Title: Firstfruits of Those Who Sleep
Contents
1. Words that begin
As always, many have argued that the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus did not actually happen and that there is no resurrection of believers in the Lord Jesus. Even among church members, there are those who believe in God's creation of life, but do not believe in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Those who are not members of this church believe in the Lord Jesus as an example of character cultivation and follow the teachings of the gospel of the Lord Jesus as standards of ethics and morals. Even some intellectuals who do not have a spiritual understanding say that some of Jesus' words and actions are not even an example of character cultivation or ethics and morals. Despite the work of the Holy Spirit to make people believe in Jesus as their Savior, those who do not believe in Jesus as their Savior cannot understand the messianic words and deeds of Jesus, nor can they believe in miraculous events that can only occur in divine beings.
If the Lord Jesus had not been resurrected, it would be futile to believe in the Lord Jesus, and we would still live under sin, death, and destruction. Also, human life will inevitably end in vain and destruction.
2. Christ as the firstfruits of those who slept
When Jesus was crucified and died, the disciples who fled because of discouragement later changed and risked their lives to proclaim that Jesus, who was crucified and died, has risen again. The disciples' attitudes changed dramatically as a result of meeting the resurrected Lord Jesus. On the road to Damascus to arrest the believers in the Lord Jesus, Paul, who met the risen Lord Jesus and became his apostle, teaches that the resurrection of the Lord Jesus is the guarantee of our resurrection as believers. “Christ has risen from the dead and became the firstfruits of them that slept.”
As C. Hodge said, “Christ was not only resurrected, but as a representative. His resurrection is the guarantee of the resurrection of his people. . . . The apostle Paul did not simply mean that the resurrection of Christ preceded the resurrection of his people. What the apostle means is that just as the first steps of the harvest, offered to God as a gift of thanksgiving, were the assurance and assurance of the harvest of the entire harvest, so the resurrection of Christ is the assurance and witness of the resurrection of his people.” .
The Apostle Paul said that because the death of mankind came through Adam, who sinned, the resurrection of the dead is also through the risen Jesus Christ. In other words, just as all people died like Adam by union with the sinful Adam, so by union with the resurrected Lord Jesus, all people will be resurrected to a spiritual body like Christ. We who believe in the Lord Jesus now enjoy eternal life in part by the Holy Spirit who indwells us as a guarantee of our future resurrection as a spiritual body. John 3:36 says, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever does not obey the Son will not see eternal life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
There was a coal mine in Durham, England, but the mine collapsed and 164 miners were buried alive. Then people were looking for the body and they found a plank. The board read, “The Lord was with us. We are ready to go. Lord, bless you! We had a very pleasant prayer meeting. All are prepared for eternal glory. Tuesday at 2pm.”
Beloved, prepare yourself for eternal glory. You will surely die someday, but shouldn't you secure the eternal life of heaven and live it?
3. Resurrection Order
The first resurrection is the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for the sins of mankind. Second, resurrection? When the ascended Christ returns, the dead saints will be resurrected as spiritual bodies. And the saints who are alive until then will be transformed into spiritual bodies. After that, the end of the world, that is, the end of all things and the work of salvation will be completed.
The end of the world refers to the time when the Second Coming Christ will destroy all authority and power, which are evil spirit beings, and give the kingdom to God the Father. The full-scale reign of Jesus Christ, which began after the incarnation, will be completed and ended by completely subduing Satan and other enemies at His Second Coming, and after that, the rulership of the eternal kingdom will be handed over to the Father. But until the end, he reigns inevitably until he has conquered all his enemies, especially death, who is the last to perish. This death was the penalty for sin and was the domain of Satan, but it has already lost its decisive power through the resurrection of Christ, and will eventually be completely destroyed by Christ who will return. Therefore, resurrected members cannot die again.
For those who have overcome death and are united with the risen Christ in this world, death cannot already be death. In that sense, Jesus said in John 6:20, “The will of my Father is that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him has eternal life, and I will raise it up on the last day.” Also, under John 11:25, He said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Beloved, is this resurrection faith firm? So are you not afraid of the cares and worries of the world, the anxiety and fear, even death and the destruction of hell? No, do you live your life as you see the coming death as a turning point in the eternal resurrection life?
Dr. Philport's 9-year-old son was admitted to the hospital with a serious illness. The doctor told his father, Dr. Philport, that his son could not live. Dr. Pilport, with heartbreaking pain, entered the intensive care unit to visit his young son. The son, who did not recognize him at first, recognized his father after a while and asked him to kiss him. The father said, “Son, Daddy wants to kiss you, but the doctor says not now. But, maybe someday after this I'll be able to kiss you." Then his son Denny said, “Am I going to die?” I asked. “Why are you afraid to die?” Asking the father, his son Denny said: “Dad, I was scared because it felt like someone was telling me I was going to die this morning. But then Jesus came to me and said, ‘Son, don’t be afraid. I'm with you.' After that, I’m not afraid.”
Believing in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus goes beyond the anxiety and fear of death.
Posay, a college professor, moved into the slums of Chicago to practice his faith. As it was a den of crime, he was assaulted and robbed as soon as he entered, and suffered daily suffering after that. However, he wrote the following account of his experience: “Christ overcame the world and saved the world on the cross. It was never accomplished in a safe and peaceful place. The resurrection of Christ began on the cross. Resurrection did not come from a safe and comfortable place.”
Everyone, please deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow the Lord for the glory of the resurrection. For this kind of life, I hope that you will be zealous in worshiping the Lord even in difficult circumstances, unfavorable conditions, and even at any loss. I hope you will listen to the word preached at every worship service with all your heart and live a life of obedience by keeping it in your heart.
When the resurrected Christ returns and brings all things to complete subjection by the work of God, Christ Himself submits to the Father. That is why God the Father is made to be in all things as Lord of all. In other words, the purpose of Christ the Son submitting to God the Father is that God the Father will be present and reign in all things, all resurrected or changed saints and all things, in the eternal kingdom of heaven. When that day comes, Christ the Son will rule not as mediator, but as God.
5. Conclusion
The disciples, who had been hiding in despair after seeing the crucified Lord Jesus, were completely changed by overcoming death and meeting the resurrected Jesus. Those disciples risked their lives, proclaiming, “The very one who was crucified to save mankind was confirmed as the Christ, the Son of God, by rising from the dead.” In fact, they even gave their lives that would not be changed by giving them under the world because of their conviction of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and of their own union with him. Christ has guaranteed our resurrection. May we all strengthen our faith in the resurrection that overcomes our worries and concerns, anxiety and fear, and the destruction of death and hell.
(Pungseong Methodist Church. Books: Complete Commentary on New Testament Volume 27/ Interpretation of Difficult Scriptures I, II/ Salvation Before Jesus Came/ Understanding Paul’s Man/ Prosperity Prayer/ Seasonal Sermonbooks/ Sermon Books 18. T. 426 -3051)