The Resurrection Chapter
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1 Corinthians 15:1-58 has been called the “Resurrection Chapter.” We have already quoted it, but let’s further examine this chapter. Though it speaks primarily about the first resurrection, it is a summary of God’s three-resurrection plan.
I Cor 15:26 states, “The last ENEMY that shall be destroyed is death” (1 Cor. 15:26). At funerals, worldly ministers often depict death as “an old friend” one meets at the end of “life’s highway.” Haven’t you often heard this or a similar phrase on these occasions? The Bible calls death an ENEMY!—and there is nothing “friendly” about enemies!
I Cor 15:22-23 state, “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall ALL be made alive [through a resurrection]. But every man in his own order …” (1 Cor. 15:22-23). Note two points. First, every person will have a chance for salvation. Second, each person’s opportunity will come “in his own order.” We have seen that all parts of God’s plan are not fulfilled in one resurrection.
I Cor 15:23 continues into 24: “Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His Coming. Then comes the end …” (1 Cor. 15:23-24). Christ was the beginning—“the firstfruits”—of the first resurrection, which will include all saints. But, “then comes the end” references the rest of God’s wonderful Master Plan, which will continue as the kingdom of God is established on Earth at Christ’s Return. That time lies just ahead.
Contents
Entering the Kingdom
The Bible teaches that God’s kingdom rules over the people and nations of the earth. The nations are no more part of the kingdom than the average citizen of any country is part of the government that rules over him. One must ENTER the kingdom to be in it. As distinct from those who are governed by it, we must ask, who is actually in the kingdom? (Chapter Eleven will explain this more thoroughly.)
Recall that Paul stated, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit in corruption. Behold, I show you a mystery …” (1 Cor. 15:50-51). Certainly, as previously mentioned, this is a mystery to almost everyone—that flesh-and-blood human beings cannot enter the kingdom of God—that it is only at the resurrection that previously Spirit-begotten human beings are changed from flesh to spirit. We have seen that it is at this time—and only at this time—that true Christians are “born again.” If we are to just believe the plain truth of the Bible, the kingdom of God cannot include flesh-and-blood people!
Many counterfeits have supplanted the proper understanding of what the kingdom of God is.
An account in John 3, only briefly referenced in Chapter Two, is commonly misunderstood by people who believe that they can be “born again” in this life (while they are still flesh and blood) and, therefore, “see” the kingdom of God in this life (John 3:3).
In this account, Nicodemus, a Pharisee, approached Christ and acknowledged in verse 2, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God” (John 3:2). He plainly admitted he knew who Christ was and who (God) had sent Him to Earth. Notice that Nicodemus spoke for more than himself when he stated, “we know.” He was referring to himself and the other Pharisees who recognized who and what Jesus Christ was. These leaders could not deny the power of God evident in the miracles Jesus was performing.
The religious leaders—the Pharisees—well understood that He was a “teacher come from God” with the truth. Yet, they still called Him a blasphemer, drunkard, heretic, seditionist, bastard, ignorant, demon-possessed, false prophet, friend of publicans and sinners, etc.—and crucified Him!
Christ told Nicodemus, “Except a man be BORN AGAIN, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). He was explaining that only by the process of being born again can one actually “see” the kingdom. So, there is a limitation on who can see it. Anyone can see physical things. This is not true of the kingdom of God. Grasp these critical points that Christ made.
In Jn 3:5, Christ says that unless one is “born of water and of the Spirit,” he “cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Yes, the kingdom is something that can be “entered into”—but Jn 3:6 explains Christ’s “born of water and of the Spirit” phrase. It states, “That which is born of the flesh IS flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit IS spirit” (John 3:6). We saw that flesh and blood cannot enter the kingdom of God—but spirit can!—and that to allow no room for misunderstanding, Christ compared spirit to wind.
Wind and spirit are invisible. Christ told Nicodemus, “The wind blows where it lists [does], and you hear the sound thereof, but cannot tell whence it comes, and whither it goes: so is every one that is BORN OF THE SPIRIT” (John 3:8). Those born of spirit will be like wind—they will be INVISIBLE!
But when does this change from physical to spirit composition occur?
Recall 1 Corinthians 15:49 stated, “And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall [in the future—at the resurrection] also bear the image of the heavenly.” I Cor 15:53 states, “For this corruptible [flesh is certainly corruptible] must put on in corruption [those born of God are spirit], and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Cor. 15:53). It is at this point that flesh is changed into spirit.
Even converted human beings are still composed of flesh—of the dust of the ground. God will change their flesh to spirit at the first resurrection. All those who enter the kingdom of God must be made of—composed of—SPIRIT!
Let’s examine this further. Matthew 22:30 states, “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God.” Hebrews 1:7 shows that angels are made of spirit. This is important to understand about our composition in the resurrection. But do not misunderstand and think that Christ was saying that the resurrected saints would actually be angels. He merely meant that they would be “as” the angels, in that neither angels nor the resurrected saints marry.
Becoming Spiritually Minded
Now we will turn our attention once again to the all-important understanding of receiving God’s Spirit—and how one is led by it.
Recall Romans 8:6 one more time. It stated, “For to be carnally [physically] minded is DEATH; but to be spiritually minded is LIFE and peace” (Rom. 8:6). Anyone who has received the Spirit of God ultimately has life inherent within him. This means he has the potential of becoming an “inheritor” with Christ. Let’s state again for emphasis: This is absolutely remarkable understanding—completely unknown to all but the scattered few on Earth today!
(A related inset must be added here. All “abortion rights” advocates should take note of exactly when God says life exists—that the begotten Christian, the one who is spiritually-minded, already has eternal life inherent within him. Like the fetus that can miscarry prior to birth, the Christian certainly can also “miscarry”—that is, fall away from the path to salvation and eternal life. But the plain Bible pattern is that life begins at the moment of physical begettal as surely as it begins at the moment—the instant—of spiritual begettal.)
Most people have been deluded into believing that they are Christians merely because they have “accepted Jesus” or “made a decision for Christ” or “given their heart to the Lord”—or some other similar profession of belief. They have been deceived into believing that if they join a church or pronounce themselves “born again,” this makes them Christians. How utterly false and contrary to the plain words of the Bible!
A Christian is one LED BY the Spirit of God!
Actually, the Bible states that the entire world is now awaiting the first resurrection. It is then that the Sons of God will be revealed. Carefully notice:
“For the earnest expectation of the creature [Greek: creation] waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.… Because the creature [creation] itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now” (Rom. 8:19, 21-22). This verse shows that the creation awaits the “delivery” of the “Sons of God.” It is “groaning” and “travailing” (labouring) toward this delivery—this BIRTH—of the begotten Sons of God, born again at the resurrection and Christ’s Return.
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