Daily Devotions

1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 
Day 
Day 204

"Christ is risen from the dead..."

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:20

WITH GREAT CONVICTION

Paul wrote with great conviction of the certainty of his faith in the resurrection of Christ Jesus!

“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has
become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since by man came death, by Man also came
the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die,
even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”
1 Corinthians 15:20-22

1. “But now Christ is risen from the dead”

a) This was written with firm faith.
b) The phrase “is risen” needs to be carefully understood.
c) This is the translation of the Perfect Passive idea.
d) Two thoughts may be noted:
i) Actual meaning – There are “Christ has been raised” from the dead
ii) And He is indeed risen from the dead.

2. The significance of the resurrection of Christ from the dead

a) He has become the first-fruits of the dead.
b) The phrase “those who have fallen asleep” was used euphemistically to describe the dead.

3. Theological importance

a) By man, that is, Adam.
i) Through him came sin.
ii) And because of sin, death came.
b) By Man, that is, Christ
i) Through Christ came salvation.
ii) Through salvation came sanctification.
iii) Through Him came the hope of the resurrection.
iv) This hope of the resurrection is based on the resurrection of Christ.

4. The idea of “first-fruits”

a) This is an agricultural term.
b) It is a reference to the first set of ripened fruit.
c) The full harvest would be like the first-ripened fruit (as Christ rose so will all believers in Him).