1 Corinthians 15:20-23

                                                         1 Corinthians 15:20-23

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.  But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.  

 

There are many ways we could complete the statement “Jesus is:”  We could complete that statement with: Lord, Savior, King, Son of God, Messiah, Risen, Returning…  He is all those things and many more.  This passage would add two more to that list that aver very precious to everyone who believes.  The represent two doctrines that are foundational to our salvation and our hope.

 

JESUS IS THE FIRST FRUIT: When Jesus is called the firstfruits, it should be encouraging to every believer. If there is a first fruit, it implies that there will be a second fruit.  In other words, Jesus is the example of what will happen to all who believe on Him.  Just as He was raised from the dead all of us who have trusted Him to forgive and free us from our sin will be raised from the dead upon His return for us.  Just has He was welcomed into heaven in perfect fellowship with the Father, so will we.  This is a comfort for all who have had loved ones pass away and a blessed hope as we anticipate our coming death.

 

JESUS IS THE SECOND ADAM: Perhaps one of the most difficult doctrines for us to understand is that of representation.  The Bible clearly teaches that all of humanity was plunged into condemnation by the sin of Adam.  We are all declared guilty because Adam is the representative of the human race, so his sin condemns us all.  We can confirm that this is true through our own personal experience as sinners.  When we sin, and we all do, we demonstrate the fact that we are truly the offspring of Adam and follow in His sin.  We may respond to this as seemingly unfair but it is a blessed doctrine.  Because the fact that we are all condemned in Adam allows God to justly forgive the sins of all who believe in Christ.  Since we are condemned to death by the sin of one man; we can be justified by the condemnation of one just man who is condemned in our place.

 

APPLICATION: Don’t be distraught by the death of believing loved ones; they will be “second fruits” of the resurrection of Christ together with us.  Don’t live in fear of death because we have been forgiven and freed from our sin by the death and resurrection of the second Adam, Jesus Christ our Lord.

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