In this fast paced world will live in many of us sometimes
wonder about our salvation. The Bible gives us many scriptures to which we can test
ourselves. One of those is the parable of the sower. It talks of 4 different people
that receive the Word. Read the parable
and ask yourself, “Which one of these 4 describes me? And which one of these 4
should I be if I am saved?” Must be important to understand, it is in 3 out of 4 Gospels
Mar 4:13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
Mar 4:14 The sower soweth the word.
Mar 4:15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
Mar 4:16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
Mar 4:17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
Mar 4:18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
Mar 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
Mar 4:20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
Also in Luke;
Luk 8:11 Now the
parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Luk 8:12 Those by the
way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word
out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
Luk 8:13 They on the
rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have
no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
Luk 8:14 And that
which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and
are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit
to perfection.
Luk 8:15 But that on
the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the
word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Also in Matthew
Mat 13:3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
Mat 13:4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
Mat 13:5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
Mat 13:6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
Mat 13:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
Mat 13:8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
We will begin with our traditional opening Youtube video:
We are continuing our Series on the occurrences in Scripture of the word, “If.” Tonight will be the 10th Installment of our Series. In our previous 9 Studies, we have gone through the the Old Testament, the Gospels, and the Book of Acts, and just the first two epistles, Romans and 1 Corinthians. There are yet 19 Epistles, and the Book of Revelation that we have to cover. I don't know how many more Installments of this Series there will be. I do know that tonight will not be the last Installment. And, I hope you have experienced, in attending these Discussions, the same enlightenment and the same edification that I have received in preparing my Notes. I never expected a Study of the word, “If,” to yield the profitable review and clarification of so many Biblical precepts and doctrines. I hope it has been the same Blessing to each of you that it has been to me.
As a reminder, each of the previous 9 Installments are now available in the Forum, in the Thursday Bible Study area.
So let's begin.
There is one last Scripture that I would like to cover in the Apostle Paul's 1st Epistle to the Church at Corinth.
1 Corinthians 16:7: “For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, IF the Lord permit.”
IF the Lord permit...
Paul qualified his plans about his visit to and tarry at Corith with the words, “IF the Lord permit...”
He did not know, and could not say that the visit he looked forward to, would ever take place. He recognized that his life, and twists and turns of his life were Divinely appointed. He certainly expected, when he originally started out to go to Damascus, to get there, and arrest those who he viewed as traitors to Judaism, embracing, what he was convinced was the heresy of Christianity.
He never made it to Damascus...
God had other plans for him. So now, when he speaks of a future visit to a city, he writes... “IF the Lord permit...”
James echoes a similar sentiment beginning in James 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15 For that ye ought to say, IF the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
Of this, Matthew Henry writes: “Go to now," is a call to any one to consider his conduct as being wrong. How apt worldly and contriving men are to leave God out of their plans! How vain it is to look for any thing good without God's blessing and guidance! The frailty, shortness, and uncertainty of life, ought to check the vanity and presumptuous confidence of all projects for futurity. We can fix the hour and minute of the sun's rising and setting to-morrow, but we cannot fix the certain time of a vapour being scattered. So short, unreal, and fading is human life, and all the prosperity or enjoyment that attends it; though bliss or woe for ever must be according to our conduct during this fleeting moment. We are always to depend on the will of God. Our times are not in our own hands, but at the disposal of God. Our heads may be filled with cares and contrivances for ourselves, or our families, or our friends; but Providence often throws our plans into confusion. All we design, and all we do, should be with submissive dependence on God. It is foolish, and it is hurtful, to boast of worldly things and aspiring projects; it will bring great disappointment, and will prove destruction in the end.”
We have to keep in mind as we move into the Second Corinthians, that Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians was, for the most part, a letter of correction, and sometimes rebuke for their departures from the Faith into ungodly behavior, and heretical beliefs. Let's look at just three of these corrections:
First, there is 1 Corinthians 5:1: “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh...”
Next he had to reel in the Corinthian believers for their behavior at Church Services, in particular, during the Lord's Supper: He writes beginning in 1 Corinthians 11:20: “When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.
21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.”
And lastly, as we read last week, Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:12: “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?”
As we can see, much of First Corinthians was a letter of correction, if not rebuke. He came down hard on them because he had to. Their ungodly behavior and drift into apostasy threatened the entire Church. His rebuke was not because he hated them... just the opposite. But First Corinthians caused some hurt feelings in Corinth. He indicates that he was aware of the impact he had on them later in this Epistle where he wrote in 2 Corinthians 10:8: For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
9 That I may not seem as IF I would terrify you by letters.”
But our first actual “if” tonight from Second Corinthians directly addresses that hurt. One of the first things he talks about is his concern for the state of the man he instructed the Church to put out for his immoral relationship with his step-mother. Now he officially establishes Church precedent for accepting BACK a member who had been put out.
We read beginning in 2 Corinthians 2:1: “But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
2 For IF I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?
3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
2 Corinthians 2:5 ¶But IF any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for IF I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
Matthew Henry writes: “The apostle desired to have a cheerful meeting with them; and he had written in confidence of their doing what was to their benefit and his comfort; and that therefore they would be glad to remove every cause of disquiet from him. We should always give pain unwillingly, even when duty requires that it must be given. The apostle desires them to receive the person who had done wrong, again into their communion; for he was aware of his fault, and much afflicted under his punishment. Even sorrow for sin should not unfit for other duties, and drive to despair. Not only was there danger lest Satan should get advantage, by tempting the penitent to hard thoughts of God and religion, and so drive him to despair; but against the churches and the ministers of Christ, by bringing an evil report upon Christians as unforgiving; thus making divisions, and hindering the success of the ministry. In this, as in other things, wisdom is to be used, that the ministry may not be blamed for indulging sin on the one hand, or for too great severity towards sinners on the other hand. Satan has many plans to deceive, and knows how to make a bad use of our mistakes.”
Let's move on.
As I said earlier, Paul went from being the Church's persecutor-in-chief, to the Church's chief Evangelist. In making that about-face, he had to understand to superiority of the Gospel of Christ to the Old Covenant, also know as the Law of Moses.
We read beginning in 2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
6 ¶Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
7 But IF the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
9 For IF the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
11 For IF that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.”
Matthew Henry writes: “The letter killeth: the letter of the law is the ministration of death; and if we rest only in the letter of the gospel, we shall not be the better for so doing: but the Holy Spirit gives life spiritual, and life eternal. The Old Testament dispensation was the ministration of death, but the New Testament of life. The law made known sin, and the wrath and curse of God; it showed us a God above us, and a God against us; but the gospel makes known grace, and Emmanuel, God with us. Therein the righteousness of God by faith is revealed; and this shows us that the just shall live by his faith; this makes known the grace and mercy of God through Jesus Christ, for obtaining the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. The gospel so much exceeds the law in glory, that it eclipses the glory of the legal dispensation. But even the New Testament will be a killing letter, if shown as a mere system or form, and without dependence on God the Holy Spirit, to give it a quickening power.”
As we proceed in Paul's Epistle to the Church at Corinth, we come to our next “if.” Paul reiterates his love for the members there, and his great concern for their remaining Faithful to the Truth.
We read beginning in 2 Corinthians 11:1 ¶Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4 For IF he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or IF ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”
This is somewhat clouded in the King James: Let's read that, again, but this time in the New Living Translation: “But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.”
Matthew Henry writes: “The apostle desired to preserve the Corinthians from being corrupted by the false apostles. There is but one Jesus, one Spirit, and one gospel, to be preached to them, and received by them; and why should any be prejudiced, by the devices of an adversary, against him who first taught them in faith? They should not listen to men, who, without cause, would draw them away from those who were the means of their conversion.”
Our next “if” is a continuation of the Paul's concern regarding deceivers and false brethren beguiling and undermining Church members. Satan's mission, as it was from his first conversation with the first humans on earth, is to deceive us, and introduce a wedge between us and God. He does not do that personally with us as he did with Eve. Let's notice how he does it, now:
We read of the men who do his work for him, beginning in 2 Corinthians 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing IF his ministers” (Satan's ministers) “also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
Matthew Henry writes: “Hypocrisy may be looked for, especially when we consider the great power which Satan, who rules in the hearts of the children of disobedience, has upon the minds of many. And as there are temptations to evil conduct, so there is equal danger on the other side. It serves Satan's purposes as well, to set up good works against the atonement of Christ, and salvation by faith and grace. But the end will discover those who are deceitful workers; their work will end in ruin. Satan will allow his ministers to preach either the law or the gospel separately; but the law as established by faith in Christ's righteousness and atonement, and the partaking of his Spirit, is the test of every false system.”
For our next “if” this Evening, Paul answers those in Corinth who challenged his authority, and reminds them that he will address any departure from Godly behavior and Godly Doctrine. Let's read the complete thought that followed what he said when he spoke of his letters terrifying them:
The complete thought is this, in 2 Corinthians 10:9 That I may not seem as IF I would terrify you by letters.”
Notice, now, the disrespectful dismissal of Paul by some at Corinth in verse 10: “For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.”
Paul then reiterates his authority in verse 11: “Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.”
Our next “if” re-establishes his authority: 2 Corinthians 13:1 ¶This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
2 I told you before, and foretell you, as IF I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, IF I come again, I will not spare:
3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.”
It is unthinkable to me that a man of the stature, standing, brilliance and dedication to Christ and the Gospel should have to defend himself against such disrespect. But he tells them in no uncertain terms that “ye shall know that we are not reprobates.”
Of this, Matthew Henry writes: “Though it is God's gracious method to bear long with sinners, yet he will not bear always; at length he will come, and will not spare those who remain obstinate and impenitent. Christ at his crucifixion, appeared as only a weak and helpless man, but his resurrection and life showed his Divine power. So the apostles, how mean and contemptible soever they appeared to the world, yet, as instruments, they manifested the power of God. Let them prove their tempers, conduct, and experience, as gold is assayed or proved by the touchstone. If they could prove themselves not to be reprobates, not to be rejected of Christ, he trusted they would know that he was not a reprobate, not disowned by Christ. They ought to know if Christ Jesus was in them, by the influences, graces, and indwelling of his Spirit, by his kingdom set up in their hearts. Let us question our own souls; either we are true Christians, or we are deceivers. Unless Christ be in us by his Spirit, and power of his love, our faith is dead, and we are yet disapproved by our Judge.”
As I did last week, I saved for an “if” out of its chronological order as it appears in 2 Corinthians. It is from Chapter 5. I put it last because it is the longest “if” examination, but it is also the most powerful and positive “if.”
In our last 2 Corinthians “if,” we have the opportunity to review who and what we are in Jesus Christ. It is how God sees us. It is a reminder to all of us, and to each of us that we are not who we were. As Paul put it beginning in Colossians 1:9 ¶For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
12 ¶Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”
We are not who we were before God called us, before God forgave us, and before God adopted us into His Family. We have been “delivered … from the power of darkness.” We have been “translated … into the kingdom of his dear Son.” We have become “partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light...”
So let's look, now at our last “if,” tonight as it applies to who we were, and who we are. It is found beginning in 2 Corinthians 5:16 ¶Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17 Therefore IF any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us , who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Let's not read over that last verse too quickly. Let's notice two things:
First, notice that the word sin is in the singular, just it was in the singular when John the Baptist identified Him in John 1:29: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin (singular) of the world.”
As I thought about this, and I went back in Scripture. I noticed that the account of Abraham's near-sacrifice of Isaac was the first time a lamb is specifically identified as the animal that would be sacrificed. There had been three other significant sacrifices before that incident, where an animal was killed but not specifically named. Can anyone name those three?
The first time an animal was sacrificed was when “the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. (Adam and Eve)” in Genesis 3:21. He did not clothe them with more fig leaves, or nice big palm leaves. He clothed them with coats of skins. Blood had to be shed to cover their nakedness and shame, a clear picture of the future sacrifice of the Messiah.
Next, we see a sacrifice when Abel made an offering to God in Genesis 4:4 “of the firstlings of his flock.” Although the word sacrifice is not applied, here, it certainly was that, and a blood sacrifice at that. So far no specific animal is named.
The third offering was made by Noah. We read of it in Genesis 8:20: “And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.” As opposed to naming just one specific animal, Noah sacrificed one of every clean beast.
Note: An uninformed critic of the Biblw, (but aren't they all?) may leap on this and proclaim: “Aha! IF Noah sacrificed one of every clean beast, and he only brought TWO of every beast onto the Ark, the how can clean beasts have possibly reproduced and replenished their kind with only one left after the sacrifice?”
As we read in Hosea 4:6: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” This kind of challenge can only be raised based on ignorance of what Scripture actually says! Most people hear about Noah bringing two of every kind of bird and land animal on the Ark. He did no such thing! According to Genesis 7:2: “Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.” Clean beasts were taken aboard the Ark “by sevens,” or seven pairs of male and female, each. So even if Noah sacrificed representative male and females from each kind of clean beast, there were still six pairs each left to reproduce and replenish their numbers and kind.
But this brings us, now, to the first sacrifice where one specific animal in named. It is found in Genesis 22:7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
I once heard a minister say that the entirety of the Old Testament is an echo of Isaac's question: “Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” John the Baptist answered Isaac's question: “Behold the lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.”
Jesus takes away the “sin,” singular, of the world. To make sure that the all of the sins and all of the offenses and injustices and lies and murders and abuses and faults and rebellion and acts of vengeance and betrayal and every abomination... to make sure they are ALL covered by Christ's sacrifice, God compacts them all into a single consolidated package of unrighteousness, and calls it the “sin of the world.”
Let's get back to our other reference to sin in the singular that we just read:
2 Corinthians 5:21 says that the Father made Christ “to be sin for us.” Christ took away the sin of the world, by first becoming sin, and then accepting God's full wrath being poured out upon Him. That allows us to better understand, now, why Jesus cried out in Matthew 27:46: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Jesus had become sin for us. The full fury and righteous indignation of God was poured out on His Son, because He had become the consolidated and concentrated sin, singular, that every one on this earth had ever and will ever commit. And in accepting the wrath of God in our place, Jesus made it possible for each of us to be forgiven for our individual contribution to that combined and concentrated sin. “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin,” as we read in Isaiah 53:10. There was no other way for the death penalty to be carried out, a death penalty that we earned and brought down on our own heads. There was a righteous demand that the death penalty for sin had to be satisfied. And God could not overlook or simply dismiss that demand. And so we read of the remedy that God supplied, that we did not ask for and could never earn or work for or deserve: “... he hath made him (His Beloved Son,) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Let's read the whole “if” passage, again with this clearer understanding:
2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore IF any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Of this, Matthew Henry writes: “The renewed man acts upon new principles, by new rules, with new ends, and in new company. The believer is created anew; his heart is not merely set right, but a new heart is given him. He is the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Though the same as a man, he is changed in his character and conduct. These words must and do mean more than an outward reformation. The man who formerly saw no beauty in the Saviour that he should desire him, now loves him above all things. The heart of the unregenerate is filled with enmity against God, and God is justly offended with him. Yet there may be reconciliation. Our offended God has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ. By the inspiration of God, the Scriptures were written, which are the word of reconciliation; showing that peace has been made by the cross, and how we may be interested therein. Though God cannot lose by the quarrel, nor gain by the peace, yet he beseeches sinners to lay aside their enmity, and accept the salvation he offers. Christ knew no sin. He was made Sin; not a sinner, but Sin, a Sin-offering, a Sacrifice for sin. The end and design of all this was, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him, might be justified freely by the grace of God through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. Can any lose, labour, or suffer too much for Him, who gave his beloved Son to be the Sacrifice for their sins, that they might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
This concludes this Evening's Discussion: “If, Part 10.”
This Discussion was originally conducted “live” by Romans on April 10th, 2014
We will begin with our traditional opening Youtube video:
Good evening. I would like to welcome all of you here this evening. For those of you who may be new to what we have been doing on Thursday nights, we are continuing in our Series of the word, “If” as it occurs in Scripture. It it as surprising to me as it may be to you that tonight's installment of this Series is Part 9. You may be wondering how we could squeeze 9 installments of one-hour Bible Studies out of the word “If,” but there was no squeezing necessary. The Studies essentially wrote themselves, and the Bible itself more than willingly poured out teachings on the laws of God, Bible history, and spiritual doctrines. Our Studies delved into and clarified many issues that have affected, united and divided the Church from Apostolic times to our present day.
Tonight, our Study of the word “If” will be zeroing in on a single issue that has been controversial before it even occurred, namely, the Resurrection of Christ. I wish the timing for my delivering this Study were just a few weeks ahead of where it actually is. If this were the Thursday immediately before
Easter Sunday, I would have been very pleased. But, the notes will be available in the Forum for those who want to review at that later time.
I need to set several stages before we begin, so that when we get to the actual meat of the Discussion, it will have far greater impact and clarity.
First, in one of His many confrontations with the Jewish leaders who opposed Him, Jesus made this following statement very early in John's Gospel where Jesus cleansed the Temple and drove out the livestock and money changers. Because this is event is listed so early in John's Gospel, many scholars believe that Jesus did cleansed the Temple on two occasions, one at the beginning of His Ministry, and then again just before His crucifixion. But a cleansing has just taken place, and Jesus is immediately confronted: We read beginning in John 2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
Now keep in mind as we read this, that it apparently only sank into their understanding that Jesus was saying that He was going to rise from the dead AFTER it happened. In contrast to them, the Pharisees DID understand that Jesus had said that He was going to rise again.
Notice this other occasion of this prediction in Matthew 12:38 ¶Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Matthew Henry comments: “The resurrection of Christ from the dead by his own power, called here the sign of the prophet Jonah, was the great proof of Christ's being the Messiah. As Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale, and then came out again alive, thus Christ would be so long in the grave, and then rise again.”
And the Pharisees got it. They understood very well what Jesus was saying. Why do I say this? They had subjected Jesus to a rigged and illegal trial, and then basically blackmailed Pontius Pilate, the procurator of Judea, into order the execution of a man whom he had already declared innocent. We read in John 19:12: “And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.”
Pilate washed his hands of the blood of the innocent Jesus, but turned Him over to the Pharisees, and let them have the crucifixion that they cried out for. But they remembered and understood Jesus' words that He would only be in the heart of the earth for three days: We read in Matthew 27:62: “Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.”
I submit to you that this was the first and last time that the tomb of a dead man had to have a military guard assigned to it to be sure that either the dead man did not come out, or that His followers would steal it to pretend that He had been resurrected. This is all the more striking when you consider that the corpse we are talking about, did not simply die peacefully in His sleep. He was the victim of the most brutal execution ever devised by man. Yet the Pharisees who arranged that execution still saw fit to beg the Governor to assign a Roman Guard to His tomb.
Matthew Henry writes: “On the Jewish sabbath, the chief priests and Pharisees, when they should have been at their devotions, were dealing with Pilate about securing the sepulchre. This was permitted that there might be certain proof of our Lord's resurrection. Pilate told them that they might secure the sepulchre as carefully as they could. They sealed the stone, and set a guard, and were satisfied that all needful care was taken. But to guard the sepulchre against the poor weak disciples was folly, because needless; while to think to guard it against the power of God, was folly, because fruitless, and to no purpose; yet they thought they dealt wisely. But the Lord took the wise in their own craftiness. Thus shall all the rage and the plans of Christ's enemies be made to promote his glory.”
When the tomb was found to be empty, just as Jesus had said it would be, the Pharisees shifted into Plan B. We read beginning in Matthew 28:11 ¶Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.
12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
14 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.”
I love Matthew Henry's comments on that Plan B. As he does so often when I read his writings, he brings out many insightful and perceptive points that I had never considered before.
Matthew Henry writes: “What wickedness is it which men will not be brought to by the love of money! Here was large money given to the soldiers for advancing that which they knew to be a lie, yet many grudge a little money for advancing what they know to be the truth. Let us never starve a good cause, when we see bad ones so liberally supported. The priests undertook to secure them from the sword of Pilate, but could not secure these soldiers from the sword of God's justice, which hangs over the heads of those that love and make a lie. Those men promise more than they can perform, who undertake to save a man harmless in doing a wilful sin. But this falsehood disproved itself. Had the soldiers been all asleep, they could not have known what passed. If any had been awake, they would have roused the others and prevented the removal; and certainly if they had been asleep, they never would have dared to confess it; while the Jewish rulers would have been the first to call for their punishment. Again, had there been any truth in the report, the rulers would have prosecuted the apostles with severity for it. The whole shows that the story was entirely false. And we must not charge such things to the weakness of the understanding, but to the wickedness of the heart. God left them to expose their own course. The great argument to prove Christ to be the Son of God, is his resurrection; and none could have more convincing proofs of the truth of that than these soldiers; yet they took bribes to hinder others from believing. The plainest evidence will not affect men, without the work of the Holy Spirit.”
The last prop that I will need to set for this stage involved the Apostle Paul as he made his appeal to the Roman Authorities for the riot that took place in Jerusalem. We read beginning in Acts 25:14: “And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:
15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.
16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.
17 Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.
18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:
19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.”
Paul, who once destroyed the Church, was now not only a Christian, but he had also quickly become one of its chief promoters among, of all people, the Gentiles. This was the reason to begin with for the riot that took place in Jerusalem. The mere appearance of Paul among the Jews in the Temple Area was the emotional equivalent of striking a match in a gas-filled room.
Now, finally, we have the full setting in place, and we turn to our first “If” of the evening. It appears in 1 Corinthians 15. Does anyone know what name scholars use when they refer to 1 Corinthians 15?
Yes, it is called “The Resurrection Chapter.”
Paul opens this chapter by reminding his readers in the Church at Corinth, that the Resurrection of Christ is a foundational, bedrock doctrine on which the Church, and Christianity are based. He writes:
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;
2 By which also ye are saved, IF ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
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;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Of this, Matthew Henry writes: “The word resurrection, usually points out our existence beyond the grave. Of the apostle's doctrine not a trace can be found in all the teaching of philosophers. The doctrine of Christ's death and resurrection, is the foundation of Christianity. Remove this, and all our hopes for eternity sink at once. And it is by holding this truth firm, that Christians stand in the day of trial, and are kept faithful to God. We believe in vain, unless we keep in the faith of the gospel. This truth is confirmed by Old Testament prophecies; and many saw Christ after he was risen. This apostle was highly favoured, but he always had a low opinion of himself, and expressed it. When sinners are, by Divine grace, turned into saints, God causes the remembrance of former sins to make them humble, diligent, and faithful. He ascribes to Divine grace all that was valuable in him. True believers, though not ignorant of what the Lord has done for, in, and by them, yet when they look at their whole conduct and their obligations, they are led to feel that none are so worthless as they are. All true Christians believe that Jesus Christ, and him crucified, and then risen from the dead, is the sun and substance of Christianity. All the apostles agreed in this testimony; by this faith they lived, and in this faith they died.”
The preaching of Christ's Death and Resurrection was Paul's primary message. He had faithfully and clearly delivered that message to the Church at Corinth, but now there were divisions and contentions rising up within the Congregation regarding Jesus' resurrection. Paul incredulously addresses the controversy beginning in the next verse: We read in 1 Corinthians 15:12-19: “Now IF Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But IF there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And IF Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
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.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And IF Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 IF in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”
Matthew Henry writes: “Having shown that Christ was risen, the apostle answers those who said there would be no resurrection. There had been no justification, or salvation, if Christ had not risen. And must not faith in Christ be vain, and of no use, if he is still among the dead? The proof of the resurrection of the body is the resurrection of our Lord. Even those who died in the faith, had perished in their sins, if Christ had not risen. All who believe in Christ, have hope in him, as a Redeemer; hope for redemption and salvation by him; but if there is no resurrection, or future recompence, their hope in him can only be as to this life. And they must be in a worse condition than the rest of mankind, especially at the time, and under the circumstances, in which the apostles wrote; for then Christians were hated and persecuted by all men. But it is not so; they, of all men, enjoy solid comforts amidst all their difficulties and trials, even in the times of the sharpest persecution.”
Paul continues his discourse laying out for the Corinthians and for all of us a clear and concise teaching on the resurrection as it affected Christ, and as it affects each of us: He writes beginning in 1 Corinthians 15:20 ¶But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
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.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
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.
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?
30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?
31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
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.
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.”
Matthew Henry comments: “All that are by faith united to Christ, are by his resurrection assured of their own. As through the sin of the first Adam, all men became mortal, because all had from him the same sinful nature, so, through the resurrection of Christ, shall all who are made to partake of the Spirit, and the spiritual nature, revive, and live for ever. There will be an order in the resurrection. Christ himself has been the first-fruits; at his coming, his redeemed people will be raised before others; at the last the wicked will rise also. Then will be the end of this present state of things. Would we triumph in that solemn and important season, we must now submit to his rule, accept his salvation, and live to his glory. Then shall we rejoice in the completion of his undertaking, that God may receive the whole glory of our salvation, that we may for ever serve him, and enjoy his favour. What shall those do, who are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Perhaps baptism is used here in a figure, for afflictions, sufferings, and martyrdom, as Mt 20:22,23. What is, or will become of those who have suffered many and great injuries, and have even lost their lives, for this doctrine of the resurrection, if the dead rise not at all? Whatever the meaning may be, doubtless the apostle's argument was understood by the Corinthians. And it is as plain to us that Christianity would be a foolish profession, if it proposed advantage to themselves by their faithfulness to God; and to have our fruit to holiness, that our end may be everlasting life. But we must not live like beasts, as we do not die like them. It must be ignorance of God that leads any to disbelieve the resurrection and future life. Those who own a God and a providence, and observe how unequal things are in the present life, how frequently the best men fare worst, cannot doubt as to an after-state, where every thing will be set to rights. Let us not be joined with ungodly men; but warn all around us, especially children and young persons, to shun them as a pestilence. Let us awake to righteousness, and not sin.”
Paul next becomes very specific about exactly how the Resurrection will take place: He writes beginning in 1 Corinthians 15:35 ¶But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
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:
38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
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.
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:
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.
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.”
Matthew Henry writes, “How are the dead raised up? that is, by what means? How can they be raised? 2. As to the bodies which shall rise. Will it be with the like shape, and form, and stature, and members, and qualities? The former objection is that of those who opposed the doctrine, the latter of curious doubters. To the first the answer is, This was to be brought about by Divine power; that power which all may see does somewhat like it, year after year, in the death and revival of the corn. It is foolish to question the Almighty power of God to raise the dead, when we see it every day quickening and reviving things that are dead. To the second inquiry; The grain undergoes a great change; and so will the dead, when they rise and live again. The seed dies, though a part of it springs into new life, though how it is we cannot fully understand. The works of creation and providence daily teach us to be humble, as well as to admire the Creator's wisdom and goodness. There is a great variety among other bodies, as there is among plants. There is a variety of glory among heavenly bodies. The bodies of the dead, when they rise, will be fitted for the heavenly bodies. The bodies of the dead, when they rise, will be fitted for the heavenly state; and there will be a variety of glories among them. Burying the dead, is like committing seed to the earth, that it may spring out of it again. Nothing is more loathsome than a dead body. But believers shall at the resurrection have bodies, made fit to be for ever united with spirits made perfect. To God all things are possible. He is the Author and Source of spiritual life and holiness, unto all his people, by the supply of his Holy Spirit to the soul; and he will also quicken and change the body by his Spirit. The dead in Christ shall not only rise, but shall rise thus gloriously changed. The bodies of the saints, when they rise again, will be changed. They will be then glorious and spiritual bodies, fitted to the heavenly world and state, where they are ever afterwards to dwell. The human body in its present form, and with its wants and weaknesses, cannot enter or enjoy the kingdom of God. Then let us not sow to the flesh, of which we can only reap corruption. And the body follows the state of the soul. He, therefore, who neglects the life of the soul, casts away his present good; he who refuses to live to God, squanders all he has.”
Paul concludes his teaching on the Resurrection beginning in 1 Corinthians 15:51 ¶Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
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.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
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.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy 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.”
And as a last comment for this Evening, Matthew Henry writes: “All the saints should not die, but all would be changed. In the gospel, many truths, before hidden in mystery, are made known. Death never shall appear in the regions to which our Lord will bear his risen saints. Therefore let us seek the full assurance of faith and hope, that in the midst of pain, and in the prospect of death, we may think calmly on the horrors of the tomb; assured that our bodies will there sleep, and in the mean time our souls will be present with the Redeemer. Sin gives death all its hurtful power. The sting of death is sin; but Christ, by dying, has taken out this sting; he has made atonement for sin, he has obtained remission of it. The strength of sin is the law. None can answer its demands, endure its curse, or do away his own transgressions. Hence terror and anguish. And hence death is terrible to the unbelieving and the impenitent. Death may seize a believer, but it cannot hold him in its power. How many springs of joy to the saints, and of thanksgiving to God, are opened by the death and resurrection, the sufferings and conquests of the Redeemer! In verse 58, we have an exhortation, that believers should be stedfast, firm in the faith of that gospel which the apostle preached, and they received. Also, to be unmovable in their hope and expectation of this great privilege, of being raised incorruptible and immortal. And to abound in the work of the Lord, always doing the Lord's service, and obeying the Lord's commands. May Christ give us faith, and increase our faith, that we may not only be safe, but joyful and triumphant.”
We can visit the graves of many famous and influential men. We can lay flowers where they lie in a casket, entombed. I have been to the grave of Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia. His body was there in the 1970's when I went, and it is still there, now. I have been to President John F. Kennedy's grave at Arlington National Cemetary. His body was still there when I went in 1993, and it was there when I went in 2012.
But when I was on tour in Israel in October of 1979, I went to a grave in a garden just outside the city of Jerusalem. The stone was rolled away. The Garden Tomb can be viewed at the following website:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_Tomb#The_tomb
When I stepped inside, I saw for myself that that grave was empty! Jesus died and was raised. And He is coming again!
This concludes this Evening's Discussion, “If, Part 9: The Resurrection.”
This was originally conducted “live” by Romans on April 3rd, 2014.
