1 Corinthians 15:20-28, 34-58
The Beginning and End of Death
This passage is a history of the human race. it spans from the very beginning, to the very end; past, present, and future; and though its brief it captures the lowest and highest points of human history; it captures the greatest tragedy, and the greatest triumph, ever known.
It’s a history of death. It captures the greatest tragedy – the entrance of death into this world; and it captures the greatest triumph – the defeat of death.
If you’ve experienced the intrusion and devastation of death up close and personal in your life; then you know the tragedy.
But if you know Jesus, then you know the triumph of his victory over death through his resurrection that we celebrate every Sunday, but especially on Easter.
- The Beginning of Death
- The Beginning of the End of Death
- The End of Death
1. The Beginning of Death – came in the beginning, entering as the result of Adam’s sin.
and we see that in the beginning parts of vv21 & 22: “For since death came through a man… For as in Adam all die.
And this is a reference back to the garden of Eden, where they were promised life on the condition of their obedience, but they were promised death if they disobeyed and ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
“when you eat from it”, God told them, “You will certainly die.”
“For the wages of sin is death”
So, death entered through Adam’s sin; and it brought a death sentence upon everyone who lived after him.
And ever since, apart from a supernatural work of God’s power and grace – We live life, if you can call it that, in dying bodies, in a dying world, with souls dead to God.
And if you’re dead to God – if you’re dead to your maker, the maker of all things, the one whom you were made for – the one whom you were made to live in fellowship with;
well there’s no greater sadness than that. There’s no greater tragedy than that. You can’t have real life if you’re dead to the source of life;
Adam was created for life, not death; for fellowship with God, not separation from him; to live in righteousness, not in sin and guilt; to know God’s blessing, not his curse; to be clothed in honor and glory, not in dishonor and shame.
death is not a natural part of life; but the great tragedy and enemy of life.
That’s why, we call it “the fall” into sin. Because it’s hard to imagine a greater distance and disparity – a greater fall – from what God created humanity for, to what humanity found when it chose to turn away from God.
And when they did that, the bible teaches that 3 kinds of death entered into the experience of humanity:
physical death – when they ate from the tree, they didn’t physically die immediately; but death immediately entered into their bodies and brought corruption – their bodies started down the irreversible path of death; they started to decay, they were filled with weakness, susceptible to pain and disease, they were destined to die.
spiritual death – and the reason they began to die physically, was that at that moment that sin entered, they became dead spiritually. Separated from God, under God’s wrath and curse – trying to live without their maker; unable to know love serve obey their maker; unable to please God; unable to do anything worthy before God.
and that spiritual death unremedied leads to eternal death – dying in our sins cementing in our separation from God – an eternity without God; an eternity of spiritual death; an eternity of God’s wrath; an eternity of darkness and despair.
The beginning of death was sin – when humanity tried to live without God. And from that time, ever since, death has reigned.
And ever since, those whom death reigned over, are helpless against it; unable to rescue ourselves from it; and apart from God rescuing us – hopeless.
But you can’t live without hope; and apart from true hope, ever since the beginning of death humanity has tried to deal with the devastation of death, in 1 of 3 ways:
deny; defy; despair.
deny: we love to fool ourselves, that death won’t touch us; we ignore it; we pretend like it won’t happen to us or that it’s always further away and so we live like it isn’t there; or try to convince ourselves that it’s a good thing and deny that it’s such a bad thing;
but sooner or later, death catches up to you; and having denied it only makes a more devastating reality once it does.
defy: we try to beat it; we try to live healthier; exercise more; look younger; get rid of the wrinkles and gray hairs or add more hair to where it used to be;
but you can’t beat death; it has an undefeated record in all the history of humanity – what makes you think you’re any different?
and the only response left is despair.
If not for the gospel.
We were created for glory; now, we are destined for death; and to see glory now requires redemption through the one who should have only seen glory but tasted death for us, and conquered it.
Jesus, by his death and victory over it, brought the end of death:
2. The beginning of the end of Death
v20 assures those to whom Paul was writing that Jesus had indeed been raised from the dead –
he went up against the undefeated champ, and he won.
and he didn’t win that victory over death for himself only, but he won it for all who belong to him
vv21 & 22 which we looked at earlier set up the contrast that is central to the whole passage – the contrast between Adam and Jesus.
Just as death came through a man – Adam; so resurrection came through a man – Jesus. And just as all who remain in Adam die, all who are in Christ (v23 all who belong to him) will be made alive.
Death could not hold him; it had no power over him; because in his death he had already defeated death.
and he rose up from death bringing us with him out of it; victorious – freeing the captives.
By his death, he defeated death – because he defeated sin & satan which held us in death; and his resurrection proves the victory is certain and secure.
It’s not that on the cross Jesus was momentarily defeated, and then after mustering some strength he had a great comeback 3 days later; that’s not what the bible teaches; rather, that:
“The cross was the victory won; the resurrection the victory declared”
the resurrection declares the certainty of his victory – that would would never have to doubt it;
and the resurrection demonstrates the fullness of his victory – that death would not win 1 bit over him or his.
But sometimes, we look around, and we don’t see victory. We still sin; we still suffer; we still die.
Because though Jesus’ death, and resurrection, dealt death the fatal blow; the final victory waits.
and until that final victory – Jesus reigns and continues to conquer – bringing hearts and into submission to God through the power of the gospel;
right now Jesus reigns – v25 – confusing because even though it comes after v24 it’s describing the state of things before v24
v24 says the end come when Jesus has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power;
and v25 is describing his reign which occurs until he puts all his enemies under his feet.
So that reign of v25 isn’t after the end of history when Jesus comes back; but it’s right now!
Until the day when Jesus finally destroys all opposing and rebelling powers; until he hands over the kingdom to the Father; until the end comes; until then, he reigns, working to grow his kingdom through the preaching of the gospel and the work of his Church.
And so Jesus’ resurrection leads to his reign; because it brought about the beginning of the end of death; but the final end of death waits until the end.
Cross is Victory achieved; Return is victory consummated –
D-Day; V-Day:
“When the Allied forces landed in Normandy, the decisive battle of the whole war was fought. After that it was certain that Nazi Germany was going to lose. Between D-Day (the day of the invasion) and V-Day (the day the Allies’ victory was finally declared) the Germans fought a number of desperate fall-back battles across Europe. Many lives were lost and much damage done before they finally surrendered. But after the decisive battle in Normandy, it was clear how the war was going to turn out. The war was already won even if it was not yet over.
“The decisive battle of all human history was fought when in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God “invaded” a world ruled and tormented by the dark powers of evil. But the final victory of God over them will come only with the final triumph of the risen Christ at the end of history. “Between the times” (between Easter and the end), the deadly battle between God and the powers of darkness still goes on, but the victory of Christ that has been won is the guarantee of the final victory that is surely on the way.
3. The end of Death
The end of death comes as the culmination of 2 major events that this passage talks about:
- Jesus’ Return
- Our Resurrection
- Death’s Death
Let me just say, that I believe in a simple history of Jesus’ return. I believe that’s what the most clear passages that discuss the return of Christ most clearly teach.
Jesus comes back; and that’s that. That’s the end. Jesus returns, the dead in Christ are raised; and enter into glory.
The return of Christ is mentioned twice –
first: v23 says that Christ’s resurrection comes first, then when he comes, our resurrection. And then, v24 – “Then the end will come.
And then the second time the return of Christ is mentioned is v51-54 –
v51 – some Christians will be alive when Jesus returns – even though they won’t experience death, they will experience the same transformation that those who have died will experience.
v52 – and that will happen in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye – at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
Jesus’ Return, means, our resurrection.
Jesus’ resurrection called the firstfruits – (v20) – first fruits is agricultural language – where they take an early partial harvest in anticipation of the full harvest that was yet to come;
and his resurrection gives us a glimpse of what’s to come for our resurrection, when he comes again for us.
Our resurrection is described in vv35-49;
He’s saying that the resurrection body is different than our bodies now – v36 What you sow does not come to life unless it dies; v37 – when you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else –
v42 – So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.
The body that is being described as sown, is our body now. The body that is being described as raised, is our body, then; as it will be;
The body that is sown; the body we have now: perishable, dishonorable, weak; mortal; the body we will have then: imperishable; glorious; powerful; spiritual.
Right now, we have new spiritual life in Christ; but we still live in dying bodies; but one day, that will all change.
And at the moment of our death, if we belong to Jesus then our spirit is immediately perfected and enters into his presence; but our body rests in the grave until the resurrection.
Until its raised as a new, spiritual, glorified body; never again to see disease decay corruption death; never again to be enslaved to sin;
And when you die in Christ, you will be with God; but you will at the same time be waiting for the rest of you to catch up; waiting for the final victory; when the last remnants of the destruction of death will be reversed;
because in the biblical view, your spirit/soul is you. Your body is you; you are your body and soul; and all of you will be with God for eternity, if you’re in Christ, because death won’t have even one bit of victory or sting left.
Transformed; but still you.
Resurrection means transformation; and the image of the seed, and the concept of transformation, implies continuity & discontinuity:
what’s redeemed for all eternity is you – all of you – but; a new you – recreated in every way by the Spirit of God
You; all of you; but a transformed you; a perfected you; all of you but without sin, weakness, corruption, susceptibility to death; all of you with the glory that God intended to cloth you with from the beginning.
There’s lots of speculation about what life – and it is life – in the new heavens and new earth – is like; and it’s only that – speculation.
But, the one thing we know; is that if we die in Christ – having received him, and resting upon him alone for our salvation; then his resurrection is the basis and anticipation and proto-type of our resurrection;
and for eternity; we will have what we lost: we will be alive to God. Most alive; fully alive; irreversibly alive; life the way it was meant to be. And there there can be only joy, never sorrow; only peace, never conflict; only satisfaction, never suffering or sadness.
and this gives hope – when this life isn’t all you wished it would be, and even when it is what you wished it would be but realize that won’t last; you can have hope because the next life will be more than you could ever wish, and it will last forever.
vv20 & 23 – Jesus is called the first fruits; and what is he called the firstfruits of? “Those who belong to him”; and “Those who have fallen asleep.”
Even in death, you belong to him; because death is only sleep for those who are in him.
language of sleep – common NT metaphor for death; it doesn’t mean that we have no consciousness until the resurrection – it’s a metaphor
and it’s odd that they would use something so temporal and reversible as sleep, to describe something so permanent, and irreversible, as death.
But that’s just the point – that the resurrection we have because of Christ’s resurrection is so powerful, and such a certain reality; that we can regard death, as though it’s only sleep.
And when you die, you can die with courage and hope, because you know that the voice of God will rouse you from sleep as easily as the voice of a parent can rouse a toddler from a nap.
(ok sometimes thats not so easy but you get the point).
“Sleep is a word that’s filled with the promise of a future awakening at the dawn of a new day”
Jesus’ Return; Our Resurrection; Death’s Death
v26 – the last enemy to be destroyed is death.
vv54 – after our resurrection, “then the saying that is written will come true: Death has been swallowed up in victory; where o death is your victory? where o death, is your sting. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. but thanks be to God, he gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The end of the history of this world; is the death of death; and that’s just the beginning of the new world of life.
But this passage is that it’s only for those who belong to Christ. The sting of death is sin – but Jesus defeated our sin; and if we are in him, then his victory is ours, we don’t die in our sins; but we die in his hands.
and after that day, the world that’s described in Rev 21, well I don’t think I can add much to it:
“Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away… And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
What a world. What a life. I pray that we will all see one another there; and rejoice with tears of joy at the feet of the lamb of God who gave himself to bring us out of sin and death.