We are wrapping up 1 Corinthians 15 and will be combining the last two sections in order to begin working on Philippians in two months.  Last month we did a comparison of the before and after body. Today, Paul helps us do a comparison of the first and last man.  Read 1 Corinthians 45 - 49 and compare and contrast the two.

Step 1: Pray that God would open your eyes to what He wants you to know and understand.

Step 2: Read 1 Corinthians 15:45-49.

45So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL" The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. 47The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. 48As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. 49Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.

Step 3: Put it into context.

Keep in mind the overarching theme of 1st Corinthians. Paul is writing a letter of exhortation to the church at Corinth, because of their fleshy behavior: (And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to

infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not

walking like mere men? 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 )

Step 4: Examine the text.

In verses 45-49, Paul compares the natural body of Adam (and us) to the spiritual body of Christ. (also see verses 21 & 22)

21For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.22For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

First Adam                                                    Last Adam

A living soul                                             A life giving spirit

Natural, from earth                             Spiritual, from heaven

By him came death        By Him came the resurrection of dead

In him, all die       Those who die in Him (Christ) are made alive

Let's look at some key words along with their meanings:

Earthy - choïkos - made of earth, earthy

Natural - psychikos - governed by breath - the sensuous nature with its subjection to appetite and passion

Heavenly - epouranios - of heavenly origin or nature

Spiritual - pneumatikos - belonging to the Divine Spirit - one who is filled with and governed by the Spirit of God

Soul - psychē - the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions (our heart, soul etc.). In other words, our mind, will and emotions.

Bear - phoreō - to bear constantly, wear - of clothing, garments, armour

Image - eikōn - the image of one in whom the likeness of any one is seen

So what is Paul saying? Use the Greek definitions above to get the full meaning.

Adam was the first living soul and was made from the earth. Like us, he was created with a heart, mind, will and emotions.

Christ, the last Adam, came from heaven and is a life-giving spirit.(John 5:21, 6:57) In Christ, all will be made alive. (Romans 6:11, 8:10) 

Step 5: Ask yourself these questions:

1. Who do we bear a likeness to?

2. As a living being, who are we like? Genesis 2:7 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.  

3. As a follower of the life giving spirit, who else will we be like?

4. Who is this life-giving spirit? How do you know? How would you explain this to someone else?

5. How do we bear this likeness - read 1 Corinthians 15:49 carefully and underline the two verbs you see.

We were born into the first Adam, of sin and death, earthy and perishable. So too, we are born of the second Adam. This understanding is clearly explained by Jesus Himself in John Chapter 3

The New Birth John 3:1-7

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a

ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." 3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" 5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 "Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

6. Mark each occurrence of born and write down everything you learn about this verse.  

7. What do you learn from this passage about the New Birth?

Fill your coffee cup or mark this page to return for the final portion of study of 1 Corinthians 15. It will be worth the effort!

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Step 1: Pray that God would open your eyes to what He wants you to know and understand.

Step 2: Read 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

50Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit

the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the

imperishable. 51Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55"O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?" 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

Step 3:

Examine the text:

     Who cannot inherit the kingdom of God?

     Describe all the events of the "mystery"?

     What happens when the perishable & mortal put on

     imperishable & immortality?

     What is the sting of death?

     What is the power of sin?

     Who gives us the victory over sin?

     Because of this, how are we to live?

Step 4: Take it a step further.

Now, let us look at some cross references to get the full depth of these verses. More about who can and cannot inherit the kingdom of God:

John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

MORE ABOUT THE MYSTERY:

Matthew 24:31 "And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

John 5:28 "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice,

1 Thessalonians 4:15, 17 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.... Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

MORE ABOUT THE STING OF DEATH AND THE VICTORY:

Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken.

Hosea 13:14 Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from death? O Death, where are your thorns? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion will be hidden from My sight.

MORE ABOUT THE SIN AND THE LAW:

Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned

Romans 3:20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be

justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

Romans 7:25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

MORE ABOUT THE VICTORY:

2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.

Romans 8:37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

Hebrews 2:14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.

Revelation 21:4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."

Step 5: Ask yourself these questions:

1. What is my "work of the Lord" and am I "always abounding in

it"? (abound: overflow, plentiful, rich, teeming)

2. In light of what I learned in this 12-month study, how then shall I live?

2 Peter 3:14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,

1 Corinthians 6:20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

Ephesians 4:1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,

Colossians 2:6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

Colossians 3:5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4:7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

2 Peter 3:17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand,

be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,

Step 6: Take it a step further:

Have these truths sent you leaping from your chair yet? Turn your speakers up loud and celebrate His victory over sin!!

              Click here for VIDEO

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