KINGDOM LIVING: The Gospel pt.4

LIVING UNDER KINGDOM AUTHORITY

February 9, 2025

THE GOSPEL Pt. 4

1 Corinthians 15:20-34

 

1 Corithians 15

INTRODUCTION:

 

1 Corinthians 15:1-2

The MANDATE of the Gospel.

·        Preach the gospel

·        Receive the gospel

·        Stand on the gospel

·        Saved by the gospel

 

 

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

The MESSAGE of the Gospel.

·        Christ paid for our sins

·        Christ removed our sins

·        Christ defeated our sins

 

 

1 Corinthians 15:12-20

The MUST of the Gospel.

Without the resurrection:

·        Preaching is MEANINGLESS.

·        Faith is WITHOUT SUBSTANCE.

·        Disciples are DECIEVERS.

·        Sin is STILL WINNING.

·        Death has DOMANANCE.

·        Future is FEARFUL.

 

 

 

 

TEXT:

1 Corinthians 15:20-34 (NIV) ²⁰ But Christ has indeed 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 comes also through a man.²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.²³ But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.²⁴ Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.²⁵ For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.²⁶ The last enemy to be destroyed is death.²⁷ For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.²⁸ When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.

²⁹ Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?³⁰ And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour?³¹ I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.³² If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,

“Let us eat and drink,
    for tomorrow we die.”

³³ Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” ³⁴ Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

 

Highlights:

1 Corinthians 15:20b (NIV) …the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

 

1 Corinthians 15:23 (NIV)But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 15:20a (NIV)But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead!

 

 

 

 v. 20 …the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 

 

 

 

 

THREE THINGS ABOUT FIRSTFRUITS: 

 

1.

 

Leviticus 23:2 (NIV) Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.

 

Leviticus 23:4 (NIV) “These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times.”

 

 

 

 

 

Three Feasts:

 

·        The First feasts is

 

Leviticus 23:5 (NIV) The Lord’s Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month.

 

 

 

·        The Second feast is

 

Leviticus 23:6 (NIV) On the fifteenth day of that month the Lord’s Festival of Unleavened Bread begins; for seven days you must eat bread made without yeast. 

 

 

 

·        The Third feast is

 

Leviticus 23:10-11 (NIV)“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain [firstfruits] you harvest.¹¹ He is to wave the sheaf before the Lord so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath.’”

 

 

 

 

 

Leviticus 23:10 (NIV) “When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest…”

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.

 

Leviticus 23:10 (NIV) “When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain [firstfruits] you harvest.”

 

 

 

 

Leviticus 23:11 (NIV) He is to wave the sheaf before the Lord so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath.’

 

 

 

 

Leviticus 23:11 (NIV) the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath.’

 

 

 

 

Order of these feasts:

 

·        First came Passover on

·        Second came Unleavened Breadon

·        Third came Firstfruits on

 

 

1 Corinthians 15:20 (NIV)²⁰ But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  

 

1 Corinthians 15:23 (NIV)But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.

 

Leviticus 23:14b (NIV) This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live.

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 15:20-23 (NIV)But Christ has indeed 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 comes also through a man.²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.²³ But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 15:20 (NIV)But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

 

1 Corinthians 15:23 (NIV)But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

 

 

 

Leviticus 23:11 (NIV) He is to wave the sheaf before the Lord so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath.

 

 

 

 

 

James 1:18 (NIV)He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

 

Romans 8:23 (NIV) Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.

 

 

Each feast is a picture of things to come.

 

·        When did Jesus die?

·        When was Jesus in the grave?

·        When did Jesus rise from the grave?

 

 

Joshua 1:8 (NIV)Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

 

 

 

 

CONCLUSION:

 

1 Corinthians 15:29-34 (NIV) ²⁹ Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?³⁰ And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour?³¹ I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.³² If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,

“Let us eat and drink,
    for tomorrow we die.”

³³ Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” ³⁴ Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 15:29 (NIV) ²⁹ Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? 

 

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 15:30-32 (NIV)³⁰ And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour?³¹ I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.³² If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink,for tomorrow we die.”

 

 

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 15:33-34 (NIV)³³ Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” ³⁴ Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

 

 

 

 

Proverbs 13:20 (NIV) is worth noting in this context,

Walk with the wise and become wise,for a companion of fools suffers harm.

 

Proverbs 21:17 (NIV) Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;whoever loves wine… will never be rich.

 

1 Corinthians 15:34 (NIV)Come back to your senses, and stop sinningfor there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

 

 

John 8:32 (NIV)“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”

 

 

 

INVITTATION:

 

 

PRAYER:

 

 

ALTAR:

 

WORSHIP: