die. What about those who are still alive when Christ returns? Paul writes, "Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye". Here Paul wants to illuminate something that had previously been a mystery (or not revealed) explains that those who are still living (not asleep), will immediately be ushered into the kingdom with their new "changed" bodies. They will not have to undergo death to receive their new bodies, but rather, instantaneously they will be transformed. "In a moment" and "in the twinkling of eye", gives the reader the sense that it is an immediate transformation. Paul continues to explain that this will happen "at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable". This trumpet will sound to usher out the church age and usher in all believers into heaven. "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall raise first. Then who are alive and remains shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord", according to I Thess. 4:16-17. When this occurs, Paul once again reminds us that our once perishable and mortal bodies will now be made into imperishable, immortal bodies. "For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality".
Paul really wants to reinforce the fact that our bodies must be changed and transformed, just as Christ's was before he returned to heaven, as he reiterates, "But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, 'Death is swallowed up in victory'". Isaiah predicted this very thing in Isa. 25:8, "He will swallow up death for all time". What an amazing thought to think about. Death will no longer have any part of our new lives. Think of how often we think of death. We may not realize but death has emblazoned itself on our minds in everything we do. Think of all the things we are too fearful to do or partake in because of death. Think of all the safety precautions and product that are created to help thwart death. God is the only cure for death, He is the only one who can abolish deaths affects forever, and He promises to do so when He returns. Paul quotes form another prophet, "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" (Hos. 13:14). Death was not even a part of life until sin entered the world. The moment sin entered the world, death reigned and promised to visit each one of us. Believers have been given the victory over death. We have to undergo death (unless Christ returns), however, death only ushers us into the presence of the Lord, no longer to face it ever again. MacArthur writes, "Only where there is sin can death deal a fatal blow. Where sin has been removed death can only interrupt the earthly life and usher in the heavenly. That is what Christ has done for those who trust in Him". What an amazing thought, we must only look to those who do not have Christ to understand the power of death. For those not covered by the blood of Christ their death is eternal, ushering them into an eternal torment. However, as we hope and put our trust in the Lord, He took the sting of death, He forever took the victory away from death and put it into the hands of His children.
Paul explains, "the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law". For those lost in their sins with no forgiveness there is the eternal sting of death, because their are still in their sins. When God gave us the law, He showed us what sin was. As soon as we had been given His law we had no excuse. MacArthur writes, "God's law reveals God's standards, and when they are broken they reveal man's sin. If there were no law, obviously there could be no transgression".
However, because of Christ and His atoning work on the cross for us, we have the victory over death. Paul writes, "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ". Because Christ became man, perfectly obeyed God's Law, became the perfect sacrifice on the cross, He propitiated God's wrath that was meant for us, and for those who believe imputed His righteousness and blotted out our sins. How much should we give thanks to Him who took all of that on ourselves. He raised from the dead to conquer death that we would live eternally with Him. MacArthur points out, "For Christians death has no more power (Heb 2:14-15), because God has taken away our sin. For Christians death is but the passing of our spirits from this life to the next, the leaving of earth and going to be with Christ. Paul had only one reason for wanting to remain on earth: to continue ministry for Christ on behalf of others. But for his own benefit and joy he had but one desire: 'to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better' (Phil. 1:23-24)". Let us have the same desire as Paul reminds of all Christ has done and the benefits we receive because of it.
Lastly, Paul concludes this incredible chapter in his letter, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord". Paul was always good to remind his readers to action. Paul here is telling us that because of all that I have explained that Christ has done for us, because of the immeasurable reward we receive in eternity with Christ, he tells us to persevere, to be "steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord". What's the least we can do for a God who has saved our souls. MacArthur writes, "If we really believe and if we are truly thankful that our resurrection is sure, that we will be transformed from the perishable, dishonorable, weak, natural, mortal and earthy to the imperishable, glorious, powerful, spiritual, immortal, and heavenly- we should therefore prove our assurance and thankfulness by being, steadfast, immovable [negative] and always abounding [positive] in the work of the Lord". We should constantly remind ourselves of who we are in Christ and be infectious with our words and actions. May we constantly focus our time and attention on the "work of the Lord". May we be devoted to ministry and discipleship, knowing that in the end God will use all of it for His glory and our toil will not be in vain.
posted by amesfam | 9:41 AM
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