Home / Salvation / The Lord's Church / F.A.Q. / Previous Teachings

“ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES”

Thesis: To emphasize to the hearer the truth of the resurrection in order to motivate them to initial obedience, and unto faithful and fervent service in the Lord, which is always profitable (1 Cor 15:58).

Text: 1 Cor 15 (1-4)
1Co 15:1 Now I make known unto you brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye received, wherein also ye stand, 1Co 15:2 by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word which I preached unto you, except ye believed in vain. 1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (Isa 53:3-8) 1Co 15:4 and that he was buried; and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures; (Ps 16:8-10)

Introduction,
1. In this epistle the apostle Paul deals with a multitude of problems, let us remember that there are no perfect congregations, but the church at Corinth is probably a worse case scenario, thus it is wonderful that God has left this letter for us in order that we can see that error is to be dealt with, not ignored, for this is love (2 John 6).

2. By the content of the Epistle, we can conclude that Paul was addressing a multitude of questions they had asked him by letter (1 Cor 7:1), we see the word “concerning” or “now concerning” 7 times in the letter in response to questions they had, and also Paul had heard reports of what was transpiring at this particular congregation from members of the household of Chloe (1 Cor 1:11) and probably others.

3. Things were way out of hand, even to point that Paul had threatened them to come to them with the rod of apostolic power (1 Cor 4:21), think about Paul coming to this congregation, or a congregation uptown with the apostilic rod, he might strike some of us blind for a season or perhaps even strike us dead in the sin of our error, this ought to bring the fear of God on all those that believe (Acts 5:5), being a child of God is serious business to say the least

4. At Corinth there were divisions, contentions, and immorality taking place, yet church discipline was not being practiced in these matters, members were taking each other to civil courts, there were quarrels over marriage, quarrels over fellowship with pagans, quarrels over foods offered to idols, quarrels over the Lord’s supper, quarrels over the behavior of the women in the assembly, quarrels over the assembly in general, there was trouble and divisions concerning spiritual gifts, and lastly, when you think that you heard it all, some of them were actually denying the reality of the bodily resurrection on the Last Day, probably due to Grecian belief combined with Sadducean influence (neither of which believed in a bodily resurrection).

5. Impossible though it may seem, there are even some today who profess to follow Christ, that also deny a general bodily resurrection, of both the lost and the saved simultaneously, who will then appear before the judgment seat of Christ, and be judged primarily by their response to God’s commands (John 12:48; Rom 2:16; Rev 20:12), and those that did obey, by their works of service unto God they did while in their physical bodies (Mt 25, the parable of the talents, the Judgment scene).

6. Thus in this lesson we will take a closer look at the resurrection, in order to build our faith, hope, the love of God and others, that these may mature inwardly and be demonstrated outwardly unto the life eternal. Therefore we will look at . . .
1) The assertion concerning no bodily resurrection and it ramifications (v 12-19, 29-34).
2) The facts concerning the resurrection (v 20-56).
3) What should be our response in view of the truth of the resurrection (v 55-58).

I. THE ASSERTION CONCERNING THE RESURRECTION AND ITS RAMIFICATIONS (v 12-19; 29-34)

A In v 5-10 Paul goes through a lengthy list of people who had seen the resurrected Christ, which included the apostles and over 500 people at one time, (surely 500 people could not have been tricked or have had a simultaneous hallucination), he then states in v 11 that this was what was preached to them, and they believed it! In fact their baptism (Acts 18:8) shadowed His death, burial and resurrection (Rom 6:3-5) . . .

Rom 6:3 Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Rom 6:4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. Rom 6:5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection;

B. So how could they now possibly believe that there is no resurrection? (v 12) Their salvation was based upon these very facts, then Paul uses common logic concerning this matter (v 13-18) . . .

1Co 15:13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither hath Christ been raised: 1Co 15:14 and if Christ hath not been raised, then is our preaching vain, your faith also is vain. 1Co 15:15 Yea, we are found false witnesses of God; because we witnessed of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead are not raised. 1Co 15:16 For if the dead are not raised, neither hath Christ been raised: 1Co 15:17 and if Christ hath not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 1Co 15:18 Then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

1. The bottom line is if Christ is not raised, then Christianity is a lie, For if there is no reason to believe in the resurrection of the dead, there is no reason to believe in the immortality of the soul, or of a future state, but rather the soul perishes with the body, we will die in our sins, and simply cease to exist! (v 19)

1Co 15:19 If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.

2. Therefore to live a life on this earth, choosing to be persecuted for the cause of Christ (2 Tim 3:12), without the hope of a blessing for such (Mt 5:10-12), laying up earthly treasures for heavenly rewards (Mt 6:19-21), when there is none, focusing upon the things above (2 Cor 4:16-5:1; Col 3:1-4), while in fact there is no hope of such a place, we Christians are most pathetic.

C. Then Paul gives them some more reasons for the reality of the resurrection in verses 29-34

1. (v 29)

1Co 15:29 Else what shall they do that are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?

a. In this verse the word “baptized” (“baptizo”) can, and probably should be translated in the middle voice, which would read like this . . .

“What shall they do that are baptized for their own benefit (separation from the [spiritually] dead [in eternity]?) If the dead are not raised at all, why are they baptized for themselves?”

2. (v 30)

1Co 15:30 Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour?

a. Being a Christian was a very dangerous undertaking in Paul’s time, if there is no resurrection, only a fool would submit himself to such things for no good reason.

3. (v 31)

1Co 15:31 I protest by that glorifying in you, brethren, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

a. Paul boasted of their coming to Christ, yet he was in travail unto death daily because of the errors they were involved in, and the other congregations (2 Cor 11:28), why was he so troubled if there was nothing for them to miss out on?

4. (v 32).

1Co 15:32 If after the manner of men I fought with beasts at Ephesus, what doth it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.

a. He struggled against the enemies of the gospel at Ephesus (Acts 19), and for what reason? If we die like animals, (like some assert) let us live like animals!

5. (v 33).

1Co 15:33 Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals.

a. Don’t be deceived, do not live like the ungodly (eating and drinking in excess), nor associate with them in their worldly acts, it will make you just like them, without God and without hope! (Eph 2:12)

6. (v 34).

1Co 15:34 Awake to soberness righteously, and sin not; for some have no knowledge of God: I speak this to move you to shame.

a. AWAKE! Out of these sinful activities, and do not take heed to those that teach such things as “there is no resurrection” you ought to be ashamed (Rom 6:21).

b. Those today who teach or believe not the truth concerning the resurrection, also ought to be ashamed, let us speak the truth to them in love in order that they may inherit the resurrection unto life, not judgment (John 5:29), this is “the assertion and some of the ramifications of there being no resurrection.”

II. THE FACTS CONCERNING THE RESURRECTION (V 20-28)

A. (v 20)

1Co 15:20 But now hath Christ been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of them that are asleep.

1. Yes, Christ has been raised from the dead, these philanthropists that assert they have found the so called Jesus tomb (with Him in it) ought to repent and obey the gospel, He is not dead, He has risen, and He was the first to be raised from the dead, never to die again (Rev 1:18), and those that live faithful lives unto God can also look forward to life forevermore.

2. Those that imitate His life by can expect to imitate Christ in His resurrection (John 14:6).

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.

3. Those that imitate His death in obedience to the command of a believer’s immersion (Mk 16:16) for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), and remain faithful can expect to enter into heaven as He did, He is their forerunner (Heb 6:19-20).

Heb 6:19 which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil; Heb 6:20 whither as a forerunner, Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

4. Christ spoken of as being a Forerunner into heaven (Heb 6:20), implies there will be others that follow; this is “the way,” “the truth” about eternal “life” in “the place” that He prepared for those that believe and are baptized into Christ, who love Him and keep His commandments (John 14:2-3).

Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions (abiding-places); if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

5. But what happened to Jesus while He was in the tomb for 3 days?

a. At His death His spirit went back to God who gave it (Eccl 12:7) (Luke 23:46).

Ecc 12:7 and the dust returneth to the earth as it was, and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it.

Luk 23:46 And Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: . . .

b. But what did God do with His spirit? Luke 23:43 gives us the answer (Luke 23:43). Luk 23:43 And he said unto him (the thief on the cross), Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in Paradise.

c. Paradise at this present time is located in Hades, the realm of disembodied spirits.

(“Paradise” is a Persian word that is a general term which denotes a park or pleasure ground, and can appropriately be any place especially prepared for enjoyment, for this reason Eden (“pleasure” BDB) is referred to as a Paradise. Also the marginal reading is “garden” for “paradise” in Rev 2:7 as seen in Gen 2:8, 8, 9, 15, 16; 3:1, 2, 3, 8, 10, 23, 24; the place of the righteous dead in Hades is referred to as “Paradise” (Luke 23:43; 1 Cor 12:4), and also eternity with God in the new heavens and new earth is referred to as “Paradise” (Rev 2:7; 22:2), let us remember that there are many mansions (abodes; John 14:2) in the heavenly places and they are all good, enjoyable, pleasurable to those that love God and strive to be likened unto Him).)

d. In Luke 16:19-31 we learn that Hades consist of two compartments, one for the faithful, and one for the unfaithful and unbelieving, and no one can cross over from one side to the other.

e. Jesus said He and the thief on the cross were going to Paradise on that very day,

f. Yet Peter in his sermon at Pentecost told us that Hades is where Jesus went (Acts 2:27, 31b).

Act 2:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul unto Hades, Neither wilt thou give thy Holy One to see corruption.

Act 2:31b . . . that neither was he left unto Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

g. Thus seeing that the sum of God’s word is truth (Ps 119:160; ASV), we must conclude that Paradise is in Hades, or we could state that Hades for the faithful will be a Paradise.

h. “Nor did His flesh see corruption” means that while Jesus’ (spirit) went to Hades, his body did not decay while it was in the tomb.

i. Therefore we see that death is merely a separation of body and spirit, and that, only until Christ’s 2nd coming, as James wrote (Ja 2:26) . . .

Jam 2:26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.

B. (v 21-22)

1Co 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

Because of the first sin, mankind was ousted from God's presence and from the tree of life, which, when eaten, enabled a human to live forever (Gen 3:22), [here we see Paul alluding to the Genesis account, which some who allow women to exercise authority over men in their common assemblies assert Paul doesn’t believe in, that doesn’t seem to be the case, as seen in many other passages (Acts 24:14)]

1. Thus because of the sin in the Garden, all mankind was subject to physical death; and because of our own sins (Rom 5:12), every accountable person has also been separated spiritually from God (“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;” Rom 3:23).

2. Yet because of the great love, power and foreknowledge of God, He set up a plan, His eternal purpose (Eph 3:11), the church that belongs to Christ, before the foundation of the world it was conceived, so that mankind could be saved, and ultimately return into the very presence of God.

3. This plan is the revealed in the NT, it is the gospel of Jesus Christ, the faith, in the church, the kingdom, the body of Christ, that location that is known as “in Christ,” is the only place where every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies are available (Eph 1:3), and that would include the resurrection unto eternal life in Heaven.

C. (v 23)

1Co 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ's, at his coming.

1. Christ is presently in heaven, seated on the throne of David (Acts 2:30-31), ruling (Col 3:17) over all things to His church (Eph 1:22-23) through the instrumentality of the NT (John 12:49; 17:4, 8, 20-21).

a. When He comes again, those that lived faithful lives “in Christ,” along with all the faithful throughout the ages will be raised as Christ was raised, to the resurrection of life (eternal life),

b. Yet all will be raised, the obedient and the disobedient (John 5:28-29).

Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, Joh 5:29 and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.

c. Paul also affirmed in Acts 24:15, that there would be but “one” resurrection (Acts 24:15). Act 24:15 . . . there shall be a (singular) resurrection both of the just and unjust.

d. All will be resurrected, come before the judgment seat of Christ, the faithful will be saved, those that did not obey, or did not know (2 Thess 1:8-9), or followed blind religious leaders (Mt 15:14), instead of God’s word, will be thrown into the lake of fire, with Satan and his cohorts as seen in (Rev 20:12, 15)

Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works . . . Rev 20:15 And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.

D. (v 24)

1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power.

1. Christ (at His 2nd coming) will at this time relinquish His authority over the kingdom; He will hand the reigns of the kingdom back to the Father.

a. Yet there are numerous groups of sincere religious people who teach, multiple general resurrections, Christ ruling on earth when He comes, annihilation of the lost, that the spirit does not live after death, and so on, yet the Bible is plain and clear on these matters, and the Bible does mean what it says.

E. (25-26)

1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet. 1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be abolished is death.

1. Christ came and took away the fear of death for those that imitate Him and believe (Heb 2:14-15), yet physical death will still continue until Christ comes again, then it will no longer exist (1 Cor 15:54; Rev 21:4).

F. (v 27-28)

1Co 15:27 For, He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that HE is excepted who did subject all things unto him. 1Co 15:28 And when all things have been subjected unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to him that did subject all things unto him, that God may be all in all.

1. God did not put himself under Christ, the ultimate purpose of the coming of Christ was to bring all things back to God the Father, as in the beginning of creation; this will take place on the last day.(Rev 21:3-4) . . .

Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God: Rev 21:4 and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away.

G. (v 35-38) In verses 35-49 the inspired Paul, describes some of the details of the resurrected body.

1Co 15:35 But some one will say, How are the dead raised? and with what manner of body do they come? 1Co 15:36 Thou foolish one, that which thou thyself sowest is not quickened except it die: 1Co 15:37 and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not the body that shall be, but a bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other kind; 1Co 15:38 but God giveth it a body even as it pleased him, and to each seed a body of its own.

1. He first uses the figure of planting grain, a seed is planted, if it is not dead and dried up, it will rot in the ground, but if it dies and is planted, a totally different thing immerges out of the ground.

a. And neither the seed, nor the sower is responsible for the plant that results, but rather God, Whose established natural laws, being created by the power His Word, did this.

b. In like manner, the dead, corruptible human body is planted in the ground; an imperishable body will immerge on the Last Day, according to His Word, it will come to pass, and each body will still keep its individuality.

H. (v 39)

1Co 15:39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fishes.

1. God has created all kinds of differing flesh, that of man, beast, bird, and fish, surely He can give an incorruptible body.

I. (v 40-41)

1Co 15:40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 1Co 15:41 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.

1. There are also different kinds of heavenly bodies; asteroids, planets, moons, the sun and stars, and they all have differing glories, some are bright, some are not, if God gave and controls all these, it is a simple thing for God to raise, change, and glorify the human body.

J. (v 42-44)

1Co 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 1Co 15:43 it is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 1Co 15:44 it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

1. Thus the natural body is sown in weakness and corruption; it will be raised, by God, a glorious, spiritual, incorruptible body.

K. (v 45-47)

1Co 15:45 So also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 1Co 15:46 Howbeit that is not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; then that which is spiritual. 1Co 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is of heaven.

1. Again we see Paul making illusion to the Genesis account, specifically Gen 2:7, which those that despise God’s word claim is not God’s word, and assert that does Paul believe it to be such, these need to repent and obey from the heart while they still can (Heb 9:27).

a. All the living originated from Adam, who was formed of the dust of the earth, while the resurrection will originate from Christ and His work, Who came from Heaven, begotten by the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35), in the womb of a virgin (Mt 1:22-23), according to the prophet Isaiah (Isa 7:14), God became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14).

L. (v 48-49)

1Co 15:48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 1Co 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

1. And we have borne the image of earthly Adam, we are all human, thus we will likewise all bear the image of the glorified, resurrected Christ, that which He became after His ascension (1 John 3:2; Phili 3:20-21).

1Jo 3:2 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.

Phi 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Phi 3:21 who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working whereby he is able even to subject all things unto himself.

a. The glorified body of Christ is probably that which Paul saw on the road to Damascus, his human eyes could not look upon Him without severe injury (Acts 26:13-15; 9:8-9)

Act 26:13 at midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them that journeyed with me. Act 26:14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying unto me in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the goad. Act 26:15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

Act 9:8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing; and they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. Act 9:9 And he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink.

M. (v 50)

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

1. Our bodies as they are on earth, cannot enter into Heaven, God is a spirit being (John 4:24), if we expect to enter into His abode, Heaven itself, we must be changed into something fitted for that realm.

N. (v 51-52)

1Co 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed, 1Co 15:52 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.

1. Yet not every person is going to have to experience physical death, when Christ comes again, those that have died will be raised and reunited with their spirits, and Hades will be destroyed (Rev 20:13), and those alive will be changed, the physical into the spiritual, that which is incorruptible (this is also reaffirmed in 1 Thess 4:16b-17).

1Th 4:16b and the dead in Christ shall rise first; 1Th 4:17 then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

O. (v 53-54)

1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1Co 15:54 But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

This is a reference to Isa 25:8-9 . . .

Isa 25:8 He hath swallowed up death for ever; and the Lord Jehovah will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the reproach of his people will he take away from off all the earth: for Jehovah hath spoken it. Isa 25:9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is Jehovah; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

1. This is the point that death is put under Christ’s feet, there will be no more reproduction, living on earth, nor dying (Rev 21:4), this is when verses 26-28 will be fulfilled. It should also be noted that at this time the earth will be burnt up (2 Pet 3:10), the Hadean realm will be destroyed (Rev 20:13), Christ will judge mankind (Acts 17:31), the saved will be eternally separated from the lost (Mt 25:46), and he will deliver the kingdom to the Father (v 24).

P. (v 55)

1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?

1. No longer will death prevail, the sting that death produces will be taken away, the fear of death has been taken away by the hope of eternal life in Christ (Heb 2:14-15), this hope will at this time become realized (Rom 8:24-25; 1 Pet 1:3-4).

K. (v 56)

1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law:

1. Both physical and spiritual death are results of sin (Rom 3:23), and sin results from breaking God’s laws (1 John 3:4) “For the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23), both physical death (separation from the tree of life) and spiritual death (separation from fellowship with God; Isa 59:2) are the end results of sin.

a. Here in this section of scripture are “the wonderful facts concerning the truth of the bodily resurrection.”

III. OUR RESPONSE IN VIEW OF THE TRUTH OF THE RESURRECTION

A. (v 57)

1Co 15:57 but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1. We ought to be thankful, we can and should be victorious “in Christ,”God set up a plan, He made it come to pass, unfolding it throughout the ages, His eternal purpose, the kingdom, the church.

2. He paid our sin debt in full with His only begotten Son’s blood, and He gave us that which only could motivate us unto obedience, love (John 14:15; 15:13).

3. He gave a perfect Law (Ja 1:25), that imperfect man, with diligence, can keep, and which actually transforms its keeper (Rom 12:2) . . .

Rom 12:2 And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

4. And He gave us hope, in order that we can obey, serve, worship, endure, persevere, and prevail in the face of temptations (1 Pet 1:3-4).

1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1Pe 1:4 unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

B. (v 58)

1Co 15:58 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord.

1. With all this in view, is there any reason that one should not remain steadfast and immovable, living a faithful life “in Christ” according to the gospel, serving God with all He has given us. Nothing one does according to God’s will is fruitless, the lost may not respond to teaching or preaching, but they cannot obey, if they never hear (Rom 10:13-17).

2. The saints, the poor, the widowed, and the orphaned may not know who helped them, but God sees all, and rewards all, who do His holy will (Mt 6:3-4).

3. It is also His will that all be saved (1 Tim 2:4), yet our Lord says few are they that find the way that leads to eternal life (Mt 7:14).

4. Why? Because Satan is working overtime, through the doctrines of men, through wolves in sheep’s clothing, through the slothfulness, pride, and ignorance of those who God wants saved.

5. God laid out a plan for the salvation of mankind in the NT in the 1st century, we sinned as they sinned, we are saved as they were saved.

6. There is but one gospel (Gal 1:6-9), one faith (Eph 4:5), it has been once and for all delivered (Jude 3), it’s complete, that perfect law of liberty (Ja 1:25), therefore revelation has ceased (1 Cor 13:8-10; Eph 4:8-14)

7. No man, nor group of men, can change God's plan, those that do such are accursed of God (Gal 1:6-9), both the blind and those that follow the blind are eternally doomed (Mt 15:14).

8. Here’s the Bible, you can understand it (Eph 3:4) the sum of it is truth (Ps 119:160).

9. It says exactly what it means, and no one can be saved outside of loving obedience to it (Rom 6:17-18). One must . . .

1) Hear the Word of God (Acts 2:37; Rom 10:17);

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

2) Believe that Jesus is the Divine resurrected Christ (Acts 8:37; John 8:24; Rom 10:9), and that God rewards those that earnestly seek after Him (Heb 11:6). Jesus said . . .

Joh 8:24 . . . for except ye believe that I am, ye shall die in your sins.

3) Repent of sins, (Acts 17:30; Luke 13:3, 5), Jesus stated . . .

Luk 13:3 . . . except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish.

4) Confess Christ before men (Acts 8:37; Rom 10:9) as it is written . . .

Rom 10:9 because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved:

5) Be baptized (immersed) into Christ (Gal 3:27) into the death of Christ (Rom 6:3) where His blood was shed (John 19:34) unto (for the purpose of) the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38; 22:16); at which point God adds you to the church (Acts 2:47) translates you into the kingdom (Col 1:13) adds you to that one body (1 Cor 12:13) which Christ promised to save (Eph 5:23).

6) And live a holy and faithful life (1 Pet 1:15; Rev 2:10), not just one day a week, but every day, determined to follow God’s divine instructions, thereby demonstrating our hope in the truth of the resurrection, setting our sights on heavenly things, while serving our God with His earthly blessings.


"That in us ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written"

Contact us:
Evangelist - Kenneth Windbiel
715-866-4873
kensanwind@hotmail.com

We teach publicly and from house to house (Acts 20:20),
therefore if you would like to set up a house teaching session
or meet in a public place to discuss the gospel of Christ,
please contact us through any of the options listed upon this web site.

 Salute the church that is in their house . . .
The churches of Christ salute you. Rom 16:5, 16