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Timothy: I Corinthians 15:20-34
The Resurrection of the Dead – Part 2

Dear God, my Beloved Father, I respectfully offer my praise and gratitude to You. You are the Almighty God and my Father in Heaven. I am happy to receive the new day You have given me. I am happy to exchange with my brothers and sisters in faith about the blessings You have given in each person’s life. I am happy to know that among my brothers and sisters are those who face difficulties in life but still have strong faith. I respectfully ask You to always cover them with Your faithful protection. I thank You. I respectfully ask Christ to renew my strength. I respectfully ask the Holy Spirit to grant me understanding of the Eternal Living Word of God as I meditate on it. I thank Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Father, I present my meditation on I Corinthians 15:20-34 as follows:

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

Verse 20: I understand that the fact that Christ has risen is a reality with much evidence and many witnesses. He died like so many others who have died, but He rose again to be the first in the resurrection of the dead. His resurrection is not like the resurrection of Lazarus or anyone else who has been raised from the dead by the power of God. Those people only rose again to die again, but the fleshly body of Christ rose again to live forever. Christ is called the firstfruits of those who sleep, meaning He is the first among those who have died to rise again in a glorious, immortal body, simultaneously compatible with both the physical and spiritual worlds.

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.

Verses 21 and 22: I understand that death came into the world through the sin of the first human ancestor, Adam. Since then, everyone born into the world except for the Lord Jesus, has been infected with the sinful nature of Adam. The sinful nature is the desire to do one’s own will, not to obey God. Disobedience to God is sin. The consequence of sin is death. “In Adam” means being born in Adam’s bloodline, infected with Adam’s sinful nature, and always committing sin. Therefore, in Adam, all die. The Lord Jesus is human, but He was not born in Adam’s bloodline. He was born of God to the Virgin Mary. He took on human flesh from Mary, but did not carry Adam’s bloodline and was not infected with Adam’s sinful nature. He was completely innocent of becoming a sin offering for humanity. “In Christ” means being born of God in Christ through repentance and faith in Christ’s atoning death. Through this, being grafted into Christ means receiving resurrection and eternal life from Christ.

23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

Verse 23: I understand that in Christ’s coming in the air for the Church before the End Times, the people of God belonging to the Church will be resurrected and brought into heaven by Him. In Christ’s coming to earth to judge the whole world at the end of the End Times, the people of God who died during the End Times, along with the people of God before the Church age, will be resurrected to rule in the Thousand-Year Kingdom.

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.

25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Verses 24 to 26: I understand that the end will come when the final battle between good and evil takes place, ending the Thousand-Year Kingdom period. Then, the old heaven and earth pass away, and the final judgment takes place. In that judgment, all those who died without belonging to God are resurrected to face God’s righteous judgment for everything they have done. That is also when death is destroyed, for it no longer has power over anyone. Although death no longer has power over those who do not belong to God, their bodies are resurrected, but they will suffer eternally in hell for not obeying God.

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.

Verses 27 and 28: I understand that “all things” means all created beings, including angels, demons, humans, and anything created by God, even inanimate objects like planets and stars. The very event of the old heaven and earth exploding and passing away demonstrates Christ’s absolute authority over all things. The Lord Jesus is God but also human. He rules the Kingdom of Heaven in a human body, so He obeys God the Father on behalf of humanity, so that humanity may clearly understand: God the Father is the head in the Kingdom of Heaven.

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?

Verse 29: I understand that, according to the recorded history of the Church, for the first 300 years, the Church had a practice of allowing someone to be baptized on behalf of a new believer who died before being baptized. This helped the family of the deceased be at peace, knowing that the person was united in death and resurrection with Christ, as signified by baptism. The meaning of being baptized for someone is to help that person complete the necessary ritual for expressing faith. However, this practice is not necessary because the Word of God does not teach it. But this practice shows the faith of God’s people at that time in the resurrection of the dead, especially the glorious resurrection of those who belong to Christ.

30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?

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

Verses 30 and 31: I understand that the Apostle Paul used his own endangerment in the ministry of preaching the Gospel to prove that if the dead do not rise, why would he risk himself like that? Paul faced danger every day from all sides: from those who opposed him, from robbers, from wild animals, and from harsh weather on his journeys. He endured all this in order to preach the Gospel to many who would be saved, and their salvation was his joy and glory in Christ.

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.

Verse 32: I understand that the “beasts at Ephesus” could be wild animals that Paul encountered outside the city, but it could also refer to those who violently opposed him there. Paul wanted to say that his suffering and resistance to enemies in order to fulfill his ministry of preaching the Gospel would be in vain if there was no resurrection of the dead. Instead of suffering in vain, why not live a life enjoying what one likes before dying?

33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

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

Verses 33 and 34: I understand that the Apostle Paul called on the people of God in Corinth to stay away from wicked people, false teachers, false prophets preaching heresy, and arrogant, hypocritical people who do not live according to the Word of God. If not, they will be deceived and infected with the bad habits of those people. Paul called on the people of God to always be alert and live according to the Word of God. He also knew that in the Church there were those who claimed to be God’s people but had no understanding of God.

Father, I thank You for today’s lesson. Once again, Your Word reminds me of the blessed hope of Your people. And that hope is very near; it can happen at any time. I respectfully ask You to remind each of my brothers and sisters to be ready. I thank You for Your grace. Amen!

In the grace of Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Timothy Christian Huynh
06/02/2023