Day 223: Death isn't the end – 1 Corinthians 15 vs 12 – 26

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13-16 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17-19 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only - we are of all people most to be pitied!

20 But, in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21-23 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ.  24-26 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying  every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:12-26 English Standard Version (New Living Translation)

Some who'd become Christians in Corinth found it hard to accept that our bodies will be raised again. It is a mind blowing concept. But did you follow Paul's line of thought in vs 13 to 16? He pointed to the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ as the strongest argument for the resurrection of the body. Christ appeared to the very disciples who'd seen him crucified and put in the tomb. He gave them proof that his body was real, even showing them the marks of his crucifixion. They were initially afraid and thought it was a spirit, but look what he said to them: “Why are you frightened? Why are your hearts filled with doubt? Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I'm not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” (Luke 24:37-40)

In vs 17-19 Paul points out that if Christ did NOT rise physically from the grave - then Christianity is a sham and we are still under God's condemnation for sin. It would also mean that those who died as believers died in vain. That's serious when you remember that there were already Christians who’d been put to death simply because they were followers of Jesus. But the truth of the matter is that death is NOT the end. On the contrary, Jesus Christ has put an end to death! That's what vs 20-26 are all about. What did Paul see Christ's resurrection as being like, and what was the implication? (vs 20)

The word 'firstfruits' was an agricultural term and spoke of the first pickings of the harvest. And the implication was that a big harvest would follow! Some children play a game of seeing who can spot the first star of the evening. When you see it, though, you know there are lots more to come. Paul points out how just as death made it's appearance in the world through a man (Adam) and led to the death of all, so the resurrection also has come about through a man (Jesus Christ) and will lead to the resurrection of all.

But one last important point. The fact that it says 'all shall be made alive' doesn't mean that all who are resurrected will be with Christ forever. Daniel 12:2 says: “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.” And when Paul was on trial before the Jews he said: “I have the same hope in God as these men have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.” (Acts 24:15) Verses 24-26 of today's reading remind us that some people are enemies of God and of Christ. The writer of the Bible's last book says: “I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds.” (Revelation 20:12-13) Death isn't the end – there's a judgement day still to come. May we be found in Christ on that awesome day.