Digging Deeper Days
Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
Today is 2-for-1 Friday!
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The Questions
1) What effect did the gospel of Christ have on Paul’s life? (verses 1-10)
2) Why is death the last enemy to be destroyed? (verse 26)
3) What is the significance of the last trumpet? (verse 52)
1 Corinthians 15
Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11 Whether, then, it is I or they, so we proclaim and so you have believed.
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say, “There is no resurrection of the dead”? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith. 15 Moreover, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified wrongly about God that he raised up Christ—whom he did not raise up, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Those, then, who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. 19 If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.
20 But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. 22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
23 But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at his coming, those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he abolishes all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he puts all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be abolished is death. 27 For God has put everything under his feet. Now when it says “everything” is put under him, it is obvious that he who puts everything under him is the exception. 28 When everything is subject to Christ, then the Son himself will also be subject to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.
29 Otherwise what will they do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are people baptized for them? 30 Why are we in danger every hour? 31 I face death every day, as surely as I may boast about you, brothers and sisters, in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus as a mere man, what good did that do me? If the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” 34 Come to your senses and stop sinning; for some people are ignorant about God. I say this to your shame.
35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have when they come?” 36 You fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And as for what you sow—you are not sowing the body that will be, but only a seed, perhaps of wheat or another grain. 38 But God gives it a body as he wants, and to each of the seeds its own body. 39 Not all flesh is the same flesh; there is one flesh for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 40 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is different from that of the earthly ones. 41 There is a splendor of the sun, another of the moon, and another of the stars; in fact, one star differs from another star in splendor. 42 So it is with the resurrection of the dead: Sown in corruption, raised in incorruption; 43 sown in dishonor, raised in glory; sown in weakness, raised in power; 44 sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So it is written, The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, then the spiritual.
47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 Like the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; like the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we will also bear the image of the man of heaven.
50 What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor can corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. 53 For this corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality. 54 When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place:
Death has been swallowed up in victory.
55 Where, death, is your victory?
Where, death, is your sting?
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! 58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Original Intent
1) What effect did the gospel of Christ have on Paul’s life? (verses 1-10)
Paul’s personal story is a true tale of redemption. We see his lineage and pedigree and we walk away impressed. (Philippians 3:4-6) Like any good storyteller, we must start at the beginning to see what Paul counts as valuable more than his rich, accomplished heritage. The New Testament book of Acts is a riveting history of church growth following Jesus’ ascension to Heaven. Nestled in the ninth chapter is the story of Saul, a fervent persecutor of believers in Christ. (Acts 8:2) As he traveled near Damascus, Saul was interrupted by the voice of Jesus. (Acts 9:4-6) Struck blind and led to a house for help, Saul regained his sight. Having been met by Jesus, and transformed by Him, Saul the persecutor became Paul the promoter of the gospel of Christ. His name was changed from Saul to Paul (Acts 13:9), and he ministered to many, including the Corinthians who we read about in today’s passage. (Acts 18:1) In his letter to the Corinthian believers, Paul admonished them to hold fast to the teaching he had given them, particularly concerning Christ’s resurrection as it was the absolute cornerstone of their faith. (verse 3-4) Paul calls himself the least of the disciples because of his rebellious history, yet God’s transformation moved him to become a catalyst for early church growth whose impact is still felt today! (verse 9)
2) Why is death the last enemy to be destroyed? (verse 26)
God intended each of us to live in uninterrupted fellowship with Himself as our Creator. God told Adam he could eat from any tree except the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. (Genesis 2:17) The serpent, representing Satan, tricked Eve into doubting God’s word and His goodness, and she ate the fruit of the forbidden tree. (Genesis 3:1-7) She offered some to her husband, Adam, who also chose sin, and thus, sin entered the world forever, separating God and man. Death was proclaimed as just consequence and the offenders were banished from the Garden and God’s perfect presence. (Genesis 3:19, Genesis 3:23) Sin now rules by default in every human heart. The last enemy to be destroyed will be death, and death comes to all because of sin. So how do we rid ourselves of sin? Alone, we cannot. Before Christ, no one was found worthy of paying the penalty for sinful man for all sin. The prophet Isaiah proclaimed the birth of Jesus, who would reign and take the punishment for our sin upon Himself. (Isaiah 9:6-7, 1 John 4:10) God desired fellowship so intently that He sent His only Son for our redemption, otherwise, we would be lost for eternity to the hell of separation from God and His good love. Though Christ ascended into Heaven, He will return to bring resurrection to those who are asleep (dead now, but having believed in Jesus while they lived). (John 3:16, Acts 1:9-11, Hebrews 9:28) Death will be destroyed, and eternity will be ushered in upon Christ’s return. No one knows when that will be (Matthew 24:33), but the decision on where eternity will be spent is for each of us to personally decide. (Luke 16:19-31)
3) What is the significance of the last trumpet? (verse 52)
Trumpets played a significant role in biblical times and are mentioned in over ten verses. Moses used them in gathering the Israelites before the Tent of Meeting where He would meet with God. (Numbers 10:2) Joshua instructed seven priests to carry seven ram’s-horn trumpets around the city of Jericho before God brought the city to its knees. (Joshua 6:4) Gideon sounded 300 trumpets before taking the victory over Midian that God had delivered to him. (Judges 7:19) A trumpet of celebration could be heard as David positioned the Ark of the Covenant in the temple, restoring worship and communion between God and His people as God had commanded. (2 Samuel 6:15) In the Old Testament book of Revelation, John, a beloved disciple of Jesus, is given a foretaste of the second coming of Christ. The Lord’s return will be announced with the blast of a trumpet. (verse 52) It will be followed by seven angels with seven trumpets who will usher in seven horrific judgments producing suffering throughout the earth. (Revelation 8) Returning to the Corinthians, Paul reminded his readers that not only will the trumpet sound at the end of time signal the undeniable return of Jesus, but it will render the end of life for all things as we know it. Whether alive when Christ returns or having been laid in the ground for centuries, all who have trusted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior will all be resurrected in victory! (1 Corinthians 15:35-44)
Everyday Application
1) What effect did the gospel of Christ have on Paul’s life? (verses 1-10)
A preacher once commented that one is not a Christian because of Christian grandparents or parents any more so than sitting in McDonalds makes you a Big Mac! No matter our heritage, coming to Christ is an individual decision. God has set eternity in the hearts of all men, meaning He created us to desire Him. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) The same effect the gospel had on Paul’s life is available to us. In this passage, Paul’s life represents the common narrative of life. We are born into certain families, become educated, and develop our morals and values. We choose political views and gravitate toward satisfying relationships and pursuit of happiness. That is, until our “Damascus” experience. Life happens. We are taken by surprise. We thought we were in control until we lost control. An illness presents itself, a loss is unexpected, or we are betrayed and blind-sighted by tragedy. We can no longer survive on our own, and, realizing our own brokenness, we cry out to the voice who has been calling us all along, Jesus. Where do we turn in defeat and disappointment? Jesus, just as Saul did. (Acts 9:4) We acknowledge God and His mercy in hearing us when we cry out to Him. (Deuteronomy 4:29-31) Friend, have you experienced the life-giving forgiveness and freedom that altered Paul’s life-trajectory? Like Saul was, are you also blind, believing you have control? Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved! (Acts 16:31) Exhort with Paul that acceptance of Christ means we are crucified with Christ, and our slavery to sin is rendered powerless for now we live in Christ! (Galatians 2:20) Jesus came to restore the sight of every human being and so much more if we will humbly accept Him! He offers freedom from prison and favor with God! (Luke 4:18-19)
2) Why is death the last enemy to be destroyed? (verse 26)
In his sermon on Psalm 91, D.L. Moody quipped, “I hunted all through the four Gospels trying to find one of Christ’s funeral sermons, but I couldn’t find any. I found He only broke up every funeral He ever attended! Death couldn’t exist where He was.” As believers, we need to remember that death is the beginning of our eternal, restored union with the Creator God who designed us for intimate relationship with Himself. One day, all who entrust themselves to Him, will wake up to see Christ face to face, ready to delight in the eternal reward of joy in His presence! (Psalm 16:10-11) As Paul states, Christ has been raised from the dead and because of this victory of Death and the Grave, we who believe in Him will also be raised from the dead like Him; what gloriously good news! Even death will be defeated forever! (verses 20-22) Therefore we have incorruptible Hope! Death has been destroyed, and we will be raised to new life, both in this life as we are free to live righteously, and for eternity where Death’s sting will never touch us. (Acts 2:26-27) We don’t need to wait for our physical death in order to embrace the life Christ died and rose again to give to us. We can live every day in the fullness of God’s promises, knowing that every yes in Christ is ours because of His victory! (2 Corinthians 1:20)
3) What is the significance of the last trumpet? (verse 52)
A trumpet is created by forming two pieces: a bell-shaped piece and a hollow stem that houses the mouthpiece and various valves. Usually, a trumpet is made of precious metal such as brass or silver. Our lives resemble a trumpet. We are precious because we reflect God Himself as we bear (Genesis 1:27) the image of the One who Created us, from the hand of the Creator; He wonderfully makes us for His plan and purpose. (Psalm 139:13-14, Ephesians 2:10) When we accept Christ as our Savior, we become the mouthpiece of this blessed hope, hope not just for today but for every one of our tomorrows into eternity. Just as a trumpet will not sound without air flowing through it, neither can we joyfully proclaim God’s blessings or live to Him unless the power of the Holy Spirit flows through us and we actively surrender to Him. The Holy Spirit is described as a rushing wind that came upon the believers in the New Testament book of Acts. (Acts 2:1-4) Are you ready for the last trumpet to sound? If not, today is the day of salvation! (2 Corinthians 6:2) Today, take Christ as your own and begin to sound your trumpet with Good News that Jesus Christ lives, and because he lives, we too will live both now and for eternity! (John 14:19)
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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!
1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
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Why Dig Deeper?
Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.
In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!
Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.
Study Tools
We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.
Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!
Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))
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