1 Corinthians 15
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
Paul delivered them The Truth of the gospel with love and salt. He stuck to The Truth without wavering or conforming.
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
"if ye keep in memory", now the only way to keep The Truth in your mind is to continue to stay in it. Study Everyday! If you stop, the void will be filled by the world and satan. Another reason why an hour a week isn't enough. Stop playing with your phone and open The Word of God.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
Paul taught them first, the purpose of Christ, the death, burial and resurrection. That He came for us, the last sacrifice forever. That Christ is The Only Way to life everlasting. †
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
"Cephas" is Peter and we know although Judas was of the twelve, he wasn't there to witness Christ burial or resurrection on that third day. I believe Paul counts him because Judas had repented because of his actions. Matthew 27:3-4 3 Then Judas, which had betrayed Him, when he saw that He was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, "What is that to us? see thou to that."
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
Paul's saying, that many have seen Christ after His resurrection and some of these 500 witnesses have died, but many remain at this time.
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
Paul came upon Christ in a time he was about to go murder Christians. He was on the road to Damascus. Acts 9:3-9 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 3 = Resurrection Paul was born from above, a new man stood with a purpose beyond his own.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
Humility †
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Paul didn't sit around with a poor me attitude, but that of a can do child of God. It wasn't by Paul's power, but the power of The One in him that he was able to do the things he has for Christ. When God is with you, His favor will be done through you, for you and with you.
11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
You can't be a true Christian and believe there is no after life. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
If you don't believe when you die you go to heaven, then Christ is still in the tomb and your loved ones are in a hole in the ground.
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
If you believe Christ hasn't risen, then you're wasting your time and anyone telling you about Christ. This life isn't a game. There must be Truth or everything is a lie and if everything's a lie, you're not really here, your just imagining the whole thing.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
If you don't believe Christ has risen then you believe anyone who teaches it is a liar and anyone that believes those that have died and risen are fools.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
If you don't believe those that have died have risen, then you must not believe Christ has risen. We are about to see in this study, there are many doctrines that teach contrary to what God's Word teaches on this subject of where those that have died are, Right Now.
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
You're still carrying everyone of your past sins if you deny Christ has risen and you will always have them.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
And if you don't believe in Christ, then in your mind, everyone you have known that has died is nothing, nor will be anything ever again.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
Those without Christ in their lives may not see just how miserable their lives have become. Once you've given your life to Christ, you see things for what they were and really are. You realize the time you've wasted rejecting The Truth.
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
Christ defeated death, which is to say satan, when He gave his life for us. He went to those from the very beginning, that they too would have the choice we have been given. Him or satan. 1 Peter 3:18-19 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Our Father is loving and gives everyone the same chance. Those that have died and rejected God's ways are in their spiritual bodies and were given the same opportunity to chose Christ Jesus as we in these flesh bodies have been given. They're NOT in a hole in the ground as we plainly see here.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
Our Father told the humans in the garden not to partake of that tree [satan] of the knowledge of good and evil, and they did, setting forth the beginning of the sin, but our Father loves us and want all to have The Way [Christ] to Him.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
As humans we die, but accepting Christ we live. We can start today †
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
These spoken of that come after Christ are the elect of God. They come before the 7th trump, Christ return and I believe are here today. 144,000 of them, 12,000 of each of the 12 tribes of Israel. There are more than just the 144,000 that hold to The Truth, but only 144,000 that will be used in this final generation for a certain purpose.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
The end is at the end of the Millennium age. Everything is how God wants the end to be. Totally without evil. All those souls that [chose] evil over good, satan over Christ are gone "put down" forever.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
The last one destroyed is satan and before he's put in the fire, he will see all his work destroyed. That's real power!
27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
Everything will be put back to the way it was created in the beginning. Before humans touched the earth. When there were no seasons, but a garden throughout all the earth. Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?
Don't get baptized if you don't believe Christ died on the cross and was resurrected on the third day. Why would you want to anyway?
30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?
And if you don't believe in those things of Christ, why would you say you do and put yourself in jeopardy every day? Face it! People hate REAL Christians. They hate everything we stand for. Luke 6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
Although there is a risk for our lives, it's a blessing to see people change, giving their lives to Christ. We start each day new and with it new people to usher their change. Christ Jesus does the changing †
32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
If there be no Christ Jesus, there be no life after, we might as well live it up with no rules or morals, evil with abundance. This is why when you see a true Christian, you see a moral behavior. You see a smile and within their eyes, a peace of mind.
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
"evil communications" = those evil people in your lives. My mom always said "if you mess with poo, you'll get it on you. I say, "What/who you put in, you'll put out." Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. So we should; 2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
It's time to wake up! It's time you wake up to The Truth and away from the lies and false doctrines many of you have been taught throughout your years. There can be only one Truth or everything is truth and everything a lie, making void the whole existence. It's time to wake up to The Truth †
35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
A physical body and a spiritual body. Did you know there are two bodies? What happens to us? We're about to see what God says about this very subject.
36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
We can't truly live unless we die of self. Once we give our lives to serving Christ, we then become alive. But here we're talking about these flesh bodies. We can't go to the next body until this one dies.
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:
When you plant a seed = 1 body, it must die or change in order for the wheat = 2 body to live. Here we have two bodies.
38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
Our physical earthy bodies are exactly what God wanted them to be in order to please Him. Our actions are something entirely different. Everything He created has it's own body and purpose. Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.
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.
Celestial = heavenly, terrestrial = earthly.
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:
You sow a seed into the ground and it is corruptible. It deteriorates becoming something else. Our bodies are buried corruptible because they die, but our souls in incorruption. Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then [when you die] shall the dust [your body] return to the earth as it was: and the spirit [spiritual body] shall return [instantly] to God Who gave it.
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.
Once that flesh body dies, your soul immediately goes into that new celestial heavenly body which is the new spiritual body. A incorruptible body, one that can't get sick or die,
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
"quickening" † ζωοποιέω zōopoiéō, dzo-op-oy-eh'-o; from the same as G2226 and G4160; to (re-)vitalize (literally or figuratively):—[make alive], [give life], quicken. The first flesh human created was "Adam" made from the element of this planet. His soul was placed in this flesh human called Adam. The last Adam was the genetic bloodline to this last Adam and is The Way to life everlasting, He is The One that "makes alive" those who choice Him. He "gives life". He is Christ Jesus Yahsha.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
Why wasn't we just born in those spiritual bodies and lived that way forever? Why must we live in these flesh body's and then a spiritual body?
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.
Our Father has a purpose for everything He does. Why should we question anything He does. We haven't the ability to comprehend the smallest of things in His reality. Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. He has a reason for it all. This is His garden. Genesis 1:26-27 26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
What you put in, you'll put out. What or Who is in you?
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
We are born in this flesh, our souls placed in them and we will bear another flesh, but that of a heavenly body, our souls enter into.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
These flesh bodies won't be any part of the kingdom of God.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
This will stay a mystery to those who don't give God's Word time. This is going to show us what's about to happen upon our Lord's return. We all don't just die, but are changed into those new bodies. When?
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.
Everyone dies of this flesh and are placed into those incorruptible, celestial, new bodies. This happens when? THE LAST TRUMP! False doctrines will have you believe there's a ride coming before and with some "teachings", during the tribulation period. We clearly see, that's false! Why would Paul be showing us this mystery if you're gone? There would be no reason for the answer to the mystery. I Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say by the Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the time of the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep. We can't prevent them because they're already there with The Lord. You can't go before someone that's already there. This is why it's very important to study 2 Thess. Ch. 2. It lays everything out very clear. 2 Thess. 2:7-9 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked [satan] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: [7th trump, "the last trump"] 9 Even him, whose coming is --->after the working of Satan<--- with all power and signs and lying wonders, Hope you see this, "AFTER THE WORKING OF satan" then The Lord comes.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
These souls are mortal and need a body of immortality, but this can only be accomplished through Christ. If you're found unworthy, you're not fire proof. Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him Which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
True immortality is ONLY through Christ while in this flesh. If you haven't chose Him yet, what are you waiting for? This may be your last second in this flesh body.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
Christ Jesus defeated death at the cross, Christ Jesus is The Only Way to victory.
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Don't conform to the ways of the worldly people. Stay strong in The Truth, The Word, Christ Jesus. You've been given power over the world and with that power a responsibility. Study EVERYDAY, do your very best to follow what you learn. Live a life like no other of the worldly, live life in The Word. Reward is yours †