Morning Watch 1 Cor. 15: Resurrection (2) Jan , 2017

Transcription

1 Monday 1/23 2 Cor. 1:8-9 8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of our affliction which befell us in Asia, that we were excessively burdened, beyond our power, so that we despaired even of living. 9 Indeed we ourselves had the response of death in ourselves, that we should not base our confidence on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead; Luke 9:23 23 And He said to them all, If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 2 Tim. 4:8 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, with which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will recompense me in that day, and not only me but also all those who have loved His appearing. Related verses 1 Cor. 15:29-32 (31-32) 29 Otherwise what shall they who are baptized for the dead do? If the dead are actually not raised, why then are they baptized for them? 30 Why also do we brave danger every hour? 31 I protest by the boasting in you, brothers, which I have 2 in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If 1 after the manner of men I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, 3 let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. Col. 2:12 12 Buried together with Him in baptism, in which also you were raised together with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who raised Him from the dead. 2 Cor. 11:26, In journeys often, in dangers of rivers, in dangers of robbers, in dangers from my race, in dangers from the Gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers in the sea, in dangers among false brothers; 28 Apart from the things which have not been mentioned, there is this: the crowd of cares pressing upon me daily, the anxious concern for all the churches. 2 Cor. 4:11 11 For we who are alive are always being delivered unto death for Jesus sake that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. Footnotes 1 Cor. 15:31 2 See Suggested Reading below See Suggested Reading below See Suggested Reading below. Suggested Reading DEALING WITH THE MATTER OF RESURRECTION IV. THE MORAL INFLUENCE OF RESURRECTION A. If There Is No Resurrection In verse 29 Paul says, Otherwise, what shall they do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are actually not raised, why indeed are they baptized for them? The phrase baptized for the dead means to be baptized for others who are dead. This was not an official matter generally practiced by the early churches, but a personal activity of some individual believers for dead persons for whom they were concerned who may have believed in the Lord but were not baptized before they died. They did this in hope of their resurrection from among the dead at the Lord s coming back (1 Thes. 4:16), since in baptism resurrection is strongly signified (Col. 2:12). The apostle uses what they did to strengthen the truth of resurrection. This does not mean, however, that he sanctions baptism by some believers for the dead. In verse 29 the word for actually means on behalf of. Some believers had relatives, neighbors, or friends who also believed in the Lord, but who died without being baptized. Out of love for them, certain believers were baptized on behalf of the ones who had died. This was not taught by the apostles, but we know from church history it was practiced by the believers, although the practice was not common. The fact that one believer would be baptized on behalf of another believer who had died signifies a strong belief in resurrection. Baptism signifies death, burial, and resurrection. But if there is no resurrection and if Christians simply die and are buried, why would someone be baptized on behalf of the dead? The fact that someone would be baptized for the dead indicates a belief, an expectation, that the dead one would be resurrected. Paul refers to this practice as part of his rebuttal against the heresy which claimed that there was no resurrection. Here Paul seems to be saying, If the dead are not raised, then why are others baptized for them to signify that they will be resurrected? This is Living Stream Ministry, 2017, used by permission 1

2 Paul s meaning here. dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for In verse 30 Paul goes on to say, Why also tomorrow we die. The phrase wild beasts are we in danger every hour? If there is no used here is a figure of speech denoting evil resurrection, then why would Paul allow persons or matters. The manner of men in himself to be in danger every hour? Why would fighting against any evil person or matter is to he daily risk his life? Instead, if there is no receive a temporal reward. But the apostle will resurrection, he should enjoy this present life. be rewarded for his fighting with evil persons In verse 31 Paul continues, Daily I die, I and matters for the gospel s sake at the protest by the boasting in you, brothers, which I resurrection in the future (Luke 14:14; 2 Tim. have in Christ Jesus our Lord. Here the word 4:8). die means to risk one s life, to be in danger of We know from Acts 19 that Paul was death, to face death, and to die to self (2 Cor. fighting against wild beasts. Both the Jews 11:23; 4:11; 1:8-9; Rom. 8:36). and the Gentiles at Ephesus strongly opposed The Corinthian believers were the fruit of him. Thus, he had to fight against evil persons the apostle s labor, a labor in which he risked and evil things. But if there were no his life and was in danger of death. In them the resurrection, what profit would it have been to apostle can boast of this. By this boasting he Paul to fight in this way? As Paul says, If the protests that daily he dies. The apostle s dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for boasting in the Corinthians as the fruit of the tomorrow we die. This appears to be a risk of his life is in Christ, not in himself, quotation of a saying of that day, a maxim of because his labor is not by himself but by the Epicureans. If there is no resurrection, we Christ. believers shall have no hope in the future and Paul was like a soldier risking his life on the thus become the most miserable of all men (v. battlefield. He fought for God s kingdom, and 19). If so, we should enjoy our life today, daily he died for the sake of the Corinthians. forgetting the future, like the Epicureans. When he came to preach the gospel to them, he 1 Corinthians LS, Message 67, pages : all of risked his life. While he was in Corinth, he died section IV. A. If There Is No Resurrection daily. It was not an easy thing for Paul to come Corporate Reading of Truth, Life, the Church, and the to Corinth in the Gentile world. This world was Gospel - Chapter 1 Sections: The Way to Know the Bible through - Apprehending and Experiencing All the opposed to anything Jewish and also opposed to Aspects of Christ anything Christian. Nevertheless, Paul daily risked his life in order to preach the gospel to them. But because of his willingness to die daily, a number of those at Corinth were saved. In verse 32 Paul uses a figure of speech: If after the manner of men I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the Living Stream Ministry, 2017, used by permission 2

3 Tuesday 1/24 err, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power 38 1 See Suggested Reading below. of God See Suggested Reading below. Related verses 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry 44 1 See Suggested Reading below. 1 Cor. 15:33-44 (38, 42-44) nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in 33 Do not be deceived: Evil companionships heaven. Suggested Reading corrupt good morals. 31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, 34 1 DEALING WITH THE MATTER OF Awake from the drunken stupor righteously have you not read that which was spoken to and do not sin, for some of you 2 RESURRECTION are ignorant of you by God, saying, IV. THE MORAL INFLUENCE OF God. I speak to your shame. 32 I am the God of Abraham and the God of RESURRECTION 35 But someone will say, How are the dead Isaac and the God of Jacob? He is not the God raised? And with what kind of body do they B. A Warning Not to Be Deceived of the dead, but of the living. come? Verse 33 says, Do not be deceived, evil 36 Foolish man, 1 1 Cor. 5:6 what you sow is not made companionships corrupt good morals. This 6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know alive unless it dies; appears to be a quotation of another saying of that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 37 And what you sow, you do not sow the that day, a fragment of a Greek poem. By this body that will be, but a bare grain, perhaps of John 12:24 word the apostle warns the Corinthian believers 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless the grain wheat or of some other of the rest. not to have any companionship with those 38 But God gives it a 1 of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides body even as He willed, heretics who say there is no resurrection. Such alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. and to each of the seeds its own body. evil companionship will corrupt their faith and 39 1 All flesh is not the same flesh, but one is of Phil 3:20-21 Christian virtues. men, and another flesh is of cattle, and another 20 For our commonwealth exists in the heavens, In verse 33 Paul charges the Corinthians is of birds, and another is of fish. from which also we eagerly await a Savior, the not to pay attention to the deceitful and 40 There are also heavenly bodies and earthly Lord Jesus Christ, nonsensical heresy that there is no resurrection. bodies; but the glory of the heavenly is one 21 Who will transfigure the body of our Those who listen to this heresy will be thing, and that of the earthly is another. humiliation to be conformed to the body of His deceived by it. Furthermore, if they become 41 There is another glory of the sun, and glory, according to His operation by which He companions of heretics, that companionship another glory of the moon, and another glory of is able even to subject all things to Himself. will corrupt good morals. This principle applies the stars; for star differs from star in glory. Col. 3:3-4 to us in the church life today. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Certain of those who left the Lord s sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption; Christ in God. recovery and now speak evil concerning it may 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it 4 When Christ our life is manifested, then you try to influence others who have remained in is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; also will be manifested with Him in glory. the church life. If you take in negative thoughts 44 It is sown a 1 soulish body, it is raised a and become a companion to those who oppose spiritual body. If there is a soulish body, there Footnotes the church life, that companionship will corrupt is also a spiritual one. 1 Cor. 15:34 1 See Suggested Reading below. your church life. The good morals mentioned Matt. 22:29-32 (29, 32) 34 2 See Suggested Reading below. in verse 33 include loving the Lord, living for 29 And Jesus answered and said to them, You 36 1 See Suggested Reading below. the future, risking our lives for the gospel, and practicing the proper church life. It actually Living Stream Ministry, 2017, used by permission 3

4 includes all the good things covered in the teaching regarding the church life, especially Outside of the room where we were meeting entire book of I Corinthians. the church ground, is fleshly. It is unrighteous there was a wheat field. Drawing his attention In verse 34 Paul continues his charge: to say that to teach the believers to practice the to the wheat growing in the field, I pointed out Become sober righteously and do not sin, for church life is fleshly. This saying is that the wheat was produced by some grains of some are ignorant of God. I speak to your unrighteous both toward God and toward man. seed that were buried in the earth. I told him shame. To become sober, righteously, is to Anyone who makes such a statement or who that, in a sense, those seeds died, but that now awaken to soberness from a drunken stupor; it agrees with it needs to awaken as from a they had come forth in resurrection as wheat. is to cease, righteously, to be drunken. The drunken stupor. Through that illustration of death and word righteously here means to be right with Today there are many heretical teachings. resurrection, this young man was saved. Now God and man. To say there is no resurrection Some of these teachings may contain only a he is one of the leading co-workers in Taiwan. offends God and man, and it is sin. Hence, the small percentage of heresy, and others, a much In using wheat as an illustration of resurrection, apostle advises the misled Corinthians to larger percentage. Do you know why you are I was not following my own wisdom. On the awake soberly from this sin to be right with willing to accept a certain kind of heresy? It is contrary, I was following the example set by God and man. They were drunken because you have a tendency, an inner Paul in 1 Corinthians 15. unrighteously in a stupor of the no-resurrection inclination, toward that heresy. It fits your A. The Body of Resurrection heresy. They needed to cease being in that taste. Then, because you take in a heretical Verses 35 and 36 say, But someone will stupor. teaching to match your taste, you become say, How are the dead raised? And with what Literally, the words are ignorant are drugged. kind of body do they come? Foolish man, what have ignorance. To be heretical in saying Knowing the situation among the you sow is not made alive unless it dies. The there is no resurrection is to be ignorant of Corinthians, Paul warned them not to accept philosophical Greeks thought they were clever, God, not knowing God s power or His the heresy which denies the resurrection. He but Paul addressed them as foolish, indicating economy (Matt. 22:29-32). This is a shame to knew this would involve an evil that the questions they asked proved their the believers. companionship that would corrupt their morals foolishness. In his answer Paul refers to the As Christians, we must be awake to in the church life. By this we see that plant life. The reality of resurrection is soberness. We should not be like the resurrection certainly has a positive influence contained and concealed in nature, especially Epicureans, who wanted only to enjoy life and on our morals. But to deny the resurrection will in the plant life. A seed sown into the earth dies did not care for tomorrow. We need to cease, corrupt our morals. It will cause us to be and is made alive. This is resurrection. This righteously, to be drugged. Anyone who says shipwrecked. answers the foolish Corinthians first question, that there is no resurrection is not righteous V. THE DEFINITION OF RESURRECTION How are the dead raised? with God or man. Likewise, those who oppose In the natural world we have many In verse 37 Paul continues, And what you the church life are not right with either God or illustrations of resurrection. In 1936 I paid a sow, you do not sow the body that shall be, but man. visit to one of the leading universities in China. a bare grain, perhaps of wheat, or some of the Once I received a letter from a brother who One of the students spoke to me about his rest. What is sown is not a sheaf of wheat, but acknowledged that I had helped him to know difficulty in believing in resurrection. He told a seed, bare grain. Then the seed grows and Christ and experience Christ. He was grateful me that due to his modern scientific changes into the body that shall be. It may be for this help, and also for help in knowing the knowledge, he could not believe. To him, very difficult to distinguish between certain church. But then he went on to say that my resurrection was against scientific truth. seeds. But once these seeds have been sown Living Stream Ministry, 2017, used by permission 4

5 into the soil and have grown up, eventually the body, having been soulish, will be sown, differences will be manifest. The plants will buried, in corruption, dishonor, and weakness. differ in shape and color. When it is resurrected, it will become spiritual Continuing this illustration in verse 38, in incorruption, glory, and power. Hallelujah, Paul goes on to say, But God gives it a body one day we shall be in resurrection! Then there even as He willed, and to each of the seeds its will be no more corruption, dishonor, or own body. Paul applies the word body here weakness. Instead, we shall be in incorruption, not to the body sown to die, as in verse 37, but glory, and power. 1 Corinthians LS, Message 67, to the resurrected body given by God, in a page : all of section IV. B. A Warning Not different shape on a higher level. This answers to Be Deceived, section V. The Definition Of the Corinthians second foolish question, With Resurrection and A. The Body of Resurrection what kind of body do they come? Corporate Reading of Truth, Life, the Church, and the Verse 39 says, All flesh is not the same Gospel - Chapter. 1 Sections: Entering Into The Truths Of The Bible Through The Life-Study Messages flesh, but there is one of men and another flesh through - The Factor For Rich Meetings of cattle, and another of birds, and another of fishes. From verse 39 through 41, the apostle proves to the foolish Corinthians that God is able to give a body to all resurrected lives, just as He gave to all created things to men and animals on the earth, to birds in the air, and to fish in the water the earthly bodies with their different glories; and to the sun, the moon, and the stars, heavenly bodies with heavenly glory in varying degrees. In verse 42 Paul draws the conclusion, So also is the resurrection of the dead. Then he points out that the body is sown in corruption, dishonor, and weakness, but raised in incorruption, glory, and power. In verse 44 Paul declares, It is sown a soulish body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a soulish body, there is also a spiritual body. A soulish body is a natural body animated by the soul, a body in which the soul predominates. A spiritual body is a resurrected body saturated by the spirit, a body in which the spirit predominates. If we die, our natural Living Stream Ministry, 2017, used by permission 5

6 Wednesday 1/25 gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wills. Related verses 1 Cor. 15:45 45 So also it is written, The first man, Adam, became a 1 living soul' ; the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit. Gen. 2:7 7 Jehovah God formed man with the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. 1 Cor. 15:22 22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. John 1:14 14 And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us (and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only Begotten from the Father), full of grace and reality. John 10:10b 10b I have come that they may have life and may have it abundantly. 1 Cor. 6:17 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit. 2 Cor. 3:6 6 Who has also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant, ministers not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. John 6:63 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words which I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. John 5:21 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and Footnotes 1 Cor. 15:45 1 See Suggested Reading below. Suggested Reading DEALING WITH THE MATTER OF RESURRECTION B. A Spiritual Body with Christ s Heavenly Image Verse 45 says, So also it is written, The first man, Adam, became a living soul ; the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit. Adam became a living soul through creation with a soulish body. Christ became a life-giving Spirit through resurrection with a spiritual body. Adam as a living soul is natural; Christ as a life-giving Spirit is resurrected. First, in incarnation, He became flesh for redemption (John 1:14, 29). Then in resurrection He became a life-giving Spirit for imparting life (John 10:10). He had a soulish body like Adam through incarnation. He has a spiritual body through resurrection. His soulish body has become a spiritual one through resurrection. Now He is a life-giving Spirit in resurrection, with a spiritual body, ready to be received by His believers. When we believe into Him, He enters our spirit, and we are joined to Him as the life-giving Spirit. Hence, we become one spirit with Him (1 Cor. 6:17). Our spirit is made alive and resurrected with Him. Eventually our present soulish body will also become a spiritual body in resurrection just as His body is (vv ; Phil. 3:21). Verse 45 implies both creation and the new creation. Adam, the first man, was the head of the old creation. When God created him, Adam became a living soul. This means that he became a person, a human being. In Hebrew the word for Adam means man. Because God created Adam a living soul, his main part was the soul, which is for the old creation. Today, in principle, if we live in our soul, by our soul, or for our soul, we are in the old creation. The soul is the center and lifeline of the old creation. A person may be moral, but if he lives in the soul, he still belongs to the old creation. Christ being the last Adam implies a termination and conclusion of the old creation. The old creation ends with a man, the last Adam. This Man who terminated the old creation became in resurrection a life-giving Spirit. Now this Spirit is the center and lifeline of the new creation. The old creation was created by God. The new creation, however, comes into being not by creation, but by resurrection. Therefore, verse 45 implies two creations: the old creation with man as a living soul to be the center and lifeline, and the new creation in resurrection with the life-giving Spirit as the center and lifeline. Many Christians today are short of revelation, of the proper spiritual vision, and oppose us when we say that Christ as the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit. But to deny that Christ is the life-giving Spirit is equal to denying the reality of resurrection. The lifegiving Spirit is the life pulse of Christ s resurrection. If Christ had merely been resurrected with a body and did not become a Living Stream Ministry, 2017, used by permission 6

7 life-giving Spirit, His resurrection would not the old creation became the life-giving Spirit, mean nearly as much to us. It would simply be the germinating element of the new creation. an objective fact unrelated to life. It could then Very few Christians have seen that Christ be compared to the resurrection of Lazarus. in resurrection is a life-giving Spirit. Andrew The resurrection of Lazarus was merely an act Murray, however, understood something of resurrection; it did not produce, bring forth, concerning this. He wrote about it in his anything related to life. But Christ s masterpiece, The Spirit of Christ, in the chapter resurrection is absolutely a matter related to entitled, The Spirit of the Glorified Jesus. life, for in resurrection He became a life-giving The Spirit of the glorified Jesus is actually the Spirit. Lord Jesus Himself in resurrection and in Most Christians believe in resurrection glory. When He entered into resurrection, He simply in an objective way. To them the became the Spirit who gives life. This lifegiving resurrection of Christ is nothing more than an Spirit is the essence to germinate a new objective act, an act which is not related to the creation. The germinating element of the new members of the Body of Christ. Those who creation is the resurrected Christ as the lifegiving have this understanding of Christ s resurrection Spirit. also regard His ascension strictly in an Traditional Christian theology opposes the objective way. They do not realize that the truth that Christ has become a life-giving ascension has something to do with us Spirit. In the opinion of many, this is heretical. subjectively. From the point of view of some Actually, it is a truth found in the depths of the Christians, both the resurrection and ascension Word of God. Eventually, the truth will prevail. of Christ have nothing to do with us as far as 1 Corinthians LS, Message 68, Pages : B. A life is concerned. On the contrary, both are Spiritual Body with Christ s Heavenly Image to the objective facts accomplished by Christ. They paragraph that starts, First Corinthians 15:45 is a hold to these facts as part of their fundamental great verse. beliefs. Corporate Reading of Truth, Life, the Church, and the Gospel Chapter. 1 Sections: Constantly Making Resurrection was not merely an objective Progress In The Truth act accomplished by Christ. It is very much related to us subjectively. Through incarnation Christ became a man; He became us. Therefore, incarnation was much more than an objective fact. It was a process that brought God into humanity. The principle is the same with the process of resurrection. Resurrection was not merely an act in itself; it was a process to bring forth the life-giving Spirit. Through the process of resurrection, the Man who ended Living Stream Ministry, 2017, used by permission 7

8 Thursday 1/26 29 Because those whom He foreknew, He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brothers; Related verses 1 Cor. 15: So also it is written, The first man, Adam, became a living soul ; the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit. 46 But the spiritual is not first but the soulish, then the spiritual: 47 The first man is 1 out of the earth, earthy; the 2 second man is 3 out of heaven. 48 As the earthy is, such are they also that are earthy; and as the heavenly is, such are they also that are heavenly 49 And even as we have borne the 1 image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. Rom. 8:2, 6, 10-11, 13 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has freed me in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and of death. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace. 10 But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of the One who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you must die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the practices of the body, you will live. Phil 3:20 20 For our commonwealth exists in the heavens, from which also we eagerly await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Rom 8:29 Footnotes 1 Cor. 15:47 1 See Suggested Reading below See Suggested Reading below See Suggested Reading below See Suggested Reading below. Suggested Reading DEALING WITH THE MATTER OF RESURRECTION B. A Spiritual Body with Christ s Heavenly Image (Cont d.) First Corinthians 15:45 is a great verse. To repeat, t is verse implies the old creation with the soul as the center and the new creation with the Spirit as the center. This Spirit is nothing less than Christ, the Triune God. Actually, the lifegiving Spirit is the processed Triune God. God has passed through the process of incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection. Now in resurrection He is the life-essence to germinate the new creation. We have become the new creation germinated by the Triune God as the life-giving Spirit. In The Economy of God we emphasize the human spirit and Christ becoming the life-giving Spirit. The highest definition of resurrection is that it is the process by which Christ, the last Adam, became a life-giving Spirit. In 1964, when we were working on our hymnal, one brother advised us not to publish the hymns on Christ as the Spirit. He admitted that the Bible reveals that Christ is the Spirit. However, he said that because most Christians would not accept this teaching, we should not include hymns on this matter in our hymnal. I told him that I would never force anyone to follow my teaching, but that I did need the liberty to teach the truth from the Bible. I went on to point out that our goal is first to save sinners by preaching the gospel; second, to edify the saints and build them up through proper teaching so that they may grow in life; third, to take the unique ground of the church to establish local churches; and fourth, to have the fellowship of all the churches as one Body. I said that as long as our work has these four aspects, we have the same aim and the same goal. I also told him that I have a heavy burden concerning the matter of Christ being the Spirit and that I have no choice except to minister according to this burden. I told him that I must declare that Christ today is the life-giving Spirit. It is not up to me whether others will accept this teaching or reject it. At the time of Martin Luther, not everyone accepted the truth of justification by faith. If Luther had been hesitant on this point, how could there have been a Reformation? I told him strongly that I am not afraid of opposition. I do not want anyone to follow me blindly. Paul says, Be imitators of me, as I also am of Christ (11:1). If I follow Christ, if I follow the Bible, if I follow the truth, then you should follow me. Likewise, if you follow Christ, the Bible, and the truth, I should follow you. In this manner, we should follow one another. This is what we endeavor to do in the Lord s recovery. Some who oppose the claim that Christ today is the life-giving Spirit try to make an issue of the fact that 15:45 does not use a definite article, that this verse speaks of a life-giving Spirit and not of the life-giving Spirit. However, the crucial matter here is not whether the article is definite or Living Stream Ministry, 2017, used by permission 8

9 indefinite; it is the clear mentioning of the lifegiving the Bible, we should follow the second and not heavenly denotes the second Man Christ, who is Spirit. Do our opposers believe that there the first. For example, should you follow Cain or heavenly. Likewise, they also that are heavenly are two Spirits who give life, the Holy Spirit and Abel? We certainly should not follow Cain, the denote all the believers in Christ, who, like the life-giving Spirit? It is heretical to teach that first; we should follow Abel, the second. Christ, are also heavenly. Once we were earthy, there are two life-giving Spirits, two Spirits who Furthermore, at the time of the Passover, it was but now we are heavenly. give life. The more I speak on Christ becoming the firstborn who were slain. This indicates that In verse 49 Paul declares, And as we have the life-giving Spirit, the more bold, assured, and God's judgment is upon the firstborn. The same borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear encouraged I am. It truly is according to the principle applies to the first creation and the new the image of the heavenly. As a part of Adam, divine revelation that Christ, the last Adam, creation. God does not want what is first; He we have borne the earthy man s image through became a life-giving Spirit. wants what is second. birth. As a part of Christ, we shall bear the To say that the last Adam became the lifegiving In verse 47 Paul continues, The first man is heavenly Man s image in resurrection. This Spirit is similar to saying, according to out of the earth, earthy; the second Man is out of indicates that just as we have been born in Adam John 1:14, that the Word became flesh. Notice heaven. Out of the earth denotes the first man as the earthy man, so we shall also be resurrected that there is no article before the word flesh. Adam s origin, and earthy denotes his nature. in Christ as the heavenly Man. Such a Would it make any difference if this verse said, Christ is not only the last Adam, but also the resurrection is our destiny. It is as sure as our The Word became the flesh? In either case, second Man. The first Adam is the beginning of birth and should never be questioned. Today we flesh or the flesh, the meaning is the same. In the mankind; the last Adam is the ending. As the first are bearing two images, the image of the earthy same principle, the lack of the definite article is man, Adam is the head of the old creation, and the image of the heavenly. We may take as not crucial in 15:45. To repeat, the vital matter is representing it in creation. As the second Man, an illustration of our situation a caterpillar that is the life-giving Spirit. Christ is the Head of the new creation, in the process of becoming a beautiful butterfly. Christians may admit that certain matters are representing it in resurrection. In the entire Sometimes the caterpillar in us can be seen; at found in the Word, but, being afraid of man, they universe there are these two men: the first man other times the butterfly is somewhat evident. may not have the boldness to stand for the truth. Adam, including all his descendants, and the Eventually, by resurrection, we shall fully Because of the influence of tradition, they do not second Man, Christ, comprising all His believers. emerge from the cocoon as butterflies. No longer stand fully for the truth. Certain ones who oppose We believers were included in the first man by shall we be ugly caterpillars we shall be us have admitted that the Son is called the Father birth and became part of the second Man by beautiful butterflies bearing Christ s image. in Isaiah 9:6, but they would not say this because regeneration. Our believing has transferred us out According to Philippians 3:21, the body of our of tradition. Others may follow tradition, but we of the first man into the second. As a part of the humiliation will be transfigured into a body of care only for the Bible, the pure Word of God. first man, our origin is the earth and our nature is glory and be like Christ s body. This will take In verse 46 Paul says, But the spiritual is not earthy. As part of the second Man, our origin is place, by resurrection and in resurrection. 1 first, but the soulish; after that the spiritual. The God and our nature is heavenly. Out of heaven Corinthians LS, Message 68, Pages : from spiritual here denotes Christ, the second Man; the denotes both the second Man Christ s divine the paragraph that starts, First Corinthians 15:45 is soulish denotes Adam, the first man (v. 47). origin and His heavenly nature. a great verse to the end of section B. A Spiritual According to human understanding, tradition, Verse 48 says, As is the earthy, such also Body with Christ s Heavenly Image and practice, we should follow the one who is are they that are earthy; and as is the heavenly, Corporate Reading of Truth, Life, the Church, and the first, not the one who is second. This was the such are they also that are heavenly. The earthy Gospel - Chapter. 2 Sections: The Church As The reason that Paul deliberately says in this verse refers to the first man Adam, who is earthy. Garden Of God; The Church Being A Garden Full Of that the soulish and not the spiritual is the first. They that are earthy denote all of Adam s Organic Functions; A History Of The Lord s Recovery In Manila The spiritual is the second. If we take the way of descendants, who, like Adam, are earthy. The Living Stream Ministry, 2017, used by permission 9

10 Friday 1/27 1 Thes. 4: But we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are sleeping, that you would not grieve even as also the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so also those who have fallen asleep through Jesus, God will bring with Him. Related verses 1 Cor. 15: Now this I say, brothers, that 1 flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a 1 mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and 3 we will be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 And when this corruptible will put on incorruption and this mortal will put on immortality, then the word which is written will come to pass, Death has been swallowed up unto victory. 55 Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Pet. 1:4, 23 4 Unto an inheritance, incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, kept in the heavens for you, 23 Having been regenerated not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible, through the living and abiding word of God. Footnotes 1 Cor. 15:50 1 See Suggested Reading below See Suggested Reading below See Suggested Reading below. Suggested Reading DEALING WITH THE MATTER OF RESURRECTION VI. THE VICTORY OF RESURRECTION A. Incorruption over Corruption In the last section of chapter fifteen, verses 50 through 58, we have the victory of resurrection. In verse 50 Paul says, Now this I say, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither does corruption inherit incorruption. Flesh and blood are the components of the soulish body, which is corruptible and not qualified to inherit the kingdom of God, which is incorruptible. Corruption is not able to inherit incorruption. Our corruptible body must be resurrected into an incorruptible one that we may be able to inherit the incorruptible kingdom of God in resurrection. Even today, if we live by flesh and blood and not by the spirit, we cannot practice the church life, which is today s kingdom of God. Then in the millennium, we shall not be able to inherit the kingdom of God. For this, we need to be spiritual. In verse 50 Paul says that corruption does not inherit incorruption. The old creation is not only corrupt; it is corruption. The kingdom of God, however, is incorruption. Corruption cannot inherit this incorruption. Verse 51 says, Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. The mystery here refers to the transfiguration, including resurrection, of our corruptible body into an incorruptible one (Phil. 3:21). This is mysterious and beyond human understanding. The word sleep in verse 51 means die (1 Cor. 11:30; John 11:11-13; 1 Thes. 4:13-16). The word changed means transfigured from corruption, dishonor, and weakness to incorruption, glory, and power (vv ); the body of our humiliation conformed to the body of Christ s glory. Verse 52 says, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. The last trumpet is the seventh trumpet (Rev. 11:15), a trumpet of God (1 Thes. 4:16). This means that the last trumpet here is the same as the seventh trumpet in the book of Revelation. Certainly after the seven trumpets in Revelation there will not be any more trumpets. Therefore, it is correct to say that the seventh trumpet in Revelation is the last trumpet in verse 52. At the last trumpet, the dead in Christ, the believers who have died, will be raised incorruptible (1 Thes. 4:16). We believers who Living Stream Ministry, 2017, used by permission 10

11 are living at the time of the Lord s return will be changed. The dead saints will be resurrected first; then the living ones will be changed, transfigured, in rapture (1 Thes. 4:15-17). In verse 53 Paul continues, For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. The phrase this corruptible refers to our corruptible and mortal body, which must put on incorruption and immortality either through resurrection, in the case of the saints who have died, or through transfiguration, in the case of the living ones. Then this mortal body will put on immortality. No matter how healthy and strong we may be today, our body is corruptible and mortal. But in resurrection this body will put on something which the Bible speaks of as incorruption and immortality. 1 Corinthians LS, Message 68, Pages : From VI. A. Incorruption over Corruption the entire section. Corporate Reading of Truth, Life, the Church, and the Gospel - Chapter. 2 Section: We Being Responsible To Plant And Water, But God Causing The Growth Living Stream Ministry, 2017, used by permission 11

12 Saturday 1/28 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is 55 Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption; death, is your sting? Related verses 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of 1 Cor. 15:30-58 (42-58) is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; sin is the law. 30 Why also do we brave danger every hour? 44 It is sown a soulish body, it is raised a 57 But thanks be to God who gives us the 31 I protest by the boasting in you, brothers, spiritual body. If there is a soulish body, there 1 victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die is also a spiritual one. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, daily. 45 So also it is written, The first man, Adam, immovable, always abounding in the 2 work of 32 If after the manner of men I fought with became a living soul ; the last Adam became a the Lord, knowing that your 3 labor is not in wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? life-giving Spirit. vain in the Lord. If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, 46 But the spiritual is not first but the soulish, for tomorrow we die. then the spiritual: Footnotes 33 Do not be deceived: Evil companionships 47 The first man is out of the earth, earthy; the 54 1 See Suggested Reading below. corrupt good morals. second man is out of heaven See Suggested Reading below. 34 Awake from the drunken stupor righteously 48 As the earthy is, such are they also that are 54 3 See Suggested Reading below. and do not sin, for some of you are ignorant of earthy; and as the heavenly is, such are they 57 1 See Suggested Reading below. God. I speak to your shame. also that are heavenly. 35 But someone will say, How are the dead 49 And even as we have borne the image of the 58 2 See Suggested Reading below. raised? And with what kind of body do they earthy, we will also bear the image of the 58 3 See Suggested Reading below. come? heavenly. 36 Foolish man, what you sow is not made 50 Now this I say, brothers, that flesh and Suggested Reading alive unless it dies; blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, DEALING WITH THE MATTER OF 37 And what you sow, you do not sow the neither does corruption inherit incorruption. RESURRECTION body that will be, but a bare grain, perhaps of 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We will not all VI. THE VICTORY OF RESURRECTION wheat or of some other of the rest. sleep, but we will all be changed, B. Life over Death 38 But God gives it a body even as He willed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at In verse 54 Paul goes on to say, And when and to each of the seeds its own body. the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and 39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but one is of and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and this mortal shall put on immortality, then shall men, and another flesh is of cattle, and another we will be changed. come to pass the word which is written, Death is of birds, and another is of fish. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, has been swallowed up in victory. The word 40 There are also heavenly bodies and earthly and this mortal must put on immortality. bodies; but the glory of the heavenly is one 54 And 1 when refers to the time that our corrupted when this corruptible will put on and mortal body will be resurrected or thing, and that of the earthly is another. incorruption and this mortal will put on transfigured from corruption and death into 41 There is another glory of the sun, and immortality, then the word which is written glory and life. Then death will be swallowed another glory of the moon, and another glory of will come to pass, Death has been swallowed the stars; for star differs from star in glory. up 2 unto 3 up in the victory of resurrection life. This is the victory. consummation of the resurrection we share in God s economy through redemption and Living Stream Ministry, 2017, used by permission 12

13 salvation in Christ. This resurrection begins with Jesus Christ (v. 57). church with the experiences of the processed the making alive of our dead spirit and is In verse 57 Paul exclaims, But thanks be to Triune God as gold, silver, and precious stones completed with the transfiguration of our God Who gives us the victory through our Lord (3:12), and will be rewarded by the returning corruptible body. In between is the process of the Jesus Christ. This victory over sin and death by Lord in the day of resurrection (3:14; Matt. metabolic transformation of our fallen soul by the Christ s death and resurrection should not be just 25:21, 23). life-giving Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18), who is the reality an accomplished fact for our acceptance. It must Not long after I was saved, my sister, who of resurrection. become our daily experience in life by the was studying at a seminary, wrote me a letter in Literally, in victory is into victory. Death resurrected Christ as the life-giving Spirit, who is which she used 15:58 to encourage me to work means defeat to man. Through Christ s salvation one with our spirit (6:17). Hence, we should live for the Lord. At the time I did not realize that this in the resurrection life, it will be swallowed up by and walk according to this mingled spirit. verse speaks of something in resurrection and is into victory to us, the beneficiaries of Christ s Thus, thanks will be continuously given to God, closely related to resurrection. If we are in resurrection life. In this verse victory is a who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus resurrection, this verse applies to us. But if we synonym of resurrection. Resurrection is the Christ. It is resurrection power that frees us from are not in resurrection, we may have the wrong victory of life over death. the law of sin, the power of sin. And in the future idea that this verse encourages us to strive and be In verse 55 Paul asks, Where, death, is your it will be resurrection that will swallow up death. energetic. Throughout the years, Christians have victory? Where, O death, is your sting? This is C. A Motive for the Work of the Lord quoted this verse. However, I do not believe that the apostle s triumphant exclamation concerning very many realize that this verse is related to In verse 58 Paul concludes, Wherefore, my the victory of resurrection life over death. resurrection. This is indicated by the word beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, Verse 56 says, Now the sting of death is sin, wherefore at the beginning of the verse, a word always abounding in the work of the Lord, and the power of sin is the law. Death is of the that refers to all that Paul has said in this chapter. knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Devil (Heb. 2:14), and it stings us to death with Based upon what he has written here, Paul Lord. To question the truth of resurrection is to sin (Rom. 5:12). In God s redemption, Christ was encourages the beloved brothers to be steadfast, be shaken. To be assured and remain in the made sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21) in order to condemn immovable, and always abounding in the work of reality of resurrection is to stand fast, to be sin through His death (Rom. 8:3), thus abolishing the Lord. According to the natural life, they could immovable. the sting of death. Then, through His be shaken even by a small thing. How, then, Lack of belief in the truth of resurrection resurrection, death is swallowed up by the could they be steadfast? We can be steadfast only disappoints us concerning our future, thus resurrection life. by the resurrection life within us. Resurrection discouraging us in the work of the Lord. Faith Sin brings curse and condemnation to us by makes us steadfast, immovable, and always gives us a strong aspiration that we may abound the law, both in our conscience and before God abounding in the work of the Lord. Further-more, in the work of the Lord with the expectation of (Rom. 4:15; 5:13, 20; 7:7-8). Hence, the law it causes us to know that our labor in the Lord is pleasing the Lord in resurrection at His coming becomes the power of sin to kill us (Rom. 7:10- not in vain. Without resurrection, whatever we do back. 11). Since Christ s death has fulfilled the is vain. But in resurrection our labor in the Lord Paul says that our labor is not in vain in the requirements of the law upon us (1 Pet. 3:18; is not vain. Therefore, resurrection is not only an Lord. This is not by our natural life and natural 2:24), the power of sin is annulled. Thus the encouragement; it also motivates us to the work ability, but by the Lord s resurrection life and death of Christ has condemned sin and annulled of the Lord. 1 Corinthians LS, Message 68, Pages power. Our labor for the Lord in His resurrection the law, and His resurrection has swallowed up : From B. Life Over Death and C. A Motive life with His resurrection power will never be in death. Therefore, we must give thanks to God, for the Work of the Lord. vain, but will result in fulfilling God s eternal who gives us such victory over sin and death purpose through preaching Christ to sinners, through the death and resurrection of our Lord ministering life to the saints, and building up the Living Stream Ministry, 2017, used by permission 13