Bible Study - Sabbath School Podcast - Episode 2855 - Lesson 8 - Tuesday August 18 - Christ, the Firstfruits

Christ, the FirstfruitsIf Jesus were not alive, any expectation about the future would be only delusion (1 Cor. 15:12-19). "But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead" (1 Cor. 15:20, ESV). His resurrection is a historical event. Consequently, we can be sure that all who have died in Christ will be resurrected at His coming (1 Cor. 15:20-23).Read 1 Corinthians 15:20-23. What does it mean to say that Jesus is the "firstfruits"?The end of the present evil age will be marked by the bodily resurrection of those who died in Christ (1 Cor. 15:24; Rev. 20:5-6). As the last Adam, Christ will deliver the kingdom back to the Father by bringing the rulership of this world back to Him (1 Cor. 15:25-28). Christ's subjecting Himself to God (1 Cor. 15:28) must be understood in terms of how Adam and Christ are depicted in relationship to each other. As the ultimate Adam in the plan of redemption (1 Cor. 15:45), Jesus submits Himself entirely to the will of the Father, something that the first Adam failed to do.In 1 Corinthians 15:29-34, Paul resumes his thought about the foolishness of denying Christ's resurrection. He uses the illustration of baptism because it is itself a symbol of a believer's union with Christ in His death and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12); it makes no sense to deny the reality of the resurrection. What is difficult to grasp, however, is what Paul meant by the expression "baptized for the dead" (1 Cor. 15:29)."Different suggestions have been offered, but it is better to interpret the expression as referring to the decision of some to be baptized so that they would be able to be reunited with dead loved ones at the resurrection. It could also be that the decision to be baptized was a response to the exemplary life of those who had died in Christ. This case would refer to people not being baptized in place of the dead but because of the dead."--Carl P. Cosaert, "1 Corinthians," Andrews Bible Commentary: New Testament (Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University Press, 2022), p. 1652.Second, risking death would be pointless if there were no resurrection (1 Cor. 15:30-32). It would be better, instead, to delight in the pleasures of this world (1 Cor. 15:32).Reflect o