"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming."
1 Corinthians 15:20-23
Part 2
Yesterday: Jesus Christ is the First-fruits
“But now is Christ risen from the dead.”
He’s alive, literally, physically, bodily risen from the dead!
“And become the first-fruits of them that slept.” (a)
Jesus is only the first to rise from the grave. All genuine believers will rise again also.
Today: Believers Who Sleep in Christ
“And become the first-fruits of them that slept.” (b)
“Of them that slept.”
To “fall asleep” is a much more pleasing way to think of a believer’s death. This is the way that Jesus spoke of His friend Lazarus’ death.
“These things said He [Jesus]: and after that He saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep” (John 11:11).
Stephen, a deacon and the first Christian martyr, died a very violent and brutal death, but note, he too “fell asleep.”
“And they stoned Stephen, [and he] calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep” (Acts 7:59-60).
After Jesus was crucified and resurrected, some of the Old Testament saints were also raised.
“And the graves were opened, and many bodies of the saints which slept arose” (Matthew 27:52).
This is a tremendous promise from God that believers who die, plainly, “fall asleep in Jesus.” This fact has so changed how people think about death that the old burial place, the “Necropolis” – “city of the dead,” has been renamed the “Cemetery” – “sleeping place.”[1]
When the Lord Jesus Christ comes back again, note what is said about the “sleeping believers” then.
“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this, we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord, himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
Indeed, Jesus is the first-fruits, the promise of the coming harvest! All believers’ bodies will come out of their graves to be with Him forever.
Amen!
Why are we in this fix today?! Why do people die? Come back tomorrow as we look at the cause for death and the cure for it. See you then!
Quote: “Prayer is the lisping of the believing infant, the shout of the fighting believer, the requiem of the dying saint falling asleep in Jesus. It is the breath, the watchword, the comfort, the strength, the honor of a Christian”[2] (C.H. Spurgeon).
[1] The Greek word koimaō means “to cause to sleep, put to sleep” (Thayer). J.H. Thayer, Thayer’s Greek Definitions, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] Spurgeon’s quote Downloaded: Thursday, April 15, 2021. From: quotessayings.net/topics/prayer-spurgeon. This emphasis theirs, and this emphasis mine.