Sermon Direct Link
2/25/24
Rev. Clint Smith
The Apostle Paul shamed the foolish and ignorant ones within the Corinthian Church philosophizing against the revelation regarding resurrection because they did not understand the “How.” Psalm 14:1
People within the Church measured God’s power by their limited intelligence and refused to believe anything which they could not explain.
Paul refuted the foolish propogandists by reminding them; God is Creator and it is He Who created all bodies, as He pleased. Paul did not base his resurrection truth on principles of philosophy, but on the power of God, as declared by the Word of God. Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27; 12:23; Luke 18:27
God created Adam and therefore by birth, we received our natural bodies, perfectly suited for Earth. Our natural bodies became corrupt and mortal the day Adam sinned. Aging, deterioration, and eventual death now affect all of us. From dust we came, and to dust we shall return. Genesis 3:19; Ecclesiastes 3:20
Paul taught that after the resurrection Christians are given a new spiritual body because of the second Adam (Jesus), and that body will be perfectly suited for the new Heaven and the new Earth. The power of corruption is broken by the divine power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ which gives all Christians access to eternity in the kingdom of God. Romans 1:16
Paul revealed a secret truth about a future sudden transformation date for all Christians. The mystery: God will resurrect all believers who have died, give them glorified bodies, and take them from the Earth, while simultaneously snatching away all living believers, transforming them to their glorified bodies on the way up to Heaven. This mystery is referred to as the rapture, or simply put, God removing His people from the Earth to prepare it for His imminent judgment. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Paul thanked God for the ultimate victory over death Christians have through Jesus’ resurrection! The Lord Jesus Christ inevitably has removed death’s stinger, and defeated death eternally. Romans 3:23; Revelation 1:18; 21:4
Paul encouraged the Church to continuously do the work of the Lord. A reward is coming. Matthew 5:12; Luke 6:23; Romans 8:17; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 9:24-27; 2 Timothy 4:8; James: 1:12; 1 Peter 1:3-9; 5:4; Revelation 2:10