But each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits; then at His coming, those who belong to Him.But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s at his coming.But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ’s, at his coming.
4 sermons cite this verse
… first resurrection for just a moment. Who does it encompass and how does it work? Paul explains it in 1 Corinthians 15 verses 20 to 24. He says, but now Christ has been raised from the dead and the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive, but each in his own order. If you are in Christ, you're going to receive a brand new body, but you have to wait your turn. There is an order to which people will receive their new bodies. That word order is a military term, togma. It refers to a military parade that gets larger and larger as different core fall into place in the parade at a particular spot along the parade route. Can you picture that in your mind? There's a leader of the parade and as it goes further and further, different core fall into place and that parade gets larger and larger. Paul is using that imagery to say there's a parade of Christians headed to heaven and everybody will fall into line at their particular place in history. The first resurrection is not a single event in time. …
… Harry just read it. You can flip back in your bulletin. 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verses 12 through 23. I won't read the whole passage, but just highlight a few things. Here's what Paul says about the resurrection and our salvation. Just highlight verse 14. He says, if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. Verse 17, if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. verse 18 those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished and finally verse 19 if in Christ we have hope in this life only we are of all people most to be pitied so friends we see in this text that the resurrection is an essential part of our salvation. In fact, Paul's logic is that if the resurrection is not true, then everything else unravels. He says we would be found to be liars about God. He says your faith would be in vain. He says you would still be in your sins. …
… so also in Christ all will be made alive. but each in his own turn. Christ, the firstfruits, and then at his coming, those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end when Christ delivers the kingdom over to the one who is God and Father after he has destroyed every rule and authority and power, because it is necessary for him to reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. and the last enemy to be destroyed is death because God has put everything under his feet. Now, when it says everything, it is clear that this does not include God himself who put everything under Christ. But when all things are made subject to Christ, put in service to Christ, then Christ the Son himself will also be put in service to him who put all things under him. So that God may be all in all, everything, for everyone. Paul continues. But someone will ask, How are the dead raised? What kind of body do they come with? …
… has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so 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. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father, after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For God has put all things in subjection under his feet. But when it says all things are put in subjection, it is plain that he is accepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the son himself will also be subjected to him who puts all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? Why are we in danger every hour? …