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Luke 24:44-53; 1 Corinthians 15 "A SPECIAL ANALOGY BETWEEN ADAM AND CHRIST"

Day 354 – Luke 24

Text: Luke 24:44-53; 1 Corinthians 15

A SPECIAL ANALOGY BETWEEN ADAM AND CHRIST

Paul argued strenuously and powerfully for the doctrine of the resurrection. He pointed to the Scriptures, He made references to impeccable witnesses, and provided significant theological insights as well. It is obvious that to the Apostle Paul, the doctrine of the resurrection was not a minor detail that could be set aside easily.

He went on to draw special and striking analogy between Adam and Christ. Let us take time to ponder over this argument.

“However, the spiritual is not first,
but the natural, and afterward the spiritual.
The first man was of the earth, made of dust;
The second Man is the Lord from heaven.
As was the man of dust, so also are those
Who are made of dust;
And as is the heavenly Man,
So also are those who are heavenly.
And as we have borne the image of the man of dust,
We shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.”
1 Corinthians 15:46-49

Let’s look at Paul’s analogy a little bit more carefully.

1. With reference to Adam

a) He may well be described as “natural” (as contrasted to “spiritual”).

b) He was made of “dust”.

c) We are all made in “the image of the man of dust” (although we are spiritually made in God’s image as well).

2. With reference to Christ

a) He is “The Lord of Heaven”.

b) He is “The Heavenly Man”.

c) We shall bear the image of the Heavenly Man because of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

Paul saw an essential link between Man with Adam in the first place, and also with Christ through faith. If the first analogy applied, then the second analogy would also apply. The doctrine of the resurrection must be stoutly defended because it has such deep theological implications.

THE SPIRITUAL KINGDOM OF GOD

Paul went on to argue another powerful theological point. He wrote,

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood
cannot inherit the kingdom of God;
nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
Behold, I tell you a mystery:
We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed –
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
At the last trumpet.
For the trumpet will sound, and the dead
Will be raised incorruptible,
And we shall be changed.
For this incorruptible must put on incorruption,
And this mortal must put on immortality,
Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written:
‘Death is swallowed up in victory.'”
1 Corinthians 15:50-54

What would the Kingdom of God be like? Surely, His kingdom cannot be enjoyed by mere “flesh and blood”. The human form as we know degenerates or as Paul it, will become “corrupt”.

God has to change the present corruptible human form into an incorruptible form. He will transform us and give us the kind of body that Jesus was given when He was resurrected! Surely, this thought adds further strength to the doctrine of the resurrection!

REVEALING A GREAT TRUTH AND HOPE

The word “mystery” must be understood carefully. The word literally means “a revelation”. Hitherto, this truth was unknown, hence it may be described as a “mystery”. However God had now chosen to reveal this “mystery”. Hence the word “mystery” should be read as “a revelation”.

What was that revelation? It is normal that a person should die in due process. However, God could exercise a second option. That special option had to do with the second coming of Christ.

The return of the Lord Jesus Christ would indeed be a glorious event. It would be grand and would be heralded by the blowing of a trumpet. Those who were alive in Christ at that point of time would not need to go through the death experience. They would be transformed immediately. The mortal would have put on immortality without having to undergo the trauma of death.

Paul wrote about this glorious truth and hope to the Thessalonian Church. There were people who were troubled by the though of death. He wrote these comforting words.

“But, I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren,
concerning those who have fallen asleep,
lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
Even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
For this we say to you by the Word of God, that we who are alive
And remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means
Precede those who are asleep.
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,
With the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.
And the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together
With them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

This glorious hope that we have in Christ has everything to do with the doctrine of the resurrection. To dismiss the doctrine of the resurrection for whatever reason would be to devastate this glorious hope bound inextricably with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Those who are dead in Christ will rise again. The Lord will resurrect them and they will be given a new resurrection body at the return of Jesus. What words of comfort these are! What a revelation from the Lord!

EVERY REASON TO BE STEADFAST IN OUR FAITH

Paul concluded his argument for the doctrine of resurrection on a very powerful and practical note. (All doctrines should end on a practical note, for they were even meant to be applied to our life on earth).

If the doctrine of the resurrection is true, how should it affect us? Paul had this to say,

“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory
Through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast,
Immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
Knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 15:55-58

Paul never taught theology in an abstract way. His thoughts may be very deep, but everything he taught had practical application! There is no doubt at all that one of the things that gave Paul such a driving force in his life was this doctrine of the resurrection.

The greatest enemy for many people is death! The fear of death was completely removed as far as Paul was concerned because of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ! There was only one way to live, if the doctrine of the resurrection was understood at all correctly. The believer should be resolutely steadfast and immovable in his faith in Christ. His faith should cause him to labour hard for the Lord. There should not be holding back because he believes that his labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Let us be greatly challenged to understand the doctrine of the resurrection the way Paul did. It would take time to master these deep theological lessons, but our labour would not be in vain. Let’s look forward to an even more victorious faith and life in the Risen Christ.