From Death to God's Kingdom

Scripture Text

1 Corinthians 15:21-28

Intro: It only takes three chapters from the beginning of the bible to where mankind lost their relationship with God. It only took one act of disobedience to bring God's curse of death on all mankind and all of nature. But in verse 15 of Genesis chapter three, God promises a Savior who would crush the head of the devil. What Adam and Eve lost by their sin, Jesus regained on Calvary's cross by His death, burial, and resurrection.

I. The futility of life without the resurrection of Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 (NKJV) ¹² Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. ¹⁴ And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. ¹⁵ Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up--if in fact the dead do not rise. ¹⁶ For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. ¹⁷ And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! ¹⁸ Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹ If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

a. Some were saying that there is no resurrection of the dead. The Apostle Paul said If no resurrection,our faith is useless, and we are still in our sins. Christ has not risen. If no resurrection, those who have died have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. [v:19]

II. Christ assures life, guarantees the resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:20 (NKJV) ²⁰ But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

 a.  He has risen from the dead and has become the first fruits of the dead(v.20)

 The hypothetical “if” statements in the previous verses acknowledge the certain facts of history. "But now is Christ risen!" Because Christ was raised from the dead, he has become the first of a great harvest of those who will be raised to life again. Christ was the first to be raised to never die again. He is the forerunner for those who believe in him, the proof of their eventual resurrection to eternal life." Christ is not dead; He is not lying as a decayed corpse in the grave. We are not living in hopeless misery. In fact, the very opposite is true. We have the greatest hope in the world, the hope of being resurrected from the dead. And the great guarantee of our resurrection is the resurrection of Jesus Christ Himself. He has risen; therefore, we shall arise. He is the first fruit—the guarantee, the seal, the assurance of our Resurrection. Because He lives we shall also live etrenally!

 b.  He has counteracted what Adam did: Reversed sin and death. 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 (NKJV) ²¹ For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

 Christ has reversed the sin and death of Adam. He did this through His own perfect life, death, and resurrection to eternal life. Adam and Christ are pictured as the two pivotal points of human history. Adam stands as the head of the human race, the first to bring death to man [Gen.3:17-19]. Christ stands as the head of the human race, the first to intervene in the process of death and to arise from the dead. Very simply stated, the sin of Adam brought death into the world, but the Man Jesus Christ brought the resurrection of life to the world. Those who believe in him will be given eternal life in Heaven.

 c. His purpose was fulfilled, having Been the first to arise from the dead. 1 Corinthians 15:23 (NKJV) But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.

Paul wanted to clarify, however, that there is an order to this resurrection. It had not already happened, as perhaps some of the false teachers were claiming. Rather, Christ was raised first. The “harvest” will be taken in when Christ comes back at his second coming. At that time, his people, those who believed in him as Savior, will be raised from death to eternal life. Those who are alive at that time will be changed in the twinkling of an eye.

III.  Christ assures the coming reign of God's Kingdom: (v.24-28)

  a.It will be the end of all evil because of;

 His subjection of all evil power and enemies. 1 Corinthians 15:24-26 (NKJV) ²⁴ Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵ For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. ²⁶ The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.

Following the resurrection of the church, a 7 year period of tribulation on earth intervenes until Christ returns and sets up His millennial kingdom. At the end of His 1,000 year reign, the resurrected Christ will conquer the last enemy which is death. (Revelation 20:10-14 says Satan, the beast, and the false prophet, death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.) At Christ’s resurrection, Christ began the destruction of Satan and all his dominion. Christ must reign over all because God has ordained it so; what God has said cannot be changed. Christ will reign as the ultimate ruler, having put Satan and all his enemies beneath his feet. This means He will reign in total conquest. Because the resurrection of Christ is an accomplished fact and because the promise of the resurrection is a future fact, the promise of Christ’s ultimate and final reign can be trusted as fact and anticipated by every believer.

 c. His subjection of all things except God Himself. 1 Corinthians 15:26-28 (NKJV) ²⁶ The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. ²⁷ For "He has put all things under His feet." But when He says "all things are put under Him," it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. ²⁸ Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

After Christ puts all enemies under His feet during His millennial reign, then the end will come when Christ will deliver His kingdom to God the Father.

Then the work of the Son will find ultimate completion in the glory of the Father. When Jesus subjects Himself to the Father and God is all in all, the new creation will be brought to completion and the resurrected Christ and His church will share in that experience. Revelation 22:1-5 (NKJV) ¹ And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. ² In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which ³ And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. ⁴ They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. ⁵ There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

It is significant also that the Lamb is pictured on the throne (mentioned also in v. 3). Christ sits on the throne as King of kings and Lord of lords for all eternity under the head of God the Father so He may be all in all and we will rule reign with Him.

Invitation: Have you been raised from spiritual death to life in God's Kingdom? If you have not, now is the time to make sure you have eternal life residing in you in the person of Jesus Christ. Confess you sins to Christ and ask Him to forgive your sins against the Father God. Then invite Him into your life and ask Him to take charge of you. Then follow Him in believers baptism. You will be so thankful that you did.