THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS

THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS

This program of Scripture studies is designed to help you in daily honoring God with adoration through Bible study.

We have a great friend in Gary Godard.
He has set up an archive page.
To view ALL the prior Scripture studies by book and chapter, just clik

HERE.

Bruce McGee
P.O. Box 1627
Columbia, LA 71418

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE STUDY
1Corinthians

Paul begins a conclusion to this letter which addresses several problems
the church at Corinth was facing.
1st - there is a general synopsis of the Gospel.
2nd - there is a revelation concerning the resurrection.
3rd - Paul addresses a problem concerning baptism.
4th - Paul addresses an ultimate resurrection.

1 Cor 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

The beginning statement of this chapter gives us the understanding that Paul is going to
"declare" the "gospel."
The Gospel was delivered by Paul to them "according to the Scriptures!"
(See Is. 53:4-5)
and Is. 53:6-10)
It was and is the truth of Christ being Messiah, God in flesh.
It is the truth that He lived a perfect life, and gave that perfection for man's imperfection.
It is the truth that Jesus actually died on Calvary for our sins.
It is the truth that that same Jesus was resurrected by the power of God.
It is the truth that Jesus ascended to heaven, and is one day returning to receive those
who have surrendered to Him.
It is THIS Gospel that Paul declared to them when he first came to Corinth.
It is THIS truth that they "received" and by which they still lived.
It is THIS truth by which they were "saved".

And, it is THIS truth (Gospel of Jesus Christ) by which they remember how Paul preached,
and they faithfully "keep in memory" the Gospel.
UNLESS -- "unless ye have believed in vain."
UNLESS -- their profession of faith in Jesus was empty, and not sincere, then
they will maintain living by the Gospel of truth.

The idea is: they were saved by surrender to Christ when they heard the Gospel.
If that is TRUE for them (and for anyone), they can maintain living for Jesus.
If their surrender was not genuine then they CANNOT maintain!

A person must sincerely give their life to Christ to be saved!
See this short book on the security of the believer SEALED IN HIS SPIRIT.

5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

After Jesus' resurrection, He was "seen"!
He was seen physically, though He was somewhat different.
(See for instance John 20:19-20)
Though the "doors were shut" Jesus came right in!

Later, Jesus was viewed by "above five hundred brethren at once."
I believe it was at this time He gave them the Great Commission (See Matt. 28:18-20).

Paul mentions that SOME of those who had witnessed Jesus after His resurrection had
"fallen asleep", or died.

7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

Paul mentions in Gal. 1:19 that he met with "James."
This was obviously James the Less, because the other apostle James was beheaded (See Acts 12:1-2).

And, then, Paul (before his name was changed from Saul) met Jesus on the Damascus Road (See Acts 9:3-20).

The words "born out of due time" are taken from the Greek word ektroma.
That word actually means miscarried, or untimely birth.

What Paul is saying there is that he was born into Christ untimely.
It was AFTER Jesus' ascension that Paul saw Him!
Thus, Paul probably felt he had a LESS clear view of Christ than the other apostles.

But it is quite clear by his life and writings that Paul had a genuine experience with Christ,
in which he was born again, and his life experienced radical change!
(See 2Cor. 5:17).

9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Paul had "persecuted the church of God."
In fact, he held people's coats while they stoned Stephen, the first martyr of the church (See Acts 7:58).
AND, Paul had letters of authority to capture and bring for punishment some of those who
professed Christ as Lord when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus (See Acts 8:2-3 and Acts 9:1-2).

But it was by God's "grace" that Paul was saved.
And, God's Holy Spirit IN him, caused Paul to be as he was.

Perhaps it was Paul's sense of being unworthy that made him work so hard for Jesus.
Perhaps it would be to ALL Christians benefit to consider we were "born out of due time!"

Because it is not US who do the work of Christ!
It is Christ IN us that causes us to work for Him!

The church at Corinth was founded upon the Gospel of Jesus.
It didn't matter WHO might have come to preach it.
What mattered was the people BELIEVED it!

12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

So, here is yet ANOTHER problem in the church at Corinth.
Some of them were saying there was no resurrection of the dead.

WHAT?
After having RECEIVED eternal life, did they believe they were going to LOSE it?

Jesus Himself said that ALL...ALL human beings who ever lived would be resurrected!
THEN, they would face HIM for judgment!
(See Matt. 25:31-33)

The writer of Hebrews attests to this (See Hebrews 9:27).
Paul attests to this (See 2Cor. 5:10).
John attests to this (See Rev. 20:11-15).
Peter attests to this (See 2Pet. 2:9).
Jude attests to this (See Jude 6).
Even the Old Testament attests to this (See Mal. 3:1-5)

The ONLY ones who shall escape the Great White Throne judgment of Jesus
will be those who have SURRENDERED to Him as LORD.
For they will have already been ACQUITTED, WASHED, CLEAN and eternally SAVED!!

13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

To deny there is a resurrection is to deny Jesus rose from the dead.
And, if He did NOT rise, then trust in Him is "in vain!"

Again, Christ's resurrection has been PROVEN by MANY witnesses.
(See the commentary on verses 5-6 above.)

If Christ is not risen from the dead, our preaching of eternal life is "in vain" also!
How can one preach Jesus is approved of God for our redemption, if we
do not believe that He was risen for our justification? (See Rom. 4:25)

15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

We, as Christians, would be "false witnesses of God" if we SAID Jesus was resurrected
and then say that there is no resurrection for ALL.

16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

The Bible says that ALL mankind are endowed with a "spirit" (inner person)
that has been breathed into them by God. (See Gen. 2:7)
And that spirit (inner person) RETURNS to God when we die! (See Ecc. 12:6-7)

The flesh DIES, and is placed in the ground.
But the spirit God has given man is ETERNAL!!
And, the spirit shall be rejoined to the body for judgment day! (See Rev. 1:12)

Now, that being the case -- if Jesus is not "raised" for our justification Rom. 4:25,
then, "ye are YET in your sins!!"

Jesus is the ONLY propitiation (atoning sacrifice) for our sin. (See Rom. 3:25)

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

This life is filled with tragedy, corruption, evil.
It is BECAUSE of SIN!
Sin makes ALL mankind "miserable" because it counteracts the good in us.

But there IS a place where there will never be sorrow, crying or dying!
It is a place BEYOND this life! (See John 14:1-3 and Rev. 21:4)

The resurrection of Christ offers ALL those who surrender to Him this wonderful place!

20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

Christ IS risen from the dead!!
Therefore, He is the "firstfruits" of those who have (and will) die!

The word firstfruits is derived from the Greek aparche
It literally means the beginning!

Jesus' resurrection is the BEGINNING of ALL the resurrections of those who have and will die!!
An ultimate resurrection WILL HAPPEN!!

21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

ALL of us have the sentence of death upon us.
When Adam sinned, it became inherent to ALL mankind.
The sentence God placed upon Adam became the sentence placed upon ALL mankind.
(See Gen. 3:19)

HOWEVER, the JUSTIFICATION placed upon Christ CAN BE applied to ANY of mankind!!
(See John 1:12)

Most Christians see "in Christ shall all be made alive" as applying ONLY to those who have surrendered to Him.
However, that is NOT the contextual meaning of the statement.

Indeed ALL human beings will experience the resurrection, and be made alive again!
Yes. SOME will be made alive to justification and acquittal through their surrender to Christ.
But, SOME will be raised to eternal condemnation.

23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

Jesus was risen from the grave to continue "for ever and ever"!(See Heb. 10:12)

There is coming a day when Jesus delivers the kingdom of God" (from earth) to God the Father in heaven.
The Mediator of the covenant of God to man (Jesus) will surrender the completeness of His mediation to God.
In context, this word "God" is understood to mean God who is perfect unity
- Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

But it will be AFTER Jesus has "put down all rule and all authority and power" on this earth.
Jesus HAS "all power and authority"! (See Matt. 28:18)
He WILL SUBDUE all kingdoms and authority of this world (which He made) to Himself!!

Some will have eternal LIFE in glory with Christ.
Some will have eternal DEATH in the pit that burns forever with the devil.
NONE will be in either place without a RESURRECTION first!!

25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Jesus DOES reign!
He IS reigning!
And, He WILL reign over this earth for 1,000 years. (See Rev. 20:4-7)

All enemies of Christ (on earth) will be defeated (including the devil) BEFORE the final resurrection.
AFTER the final resurrection, physical death will be destroyed -- no longer necessary.

Jesus HAS the power of life and death.
Your next breath is totally at HIS discretion.

When Jesus destroys death, then eternal death will become the destroyer of the devil and
all those who have refused Jesus as LORD.

27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

God (in unity) has put ALL things under the feet of Jesus.
But God (in unity) is EXCEPTED from that, because Jesus is PART of that unity.

Now, when Jesus has completed all that he must as Mediator, He shall place
all that was/is given to Him to the unified God.

The word "God" in the latter part of verse 28 is derived from the Greek ho theos.
Ho is a pronoun sometimes rendered ONE.

God has always been, and always will be ONE -- perfectly in unison with the three separate entities.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit are ONE -- in perfect unity. (See Deut. 6:4)

God the Son has received from God in unison, the authority to create man, make covenant with man, become
Mediator of that covenant, and culminate His assigned task by delivering all who are saved into the full
UNITY of God.

But we must remember it is God as ONE that has initiated, proclaimed, and completed
the task of bringing the saved into glory!

29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

NO! Paul is NOT referring to some archaic ritual of being baptized for those who have died without Christ
in hopes they will be accepted in Christ.
NOT HARDLY!

What he IS saying:
that ALL believers in Christ were baptized because:
1) they were DEAD "in trespasses and sin;" (See Eph. 2:1)
2) through Christ they obtained an eternal hope of RESURRECTION from the dead!

Why would one be baptized IN Christ if he denied the resurrection of the dead?
Why would one deny the resurrection of the dead if he had been baptized in Christ?

Baptism is a symbol of surrender to Christ.
We die WITH and INTO Him by surrender to His Lordship over us,
are SUBMERGED into His Holiness,
and RAISED to eternal life by Him!

If those conditions did not PRECEDE baptism, then the baptism was in vain!
And, if we were baptized believing those conditions, then why would we deny the resurrection?

Why would Paul (and all the other apostles and disciples of Christ) place themselves
"in jeapardy" constantly?
Being a devout Christian was HAZARDOUS in those days.
It is even so TODAY!

Yet we Christians place ourselves in the position of being ridiculed, despised, hated and even killed EVERY day!

A person who believes that Jesus will "confirm" them "to the END" 1Cor. 1:8
will certainly believe in a resurrection to eternal life!!

It is THAT hope that makes us ready to face ANYTHING for the sake of proclaiming Jesus as
the ONLY Author and Finisher of salvation!!

31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

The word "protest" here is taken from the Greek ne.
It is a form of attesting, or affirming something as a truth.

Paul is saying he affirms the fact that the Corinthians REJOICED with him when
he proclaimed salvation through Jesus Christ.
And, Paul is rejoicing in the fact that they RECEIVED Christ.

Even though he faces peril EVERY day, Paul takes JOY in knowing they received Christ as Lord.

32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

Some say Paul was too feeble to have faced such a danger as fighting with beasts at Ephesus.
However, there is no doubt he faced MANY perils while in that place.

While in Ephesus Acts 19, Paul faced men who certainly ACTED like beasts.
And there is no reason to believe that he didn't actually have to fight against beasts, being persecuted as a Christian.

He could not have endured such if it had not been for the hope of an eternal resurrection!!

Paul was familiar with Greek writers.
He exhibits this knowledge by here quoting from Menander, a poet from Athens.

Paul applies this present day poetical expression to the fact of the resurrection.
If some in the church of Corinth denied the resurrection, they were indeed leading others into SIN!

Friends, consorting with those who deny Christ or the fact of the resurrection will lead to SIN!
Nothing "good" can come from such communications!

34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

There are some sheep in wolves clothing out there!
1 John 4:1 says, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."

35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.

According to verse 12 above, some objected to the resurrection.
Perhaps they asked, "HOW?"
Paul says, like SEED!
Seed DIES, but then arises as a PLANT!

And, those who objected might ask, "with what body" are they raised?
Paul says, that's up to GOD!

39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

God has created MANY bodies!
Celestial refers to heavenly -- sun, moon, stars.
Terrestrial refers to earthly -- men, animals, fish, etc.

Perhaps the following will illustrate the reasoning behind Paul's statements here.
There are differences in the bodies of the earth.
And there are differences in the bodies of the heavenly.

So, if God can CREATE man as an earthly being,
then, do you doubt he can recreate man as a heavenly being?

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonour; 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. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

Therefore, when God raises the dead, they will be DIFFERENT!
Though (the saved) were "sown" in the ground through death in corruption, dishonour, weakness and
natural;
they will be raised incorruptible, glorious, powerful, and SPIRITUAL!

John says, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:
but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is."
(1 John 3:2)

Will we be limited by gravity? I don't know!
Will we be transcendent and able to appear fleshly one minute and be a spirit the next? I don't know!

But one thing I DO know: we'll never DIE again!
We will have a SPIRITUAL body!
It will not be subject to physical demands, though it will have physical attributes.
We will SING, TESTIFY, and in many ways GLORIFY our Lord.

45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

Adam was given a mind, a body and a spirit which comprise the whole -- or the soul.
Man, like the Word of God, is God-breathed.
And, yes....man was/is created to be IMMORTAL.
But man has sinned and abdicated his immortality!!
(See Rom. 6:23)

Man was made "natural" FIRST.
God KNEW Adam, and all mankind, would SIN.
His immortal state, and eternal place, depended (and depends) upon his subjection to the Creator/Savior!

Now, Jesus was made a "quickening Spirit"!
It is by Him and through Him ALONE that man can be redeemed!

The Hebrew term for "man" (See Gen. 1:26) is 'adam.
It means of lower estate.
Though man was created in the "image" of God, he was made to exist eternally in a lower
state than God.
Man was created to be in continual fellowship with God.
Also, man was made with a free will.
Sadly, we have ALL used that free will to go our OWN way rather than GOD'S way!!

Therefore the sentence of death was pronounced upon man.
And, his only redemption can be through willful submission to Christ as Lord!
Man must REPENT -- turn around; change to surrender.

Now ... Jesus, because He is God incarnate (God in a man), has procured the right to
REINSTATE man to God's original intent!
ANY person CAN turn to Christ in surrender and be SAVED!!

48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

Like Adam WAS (earthly) so ALL mankind is earthly -- frail, mortal -- because of sin.

But like Jesus IS (heavenly) so ALL who surrender to Him shall be heavenly --having a body "like" Jesus.
(See Philippians 3:21)

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Since we are corrupt in our natural being (because of our sin),
we cannot "inherit" heaven in that same body.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Keep in mind here, Paul speaks to the church at Corinth.
He concludes all of them, even with their bad qualities, are genuinely saved Christians.
Even though Paul points out their faults, he NEVER implies that any are NOT saved.

It will happen SO QUICK one won't have time to "bat an eye!"
At "the last trump." (See Matt. 24:31)

"...and the dead shall be raised incorruptible,...."(See John 5:25)
The word "incorruptible" is derived from the Greek aphthartos.
It means undecaying, or immortal.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

We MUST be "changed" to "incorruption" and "immortality".
The word "incorruption" comes from the Greek aphthrsia.
It means unending existence.
It is much like the word "immortality", which means without death.

Thus, when Christ CHANGES us, "Death" then will be "swallowed up in victory!"
This victory is the victory Christ had over the grave!
He was RESURRECTED!
His body DID NOT SEE corruption! (See Ps. 16:10)

The GOOD NEWS IS:
Jesus SHARES this victory with ALL who surrender to Him as Lord!!
See verse 57 below.

55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

BECAUSE Jesus was resurrected, and
BECAUSE Jesus SHARES the resurrection with those who have surrendered to Him,
there is NO STING in death!!
It only opens the door for us to be RECEIVED by our Lord Jesus. (See John 14:3)

Because we are sinners, unless Jesus comes first, we must ALL die.
For God has pronounced the sentence of death upon mankind.
That decree is because of SIN! (See Gen. 3:19 and Rom. 6:23)

The "law" (and God's Holy Spirit) CONVICTS us of sin.
The sting we DO suffer is knowing we have sinned against God.

And, through HIM, through surrender to Him as Lord,
we can SHARE in that victory!!

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

KNOW THIS:
Working for Jesus "is NOT in vain!!"
He WILL come with His reward to all who have surrendered to Him.
That reward will be a life of immortality in a new body that is incorruptible!!

Therefore, be steadily working.
Be unmoveable in faith.
ALWAYS doing as much as you possibly can to promote the ONE religion of true faith:
CHRISTIANITY!

Paul has given a general synopsis of the Gospel.
He has stated a revelation concerning the resurrection.
He has addressed a problem concerning baptism.
And, he addressed the FACT of an ultimate resurrection.

Now. This conclusive statement says,
"STOP denying the truth, and START doing the WORK!!"