Sermon Series: I Corinthians

The Doctrine of Resurrection
1 Corinthians 15
Part Twelve: The Reasonableness of Resurrection, I-III

1 Corinthians 15:35-49

35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: 38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 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. 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. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

Introduction:

Review of the first eleven sermons on this chapter:

1. Introduction
2. The Transmission of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (15:1-4)
3. According to the Scriptures (15:3-4)
4. Christ Died For Our Sins (15:3)
5. And That He Was Buried (15:4)
6. The Final Fullness of the Gospel (4b-11)
    2) The Gospel Seen by Men (15:5-8)
    3) The Gospel Preached by Men (15:9-11b)
7. The Eye-Witnesses to the Resurrection (15:5-8)
8. The Path for Paul from Persecutor to Preacher (15:8-11)
9. No Resurrection of the Dead? (15:12-19)
10. The Direct Connections to the Firstfruits of the Resurrection (15:20-28)
11. Why Bother? Onward Christian Soldiers! (15:29-34)

Bible Study Pointers:

Studying the Bible profitably, properly, successfully and submissively involves the asking of questions. Ask questions of the text. Look for answers. Ask the right questions! Find the right answers!

1. Comparison: What is there that is common to each paragraph or section (what do they have in common, if anything)?
2. Contrast: What is there that is different in each paragraph or section?
3. Shift: What has changed from one paragraph or section to the next?
4. Development: What development does this change or shift signify?
5. Beginning: Where is the author coming from?
6. End: Where is the author going to?
7. Middle: How is the author getting there?
8. Gist: What is the most important statement(s) or point(s) in the passage?

From the introductory message:

"What does it mean if we do not understand how it is possible? – Verses 35-49
The question restated: Is this doctrine reasonable even if we find ourselves at the frontiers of reason in striving to understand it?"

Outline:

The Possibility of Resurrection Questioned (15:35)
The Questioner of Resurrection Confronted (15:36)
The Reality of Resurrection Explained (15:37-41)
The Nature of Resurrection Connected (15:42-49)  


I. The Possibility of Resurrection Questioned (15:35) - Objection

But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?

The nature of the question - "How...?"

The sense of the question - "With what body...?"


II. The Questioner of Resurrection Confronted (15:36) - Exclamation

Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:

Reasoning with the Unreasonable

Ps. 14:1 - The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

Science beyond the Scientists

Jn. 12:24 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

The Philosopher climbing the Mountain in search of Wisdom - the Theologians are already there

What is a Philosopher?
A Blind Man trying to find a Black Cat in a Dark Room who isn't there!



III. The Reality of Resurrection Explained (15:37-41) - Explanation and Foundation

³⁷ And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: ³⁸ But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. ³⁹ All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 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. 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.

Three Examples:

First Example - Plant Kingdom (Agriculture)

Second Example - Animal Kingdom

Third Example - Solar System (40-41) and beyond - Celestial Bodies

Phil. 2:10 - That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Pastor's Sermon Notes - March 22, 2009

Christ Our Passover
1 Corinthians 5:6-8
[6] Your glorying is not good.
Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
[7] Purge out therefore the old leaven,
that ye may be a new lump,
as ye are unleavened.
For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
[8] Therefore let us keep the feast,
not with old leaven,
neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness;
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Introduction:
Review: The issue is the purity of the Church, and Church discipline when wickedness is detected within the Church

Bible Study Pointer: Pay attention to the New Testament’s usage of the Old Testament! Learn the Old Testament to understand the New Testament!

Key features of this passage: leaven, Passover, the spiritual significance of leaven

Outline:

Don’t Glory Until the Old Leaven is Purged Out –
What’s up with all this about leaven? (5:6-7c)

Christ our Passover is Sacrificed for Us –
How is Christ our Passover? (5:7d)

Keep the Feast with Unleavened Bread –
How are we to keep the leaven out of the feast? (5:8)

Difficulties:
Sequence of events: purging of corruption, sealing with blood protecting from Angel of Death, the Destroyer, celebration of the Feast

Treading underfoot the blood of the Covenant, Hebrews 10:26-31 

I. Don’t Glory Until the Old Leaven is Purged Out – What’s up with all this about leaven? (5:6-7c)

Your glorying is not good.
Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump,
as ye are unleavened.

1. The Problem - Your glorying is not good (5:6)

1 Cor. 3:21 - Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;

1 Cor. 5:2 - And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

James 4:16 - But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

Romans 6:16 - Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

The problem is that glorying is inappropriate while leaven is present in any amount.

2. The Principle - a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump (5:7a)

Leaven as corruption

1 Cor. 15:33 - Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

Hosea 7:4 - They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened.

The effect of even a little corruption is total

Galatians 5:9 - A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

The Parable of the Leaven

Matthew 13:33 - Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

Luke 13:20-21 - And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

3. The Solution - Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened (5:7b)

The Original Passover

Exodus 12:1-14, 21-30

The Feast of Unleavened Bread

Exodus 12:15 - Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. [3-20, 1-30]

Exodus 12:19 - Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.

Exodus 12:21-23 - Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. [22] And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. [23] For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.

Exodus 13:7 - Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters. [3-10]

Deut. 16:3 - Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.

The Leaven of the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and Herod

Matthew 16:6 - Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. [5-12]

Matthew 16:11-12 - How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? [12] Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Mark 8:15 - And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. [14-21]

Luke 12:1 - In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

The Jewish Traditions for Purging Leaven

Helpful sources on Jewish traditions concerning the Passover, leaven, and preparation for the Passover, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread:

http://www.myjewishlearning.com
[accessed 21 MAR 2009]

http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com
[accessed 21 MAR 2009]

http://www.chabad.org
[accessed 21 MAR 2009] 

II. Christ our Passover is Sacrificed for Us –
How is Christ our Passover? (5:7d)

For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

Sounding a sweet note in the middle of a grievous confrontation!

The Original Passover

Exodus 12:1-14, 21-30

Christ Our Passover

Isaiah 53:7 - He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

John 19:14 - And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

1 Peter 1:19 - But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Sequence of events: purging of corruption, sealing with blood protecting from Angel of Death, the Destroyer, celebration of the Feast – This has to do with future judgment – the present is the time for preparation – purging out the leaven, and remaining under the protection of the blood of the Covenant – the Passover, the judgment and destruction of the world (Egypt), and unbelievers (Egyptians) is yet future – the Feast will be kept as the Marriage Supper of the Lamb

Consider the significance of treading underfoot the blood of the Covenant in Hebrews –

[26] For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, [27] But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. [28] He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: [29] Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? [30] For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. [31] It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
(Hebrews 10:26-31) 

III. Keep the Feast with Unleavened Bread –
How are we to keep the leaven out of the feast? (5:8)

Therefore let us keep the feast,not with old leaven,
neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness;
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Jewish traditions concerning the keeping of the Feast

The “old” leaven

The leaven of “malice and wickedness”

The Leaven of the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and Herod

Matthew 16:6 - Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. [5-12]

Matthew 16:11-12 - How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? [12] Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Mark 8:15 - And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. [14-21]

Luke 12:1 - In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

The unleavened bread of “sincerity and truth”

The lessons to be learned from the Jewish understanding

Conclusion:

How meticulous are we in purging out leaven?

How concerned are we concerning impurity in our lives and in the Church?

Get your spiritual “toothbrushes” out!

Purge out the old leaven! Keep the Feast in a way that honors and glorifies our Passover!

[Sermon preached by Pastor John T. "Jack" Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA on March 22, 2009.]