Three Takeaways From The Resurrection
Introduction: At the end of a speech, usually, the speaker
will end up repeating or stressing the main points. We call them "the
Takeaways." Those takeaways aim to urge the audience to apply and live by
those pointers. In our three-part series on "More About The Resurrection,"
we come to such a time where we will pay attention to the Apostle Paul's Three
Takeaways from the Resurrection. If we live by them, our lives will drastically
change and become more impactful.
To refresh your memory, we learned
that the Resurrection of Christ is an indisputably proven fact. While some
people may deny and ignore it to their peril. But those who believe it and live
by it are blessed. We also learned that our fundamental Christian belief stands
secure on the Resurrection of Christ. Because Jesus has risen from the dead, we
have eternal Hope.
To conclude the thought of the
Resurrection of Christ, Paul made three important assertions or takeaways. Let
us explore these three takeaways. I Corinthians 15:21-34
I.
The Resurrection of Christ assures us of eternal life. (I
Corinthians 15:21-23)
Vs. 22-23, "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." Here, we see Paul using reasoning and unfolding
specific order of events—first, the reason.
This is how the amplified version
states the reason Vs. 21-22, "For since [it was] through a man that
death [came into the World, it is] also through a Man that the Resurrection of
the dead [has come]. For just as [ because of union of nature] in Adam, all
people die, so also [by virtue of their union of nature] shall all in Christ be
made alive. Through Adam's sin, death reigned over all humanity. Similarly,
through the Resurrection of Jesus, the dead will rise again.
As we shared the sin of Adam, we all
will die, but those who were united with Christ will be made alive and never
die again. This assurance of eternal life is promised to all people, but only
those who believe in and live in Christ can enjoy this everlasting bliss with
God in heaven.
In Christ Jesus, this eternal life
is guaranteed. John 5:24, "I tell you the truth, those who listen to my
message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be
condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life."
Those who reject the message of
salvation and do not believe in His death and Resurrection will enter into
hell. Revelation 21:8, "But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers,
the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their
fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
How else do we know the Resurrection
of Christ assures us eternal life? Listen to these assuring words of Jesus to
Martha, who was grieving the loss of their brother Lazarus. John 11:23-27,
“Jesus told
her, “Your brother will rise again.” “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when
everyone else rises, at the last day. “Jesus told her, “I am the Resurrection
and the life.
Anyone who believes in me will live,
even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever
die. Do you believe this, Martha?” “Yes, Lord,” she told him.”
Jesus
would ask us the same question, Do you believe, “I am the Resurrection and the
Life”? Our future depends on whether or not we believe this fundamental truth
of the Resurrection of Christ. Paul
explains how and when this order of events will unfold. Vs. 23, "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."
But each in his own rank and turn: Christ (the Messiah) [is] the firstfruits,
then those who are Christ's [own will be resurrected] at His coming."
Jesus was the first in rank and turn
to rise from the dead. Those who believe in Christ will rise to eternal life
only when Christ comes back. Let me summarize verses 24-28, which give us a
glimpse of Christ's actions upon returning to the earth for the second time.
Christ's return will lead to the end
of this present World. Before that, Satan will be bound for a thousand years so
that he cannot deceive the nations. (Rev 20). Christ will rule the earth with
those martyred for their faith during those thousand years until He subdues all
His enemies.
After that, Satan will be released
briefly, only to be thrown into the fiery lake forever. Once Satan and death
are defeated, Christ brings everything under the authority of God so that God
will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere. We will learn more about it
later.
II.
The Resurrection of Christ is worth living for and dying for. ( I Corinthians
15:29-31)
Vs. 29-31, "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? 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."
How do we understand this phrase,
"people being baptized for those who are dead"? It is most plausibly referring
to Christian water baptism. If there is no resurrection from the dead, it makes
no sense for new Christians (who were spiritually "dead" before their
conversion) to undergo baptism. Others interpret it as referring to a vicarious
baptism on behalf of the deceased, practiced in the Corinthian church. Is the
Resurrection of Christ worth living and dying for?
Paul explained how he would live his
life. Galatians 2:20, "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is
no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by
trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." In I
Corinthians 15:29-31, Paul recalled how he risked his life spread the message
of the Resurrection of Christ.
Later in his second letter to the
Corinthian Church gives the details of the risks taken. II Corinthians 11: 23-29,
let me summarize Paul's risks. "He worked harder, enduring many sleepless
nights. He had been hungry and thirsty and often gone without food.
He received thirty-nine lashes five
times by the Jewish leaders. He was beaten with rods three times and once was
stoned. Three times he was shipwrecked and spent one whole night and a day at
sea. He faced danger from rivers; robbers from the Jews and the Gentiles. He
shivered in the cold and couldn't keep himself warm due to the lack of proper
clothing.
Besides all that, he carried the
burden of his concern for all the churches daily. Why did he do all that?
Because He saw the Resurrection of Christ was worth living and dying for. What
gave him the strength to take those risks and endure? It was the power of the
Resurrection.
Do you see the Resurrection of
Christ merely as an event that happened a long time ago? Or see it as the
fundamental truth that has the power to save us? Is it worth our living and even
willing to die if and when necessary? In reality, many believers in other parts
of the World live, endure hardships and even die preaching about the
crucifixion and the Resurrection of Jesus.
III.
The Resurrection of Christ calls us to live differently from the World. (I Cor
15:32-34)
I Corinthians 15:32-34, "And what
value was there in fighting wild beasts—those people of Ephesus if there will
be no resurrection from the dead? 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."
Here Paul uses logic, saying if
there is no resurrection from the dead, then what value was there in fighting
wild beasts—those people of Ephesus. "I fought wild beasts in Ephesus."
This statement can be taken figuratively. From Acts 19, we have no evidence
of Paul's suffering.
This expression is more likely that
the enemies he faced in Ephesus were as ferocious as wild beasts. Then he
warned about certain people who were going around and deceiving people, saying,
"And if there is no resurrection, "let's feast and drink, for
tomorrow we die."
Paul referred to a particular
hedonistic worldview that existed during the times of Noah, the prophet Isaiah,
including Jesus. A hedonistic worldview engages in the pursuit of pleasure and
is sensually self-indulgent.” Talk about the food and travel shows of celebrity
chefs.
How do we understand, "Let's
feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!"? Because it is in the Bible, it
doesn't give us a license to live a hedonistic lifestyle. On the contrary, the
scriptures from where this concept may have originated speak against such a
worldview.
Isaiah 22:13, "But instead, you
dance and play; you slaughter cattle and kill sheep. You feast on meat and
drink wine. You say, "Let's feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!"
Here the prophet warns the people of Jerusalem when the Lord had called for
weeping and mourning over the impending invasion. Instead, the people said
flippantly, "Let us eat and drink."
Jesus exposed this lifestyle to show
it as one of the end times signs. Matthew 24:37-39 “When the Son of Man
returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood,
the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time
Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the
flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of
Man comes.”
Building on the same theme, the
apostle Paul warned the Corinthian believers not to be foolish as the rest of
the World. Instead, in the light of the Resurrection of Christ, think carefully
about what is right and stop sinning. If Paul were to visit the western
churches today, what would he say of us? Would he say, “For to your shame, I
say that some of you don’t know God at all? Are you living your life in fear of
God or carelessly throwing it away? Amen!
