2016/01/31 Christ Church,
Mountain Top
Mountain Top
Call to Worship, Psalm 92
Children, Luke
6.39-49
6.39-49
Message, 1 Corinthians 15 (1-14,
35-58)
35-58)
The problem in Corinth:
The
“spiritual” who do not need their inferior bodies
“spiritual” who do not need their inferior bodies
Believe
in Christ’s resurrection, but NOT that of his followers
in Christ’s resurrection, but NOT that of his followers
Just
the immortal (and superior) soul
the immortal (and superior) soul
Body
issues
issues
Paul’s response:
Resurrection
of Jesus at the center of the gospel proclamation
of Jesus at the center of the gospel proclamation
(kerygma)
Resurrection
of Jesus is the reason that we will be resurrected
of Jesus is the reason that we will be resurrected
Can’t
have one without the other
have one without the other
Death
and sin are partners
and sin are partners
Can’t
defeat one without defeating the other
defeat one without defeating the other
What
does resurrection mean for the body? 2 analogies
does resurrection mean for the body? 2 analogies
KEY:
What does resurrection mean for our living?
What does resurrection mean for our living?
Afterlife conversation:
Nothing
No
immortal soul, no future for the body, nothing
immortal soul, no future for the body, nothing
Difficult
to explain why we should have any larger concern
to explain why we should have any larger concern
Immortal
soul (NOT body)
soul (NOT body)
Movie
Ghost, our eternal destiny based on
being good/bad
Ghost, our eternal destiny based on
being good/bad
Angelic
existence: “God needed another angel”
existence: “God needed another angel”
Clouds,
harps, wings
harps, wings
Reincarnation,
immortal soul (NEW body)
immortal soul (NEW body)
Our
next life based on how pure we are in this one
next life based on how pure we are in this one
Object:
Nirvana, no personal consciousness or body
Nirvana, no personal consciousness or body
Resurrection,
immortal soul, immortal body
immortal soul, immortal body
Our
next life is a gift of the grace of God-incarnate
next life is a gift of the grace of God-incarnate
Funerals:
He’s
in a better place
in a better place
She
looks good, at peace
looks good, at peace
Where
is hope located?
is hope located?
Death
inevitable
inevitable
Irma
to the cemetery salesman
to the cemetery salesman
Repeated phrase, “not in vain” –
impact of resurrection for living
impact of resurrection for living
Faith not in vain, 15.2, 14
Grace not in vain, 15.10
Proclamation in vain if Christ is
not raised, 15.14
not raised, 15.14
Labor in the Lord is not in vain,
15.58
15.58
Labor
in vain (product of sin, Genesis 3.17-19)
in vain (product of sin, Genesis 3.17-19)
Vain Faith, unpacked in the
partner problems of Death & Sin
partner problems of Death & Sin
You
are still in your sins, 15.17
are still in your sins, 15.17
Those
who have died in Christ have perished, 15.18
who have died in Christ have perished, 15.18
Continuity and Change: Two
Analogies
Analogies
Seed
: Bodies
: Bodies
Adam
: Christ
: Christ
Continuity:
seed and plant, DNA
seed and plant, DNA
(yet
change, after burial)
change, after burial)
Change:
image of Adam or image of Christ (last Adam)
image of Adam or image of Christ (last Adam)
“as
all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ” 15.22
all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ” 15.22
(yet
continuity – Adam, image)
continuity – Adam, image)
“We will ALL be changed” –
resurrection applies even to those who have not died (“rapture”)
resurrection applies even to those who have not died (“rapture”)
Jesus, “the first fruits” (15.20)
from the dead, the MODEL for our resurrection. Things Jesus could do in his
resurrected body:
from the dead, the MODEL for our resurrection. Things Jesus could do in his
resurrected body:
Walk
Eat
Talk
Touch
and be touched
and be touched
Enter
through locked doors, without opening them
through locked doors, without opening them
Be
recognized – and be unrecognized (changed)
recognized – and be unrecognized (changed)
Trojan Horse and Jesus’
resurrection
resurrection
The
last enemy to be destroyed is death, 15.26
last enemy to be destroyed is death, 15.26
Death
has been swallowed up in victory, 15.54
has been swallowed up in victory, 15.54
Early Fathers (Aulen, Christus Victor, 52-53)
Cheese
in a mouse trap (Augustine)
in a mouse trap (Augustine)
Bait
on a hook (Gregory of Nyssa)
on a hook (Gregory of Nyssa)
Christ “concealed himself under
the veil of our nature, in order that, as happens with greedy fishes, together
with the bait of the flesh the hook of the Godhead might also be swallowed, and
so, through Life passing over into death, and the Light arising in the
darkness, that which is opposed to Life and Light might be brought to nought.
For darkness cannot endure when the Light shines, nor can death remain in being
where Life is active”
the veil of our nature, in order that, as happens with greedy fishes, together
with the bait of the flesh the hook of the Godhead might also be swallowed, and
so, through Life passing over into death, and the Light arising in the
darkness, that which is opposed to Life and Light might be brought to nought.
For darkness cannot endure when the Light shines, nor can death remain in being
where Life is active”
Implications for our living:
The
message (kerygma) matters
message (kerygma) matters
God’s
grace changes lives
grace changes lives
Faith
in Jesus gives victory over both sin & death
in Jesus gives victory over both sin & death
All
we do to serve and obey Jesus LASTS
we do to serve and obey Jesus LASTS
(Unlike
our labor under the effects of sin)
our labor under the effects of sin)
The curse, broadly speaking, is
undone!
undone!
Resources:
Gordon Fee. 1987. The First Epistle to the Corinthians.
Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Gustav Aulen. 1986 (1968). Christus Victor: An historical study of the
three main types of the idea of the atonement. New York: Collier.
three main types of the idea of the atonement. New York: Collier.
