“Hope’s Here”

1. Where is the HOPE? (1Cor 15:3-4)

• The Scriptures are the CONFIRMATION! (vv 3, 4)

• The Disciples experienced a TRANSFORMATION! (vv 5-9)

“5And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 9For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”

• Paul writes with an AFFIRMATION! (vv 8-11)

“10But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.”

2. Why is there HOPE? (1Cor 15:12-28)

“12Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

20But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.”

The word “firstfruits” is ἀπαρχή
Transliteration: aparché
Phonetic Spelling: (ap-ar-khay’)
By definition, it means the beginning of a sacrifice, the first fruit. It is used for the earliest crop of the year. It can mean a sacrifice, gift.

At the resurrection, Jesus was the FIRST to rise from the dead never to DIE again! (Firstfruits- aparche)

The word “order” is τάγμα, (tagma) pronounced tag’-mah. The definition means it is that which has been arranged in order, a division, rank, an ordered series.

Please identify the word “then” in the text.

The word “then” ἔπειτα, epeita, ep’-i-tah means then, thereafter, afterwards.

The word “then” does not mean as in a sequence of measurement of time – immediately right afterwards.

Why is this important? There are those who claim the “then” indicates that after Jesus will come in the rapture (they include the rapture and the second coming), and “then” the end of the millennium – their claim is there is no tribulation -Post tribulationist – or amillennialist… no millennium.

Jesus returns and “then” the end comes. But is this correct? How does one explain?

“But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24THEN cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.”

The answer is the “then” does not necessarily mean immediately right afterwards. For example, in the same chapter (1Cor 15:5, 6), Paul writes using the word “then” but it is abundantly clear that he does mean right afterwards.

“5And that he was seen of Cephas, THEN of the twelve: 6After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7After that, he was seen of James; THEN of all the apostles.”

Conclusion: Do you have Hope? Because Jesus Christ has risen and is changing lives, there is HOPE for the future. This resurrected Jesus will come again in the rapture. Then after the tribulation (meant for the Jews, not the Church), He will come again and inaugurate His 1,000 year Kingdom reign.