‘RISEN & RETURNING!
The celebration of Christ’s resurrection should not be contained to a day or a week…
I hope in the Resurrection, there has to be something more than this life…seriously,
There is more, and God wants us to know about it… not too much, big picture stuff
Christ’s Resurrection is a foundational aspect of the Gospel, but so is Christ’s Return!
When He returns it will be very different than how He came the 1st time…very different
This is basically part two of last week, filling out the picture of ‘Resurrection’
1st Corinthians 15:20-34
But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man.
- As Christ’s followers we start from that point and know we follow in resurrection
- Big picture of the fall and redemption in Christ
Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.
- The nature of our humanity is transformed by faith in Christ (belonging = eternity)
- Source of sin is 1st, Source of redemption is 1st to be resurrected
- When He returns, it will be our turn (those ‘In Christ’ defined by Biblical Gospel
After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.
- This say we will be resurrected to see the end
- For more on how this goes see: Revelation / Daniel / Ezekiel / The Gospels
For the Scriptures say, “God has put all things under his authority.” (Of course, when it says “all things are under his authority,” that does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.) Then, when all things are under his authority, the Son will put himself under God’s authority, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere.
- A demonstration of Ultimate Authority & of Ultimate Submission
If the dead will not be raised, what point is there in people being baptized for those who are dead? Why do it unless the dead will someday rise again?
- Bizarre passage…
- It has no clear meaning (very little evidence of anyone, even Pagans doing this)
- Best guess is that he is communicating that resurrection is
And why should we ourselves risk our lives hour by hour? For I swear, dear brothers and sisters, that I face death daily. This is as certain as my pride in what Christ Jesus our Lord has done in you. And what value was there in fighting wild beasts—those people of Ephesus—if there will be no resurrection from the dead?
- Paul is referencing how those following Christ back then were in constant peril
- He references the riot in Ephesus, calling the mob ‘wild beasts’
- He asks the question: What is the point of these risks if there is no resurrection?
And if there is no resurrection, “Let’s feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!” Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.” Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don’t know God at all.
- If the Gospel is not what the Bible says it is why not live however you want?
- Hedonism: Whatever feels good, do it!
- Character is built and displayed in the company you keep.
- If we are not making each day about living for Him, then do we know Him?
The Second Coming:
1st time God displayed His ultimate humility as the lowly Jesus of Nazareth…
When He comes again, it will be as the supreme authority of all creation.
This text answers the question: ‘How are we to live in light of Christ’s Rising & Return?’
In this scripture, God is telling us some of how it goes when Christ returns
We’re encouraged to use this ‘New Life’ Christ gives us for God’s glory, not waste it
Both we and the Corinthians need to be reminded of what we are were supposed to do with our lives now that we have surrendered them to Christ.
We declare that we truly know Christ living by desiring His authority in our daily lives.
That means using our time to love and serve and help and counsel and share
It means we live for others as much as we can, in balance and health.
It means we take some risks to do what God calls us to in ministry and service.
It means we spend less time serving our needs & more time serving needs of others.
Application Questions:
Where does your belief in Christ’s second coming play into lifestyle choices you make?
Is Christ’s complete authority only exercised in His second coming?
How do you place yourself under Christ’s authority in terms of your time & resources?
How might you steward the ‘Resurrection Life’ given by God