Lesson for October 2, 2022
The Book of I Corinthians
Chapter 15:42-58; 16:1-24
Verses 42-50
42 “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So also it is written: “The first man, Adam, became a living person.” The last Adam was a life-giving spirit. 46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. 47 The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. 48 As is the earthy one, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly one, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now I say this, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.”
The body we are born with begins to die the moment God breaths into it the breath of life. Therefore, the human body is perishable, which means it will not live forever. On the other hand, the resurrection which body believers receive is imperishable, which means it will live forever. Sown in dishonormeans that the human body is born with a corrupting sin nature. Raised in glory means the corruption of the sin nature and its negative influences will be gone. The resurrection body of the believer will be incorruptible and imperishable. It will no longer be weak with sickness and disease and deteriorating. Our weak human body will be raised by the power of God and changed to a new fantastic, gloried body like that of Christ’s. Since there is a natural body, then it stands to reason that there is also a spiritual body.
The first man, Adam, became a living person. The last Adam was a life-giving spirit. The first human being was Adam, who was created spiritually alive with a human body, a soul, and a human spirit. Adam’s human spirit was his connection to God (not his soul). Everyone has a soul, but everyone does not have a connection to God. When Adam sinned, he died spiritually and lost his human spirit (his connection to God), which brought spiritual death to the human race.
However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. Earthy is a reference to the human body which is made from the earth. When the human body dies, it reverts to the chemicals of the earth (dust to dust). The first man was made of earth. The second man is a reference to Jesus Christ Who came from Heaven as the God-Man. The person who has an “earthy” body could not survive in that body in eternity, it is not constructed for eternity. The heavenly bodies are resurrection bodies designed to live for all eternity.
Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. The word borne means to wear. The real you is your soul, and you wear the body over the soul. The body you wear is not going to last forever but the soul will. Therefore, we are going to wear a new body in eternity, which is like Christ’s. “Flesh and blood” cannot inherit the kingdom of God means that when we die, our soul and spirit go to Heaven in an interim body awaiting the Rapture and our natural body remains in the earth (unless we’re still alive at the Rapture). (Luke 16)
Verses 51-58
51 “Behold, I am telling you a 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 imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. (Isaiah 25:8) 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 and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
This is a reference to the Rapture of the Church and the resurrection body of believers which was a mystery not revealed in Old Testament times. (Ephesians 3:1-6)
We will not all sleep means we are not all going to die. There is going to be one generation of believers who will not see physical death, and that generation of believers will be alive when the Rapture takes place. The Greek word for sleep is “koimao,” which refers to the physical body of a believer who dies (the soul never sleeps/dies).
The dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed means the body that dies is the physical body (mortal) which will cease to exist (perishable) and the resurrection body that wakes up is an eternal body (imperishable). (I Thessalonians 4:16)
Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting? (Hosea 13:14) When the grave claims the body it is said that it is a victory for the grave. But for a believer, the victory is only temporary because the resurrection changes a believer’s death to a victory.
The sting of death is sin is a reference to Adam’s original sin which resulted in spiritual death for all mankind and lead to physical death. The power of sin is the Law means that the Mosaic Law exposed the fact that everyone is condemned because of Adam’s original sin and in need of a Savior.
Be firm, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Now we have three applications of the knowledge of truth regarding our resurrection.
- Be firm and unmoveable means convinced of the truth of God’s Word and stabilized in your thinking from the knowledge of accurate Bible doctrine.
- Always excelling in the work of the Lord means don’t become distracted from your spiritual life by the details of life or the attitudes and actions of others. It means to apply Bible doctrine to your daily experience.
- Knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord means to live your spiritual life in light of eternity, knowing that blessings in this life and eternal rewards in eternity await you.
Chapter 16:1-24
Verses 1-12
“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you are to do as well. 2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save as he may prosper, so that no collections need to be made when I come. 3 When I arrive, whomever you approve, I will send them with letters to take your gift to Jerusalem; 4 and if it is appropriate for me to go also, they will go with me.5 But I will come to you after I go through Macedonia; for I am going through Macedonia, 6 and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way wherever I go. 7 For I do not want to see you now just in passing; for I hope to remain with you for some time if the Lord permits. 8 But I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost; 9 for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.10 Now if Timothy comes, see that he has no reason to be afraid while among you, for he is doing the Lord’s work, as I also am. 11 So do not look down on him, anyone. But send him on his way in peace, so that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brothers. 12 Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly encouraged him to come to you with the brothers; and it was not at all his desire to come now, but he will come when he has the opportunity.”
Paul closed his letter with instructions and salutations. The first instruction was regarding giving. Paul was collecting offerings for the church at Jerusalem. Paul said that when he came, they were to have already gathered the funds to be delivered to the church in Jerusalem.
Paul’s salutation came after he had thoroughly rebuked the Corinthians for their carnality. His severe rebuke and declaration of punishment did not indicate that Paul carried any personal grudge against anyone, but rather he was fulfilling his responsibility before the Lord as an apostle. Paul fulfilled his leadership responsibility without personal prejudice and without pettiness.
Verses 13-24
13 “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 All that you do must be done in love.15 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters: you know the household of Stephanas, that they are the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to ministry to the saints; 16 I urge that you also be subject to such as these and to everyone who helps in the work and labors. 17 I rejoice over the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, because they have supplied what was lacking on your part. 18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore, acknowledge such men.19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. 20 All the brothers and sisters greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.21 The greeting is in my own hand—that of Paul. 22 If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha! 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.”
Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. All that you do must be done in love. Now we have a few instructions: 1) be on alert was the instruction to be discerning 2) stand firm in the faith meant not to deviate from accurate Bible doctrine 3) act like men was to act like spiritual royalty 4) be strong was the instruction to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. 5) let all that you do be done in love was the instruction to exhibit virtue-love.
If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha! Paul was completely impartial and loved all these believers who he had rebuked. Spiritual leadership must always exercise impartiality. However, there were those in the congregation who Paul said were to be accursed because they had demonstrated that they did not love God and were to be accursed (Greek: “anathema”). Accursedmeant to remove them from the congregation until such time as they came to their senses and embraced accurate Bible doctrine. Maranatha means “the Lord is coming” and is a reference to Christ coming to judge those who had been distorting the Gospel of grace and the spiritual life.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. Paul then put the emphasis back on God’s grace as he closed his letter.