1Cor15:12-28, The Firstfruits of Those Who Slept

# The Firstfruits of Those Who Slept
## 1Cor15:12-28
[Hans Ott](https://unsplash.com/photos/Tun6jr3D0Jg "caption")

>>>
+ when first immig. to CA 
  + did sth really **foolish**:
+ never signed up for **MSP**
  + young, single, never needed Dr
+ **ignoring** health issues
  + doesn't make me **immune**

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# What comes **after** death?

>>>
+ Not **easy** to talk about death
  + selling **life ins.** to Chinese
  + houses by **cemetery**

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## The Firstfruits [(1 Cor 15)](# "ref")
1. If Christ Has **Not** Been Raised [(v12-19)](# "ref")
2. Since Christ **Has** Been Raised [(v20-28)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **Centrality** of resurr. in gospel
+ **Consequence** of resurr. to world
  + preview of **end of age**

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## 1. If Christ Has Not Been Raised
+ A. **Empty** Faith [(v14,17)](# "ref")
+ B. **False** Testimony [(v15)](# "ref")
+ C. **Fearful** Destiny [(v17-19)](# "ref")

>>>
+ 1st: **hypothetical**, subjunctive
  + thought experiment: 
+ what if there is no **life** after death?
  + could we still be Christians?
+ 3 consequences

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And if Christ has **not** been raised, 
then our **preaching** is in vain 
and your **faith** is in vain.

...And if Christ has not been raised, 
your faith is **futile**

[1 Corinthians 15:14,17a (ESV)](# "ref")
[Olivia Snow](https://unsplash.com/photos/CPPFtCHY6mo "caption")

>>>
+ "vain": empty, void of content
  + "futile": w/o purpose, no point 
+ Could I be just **cultural** Chr?
  + do good, be gracious 
+ not for any future reward,
  + only one life to live

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## If Christ Has Not Been Raised
+ A. Empty Faith
+ B. **False Testimony**
+ C. Fearful Destiny

>>>
+ preaching/teaching from Bible

---

We are even found 
to be **misrepresenting** God,

because we testified about God 
that he raised Christ

[1 Corinthians 15:15 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Cassidy Kelley. Cleveland, US](https://unsplash.com/photos/p90szoOBYgk "caption")

>>>
+ **liars**: false / deceptive testimony
+ Scrip also clearly **teaches** resurr.
+ So Bible is well-meaning **fable**?
  + "new life" is only metaphorical?

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## If Christ Has Not Been Raised
+ A. Empty Faith
+ B. False Testimony
+ C. **Fearful Destiny**

>>>
+ any hope for the future?

---

and you are still in your **sins**.

Then those also who have **fallen asleep** 
in Christ have perished.

[1 Corinthians 15:17b-18 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Neil Thomas](https://unsplash.com/photos/bSYRuzEaT5k "caption")

>>>
+ not just **emptiness** after death:
  + cannot **avoid** God's judgment
+ stuck in our **sins**
  + w/o hope of **redemption**
+ only fearful expect of **wrath**

---

If in Christ we have hope 
in **this life** only, 
we are of all people most to be **pitied**.

[1 Corinthians 15:19 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Alex Jones](https://unsplash.com/photos/p0W9Q9gei4g "caption")

>>>
+ in need of **mercy**

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# Am I living a **faith** with no **resurrection**?

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## The Firstfruits [(1 Cor 15)](# "ref")
1. If Christ Has Not Been Raised [(v12-19)](# "ref")
2. **Since Christ Has Been Raised** [(v20-28)](# "ref")

>>>
+ close thought experiment 
  + **centrality** of resurr to gospel
+ much **evidence** in/out Bible for resurr.
  + epistem: what do I find **convincing**
+ **Consequences** of resurr.
  + for **world** / world powers, and
  + esp those who **belong** to Chr

---

## 2. Since Christ Has Been Raised
+ A. Christ the **Last Man** [(v20-22)](# "ref")
+ B. The **Order** of the End [(v23-26)](# "ref")
+ C. That God May Be **All** [(v27-28)](# "ref")

---

But in fact Christ **has** been 
raised from the dead, 
the **firstfruits** of those 
who have fallen **asleep**.

[1 Corinthians 15:20 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ "sleep": death of body is **temporary**
+ "firstfruits": best of crop
  + offered to God
  + indication of what's to come

---

For as by a man came **death**, 
by a man has come also 
the **resurrection** of the dead.

For as in Adam **all die**, 
so also in Christ shall **all** be made **alive**.

[1 Corinthians 15:21-22 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Mario Purisic](https://unsplash.com/photos/jG1z5o7NCq4 "caption")

>>>
+ **abstraction**: death is **present** in world
  + not by God's orig **design**
  + but by Adam's **sin**
+ So the concept of **resurrection**
  + is foreign / illogical
  + out of our lived experience
  + but brought into world by Christ
+ **application**: who dies?
  + who has hope of new life?
  + **no one** is exempt
+ Just as **all** are descended from Adam
  + inherit **sinful** nature
  + thus fall short of God's **holiness**
  + under right. **judgment**
+ So the **only** way to new life
  + **forgiveness** of sin
  + **justification** before God
  + is through Christ

---

## Since Christ Has Been Raised
+ A. Christ the Last Man [(v20-22)](# "ref")
+ B. **The Order of the End** [(v23-26)](# "ref")
+ C. That God May Be All [(v27-28)](# "ref")

---

But each in his own **order**: 
Christ the **firstfruits**, then at his coming 
those who **belong** to Christ.

[1 Corinthians 15:23 (ESV)](# "ref")
[St. Cuthbert's Isle, UK. © 2008 Ian Britton, CC-BY-NC 2.0](https://www.flickr.com/photos/freefoto/2552357124 "caption")

>>>
+ "order": not just **time** seq
  + precedence, position
+ Death of this body is only **sleep**
+ Christ will **return** in glory
  + those who are **of** Chr
  + and have **slept**, will **awaken**
+ to bear witness to the **end**:
  + not instant **moment** in time
  + Rev. indicates many events
+ but final **judgment** of world
  + and **redemption** of those who
  + **belong** to Christ

---

Then comes the **end**, 
when he delivers the **kingdom** 
to God the Father after destroying 
every **rule** and every **authority** and **power**.

[1 Corinthians 15:24 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Sarah Penney](https://unsplash.com/photos/-6nDec_KT7U "caption")

>>>
+ "rule": leader, first, head of state
  + "auth": free to set rules
  + "power": move, act, enforce
+ Not just **Trump**, Putin, Xi, etc
  + **own** rebellious desire 
+ to be **boss** of own life
  + **reject** God's auth
+ But it is **futile** to oppose Christ

---

For he must **reign** until he has 
put all his **enemies** under his feet.

The **last** enemy to be destroyed is **death**.

[1 Corinthians 15:25-26 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Hạ Long Bay, Vietnam. Vincent Guth](https://unsplash.com/photos/3sR_0NhWMEI "caption")

>>>
+ In the end, Christ will **triumph**
  + over every **power** that opposes 
  + even over **death** itself
+ Death is not a **good** thing
  + or even **necessary** evil
+ Not part of **original** design
  + Consequence of man's **sin**
+ Will be **obsoleted** in God's
  + perfect, holy, eternal kingdom

---

## Since Christ Has Been Raised
+ A. Christ the Last Man [(v20-22)](# "ref")
+ B. The Order of the End [(v23-26)](# "ref")
+ C. **That God May Be All** [(v27-28)](# "ref")

---

When all things are **subjected** to him,

then the **Son** himself 
will also be **subjected** to him who 
put all things in subjection under him,

that **God** may be **all** in all.

[1 Corinthians 15:28 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Vietnam. Andreas Kind](https://unsplash.com/photos/bUhzlj3gGso "caption")

>>>
+ Even Jesus himself will be subject to God Father
  + concept of Trinity
+ Son of God incarnate:
  + **revealed** infinite, holy God
  + to our limited, corrupted minds
+ In the end, role not needed bc
  + see God Father face to face
+ "God will be **all** in all":
  + not mystical **self-idolisation**
  + that elevates sinful human **desires**
  + with **divine** imprimatur
+ but quite the **opposite**:
  + focus is on God's authority, glory
  + not mine

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# What will **heaven** be like?

>>>
+ clouds, harps, halos: boring?
  + jet-ski, travel, meet famous ppl?
+ It's not about **us**: never was
+ All creation magnifies its **Creator**

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