The Fear of Death
(No. 3286)
A SERMON PUBLISHED ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 1912,
DELIVERED BY C. H. SPURGEON,
AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE, NEWINGTON, ON THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY
25, 1866.
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He
Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might
destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver
those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to
bondage." Hebrews 2:14,15.
[Another Sermon by Mr. Spurgeon, upon verse 14, is No. 166, Volume 4,
in The New Park Street Pulpit, "The Destroyer Destroyed:"]
BEFORE speaking upon the main subject of the text, I cannot help
drawing your attention to those two words, "the children." Hear that
sweet expression again, for it is one of the choicest descriptions of
the saints, "the children." "You are all the children of God by faith
in Christ Jesus." What a wonderful influence the children have in the
house! How many of the arrangements are made especially with a view to
them! How much of the wear and tear of life to their parents is for
their sakes! And we may truly say, concerning our Father in Heaven,
that His plans, His arrangements, His actions, His gifts are very
emphatically for the children! He uses all things in this great house
of His for the education of the children–and when their education
shall be finished–He will clear all these things away just as the
builder takes down the scaffolding around the house when it is
complete.
This name of "the children" is such a blessed one, it seems to indicate
a simple, sweet and gracious character. "Be not children in
understanding," but in all else be–
"Humble, teachable and mild,
Like unto a little child."
I. But this is only by the by–the main theme on which I am going to
speak is the fear of death And, first, I observe that THE FEAR OF DEATH
IS NATURAL TO MAN AS A SINNER. So long as there was no sin in the
world, there was no death and no fear of death, but as soon as sin
entered, God said to Adam, "Dust you are and unto dust shall you
return." The echo of these words still rings throughout the world and
Adam's children, as sinners, fear death, but this is rather a blessing
to them than otherwise. To most unconverted men, the fear of death has
often been made to subserve the highest purpose of Divine Mercy. Many a
man would, at least outwardly, have been more guilty than he is if the
fear of death had not, to some extent, held him in check. The knell
from the old church tower has often spoken to those who other preachers
could not reach–and an open grave has had an eloquent voice which has
been more alarming than the polished sentences of the golden-mouthed
orator.
It is well that there should be such a thing as the fear of death in
the world! But for it, sinners would be more outrageously wicked than
they already are. This earth would soon become like Sodom and Gomorrah
if men were not restrained by the fear that they must soon depart this
life. No doubt, too, the fear of death answers very wise and important
purposes in the economy of humanity. If men were in peril, they would
probably give themselves up without making any strenuous exertions for
their preservation if there were not an indefinable dread of death
which creeps over them and makes them put forth what strength they have
in order, if possible, to prolong their lives. Being afraid to die,
they tug, toil, labor and strive so as to put off the dreaded day as
long as they can! Even Satan spoke the truth when he said, "All
that a man has will he give for his life." Our streets might be crowded
with idlers who would starve rather than work if the fear of death did
not drive them unwillingly to their labors!
Certainly the fear of death has often been the means of preventing the
crime of suicide. You know how Shakespeare represents Hamlet as talking
of a man making his quietus with a bare bodkin–
"But that the dread of something after death,
The undiscovered country, from whose bourn
No traveler returns, puzzles the will,
And makes us rather bear those ills we have,
Than fly to others that we know not of" No doubt it has often been the
case that this "dread of something after death" has prevented men from
rushing into the presence of their Maker red-handed with their own
blood! The fear of death, though itself part of the punishment of sin,
is a wise and beneficent arrangement in the commonwealth of humanity.
II. But, secondly, while the fear of death is natural to the sinner, IT
IS NOT NECESSARY TO THE SAINT. For all the purposes of which I have
spoken, the fear of death is not necessary to a Christian. He does not
need it to restrain him from sin, for he hates sin with a perfect
hatred. Other checks, of far greater importance here, in the hand of
Infinite Love, restrain the Christian from going into sin. Nor does he
need the fear or death to keep him from suicide–why should he have any
desire to commit that terrible crime? Christians have, even here, joy
and peace through believing and though their best portion is in the
world to come, yet even now it may be said of them, "Happy are you, O
Israel: who is like unto you, O people saved by the Lord?" The clanking
fetters of the fear of death are not intended for God's freemen to
wear! Let the slave of sin and Satan wear them if they will restrain
them from suicide and other evils, but the true born child of God needs
no such check as this. He lives the life of faith upon the Son of God
and the love of Christ so graciously constrains him that it both holds
him back from sin and urges him on to duty.
But though the fear of death is not necessary to Christians and the
Grace of God has been manifested in giving Christ to deliver them from
it, yet it is true that some of them are still subject to bondage
through this wholly unnecessary fear! They not only fear death, but
they fear it to such an extent that it brings them into bondage. It is
not merely a dark cloud that passes over them and is soon gone, but it
abides with them–they are, "All their lifetime subject to bondage"
through the fear of death! They shall not perish, neither shall any
pluck them out of Christ's hands, but they have not that restful
assurance of safety which Christ's sheep ought to enjoy. I am sorry to
say that I know some who profess to have been Christians for years, but
who still, at times at any rate, are in bondage through fear of death.
I do not speak of this as a phenomenon, or an experience that is
uncommon–I wish it were, but I am obliged to say that there are very
many whom one must judge to be the children of God–who are frequently,
if not always, in a state of despondency, doubt and dread through this
fear of death which seems to rest upon them like a pall.
Many of these persons have been so long in this sad state that they
have almost come to believe that it is impossible for them to escape
from it. There is such a thing as sitting so long on the cold stone of
despair that you and the stone almost seem to be one. There is such a
thing as wearing the yoke of despondency until that yoke and your
shoulders become so closely united that you cannot take it off. Just as
valor fights till its sword grows to its hand, so despair burdens you
till it grows into your spirit. I would not roughly tear it out, but if
I might kindly perform an act of spiritual surgery, I would be glad to
be made the instrument through which the Master would perform His
blessed work of delivering those who are in bondage through fear of
death!
Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, there is no need that you
should be afraid to die! It is even possible for you to look upon death
as your best friend! You may yet come to be familiar with the shroud,
the mattock, the grave–and find the cemetery to be no place of gloom
and may even rejoice in the prospect of death and–
"Long for evening to undress
That you may rest with God." According to our text, it appears that in
order to remove this fear of death from His people, our Lord Jesus
Christ became Man– "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of
flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same." And as flesh
and blood have about them the element of mortality, the flesh and blood
of Christ partook of the same character. It is true that in Him was no
sin, but in all other respects His flesh was like ours and, therefore,
was liable
to death even as ours is. Now, the very fact that Jesus Christ became
Man should remove from us the fear of anything which is incidental to
humanity because it was incidental to Christ as well as to ourselves–
"He takes us through no darker rooms
Than He went through before."
"Fear not," said Caesar, to the trembling boatman, "you carry Caesar
and all his fortunes." And, in like manner, standing in the vessel of
our mortality, Christ says to us, "Fear not, you carry Christ and all
His fortunes; you are partakers of flesh and blood and He Himself
likewise shared in the same." If one had to be a soldier on the field
of battle, it might be a very great assistance to one's courage to
stand side by side with the hero of a thousand fights who had always
been victorious! If tonight you had to journey along some dark and
lonely road and an angel came from Heaven to walk beside you–and you
were quite sure that it was an angel–I should think you would be
altogether free from fear! With such a companion you might even wish
that the way were still more dangerous so that you might have the
delightful experience of passing through it unharmed under the care of
such a glorious protector!
But you have a better Protector than any angel could be, even the Lord
of the angels, your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, so what cause have
you for fear? He will be with you all through life. He will be with you
when you are called to die and the pledge of that is that He is a
partaker of that very flesh and blood which will bring you down to
death. But we not only know that Jesus partook of flesh and blood–we
have this further comfort–Jesus did actually die. The Cross of Calvary
was a witness to no phantom grief, no sham expiring. The Roman soldier
with his spear pierced Christ's side and so proved the fact of His
death. He went through the valley; He ascended the mountain on the
other side and He, in due time, went up into Heaven–and all this He
did as the Representative of His people! Whatever Christ did, He did
for His whole Church and for each one who, believing in Him, is a
member of that Church! So, if you are a Believer, you died in Christ
and you rise in Christ. Christ died, you, too, must die. As Christ
rose, you, too, must rise. What Christ has done, He has done for you in
such a way that you, also, do it–
"As Christ the Savor rose, So shall His followers must."
Their is further cause for comfort in the fact that, through death,
Christ destroyed the devil The persons who always interpret the word,
"destroy," as meaning, "annihilate," would do me a very great favor if
they could really prove to me that Jesus Christ annihilated the devil!
I have very mournful proof in my own experience that he is not
annihilated and many of you, also, know that "your adversary the devil,
as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour." Alas, the
devil is still alive, but his power in this world has received its
death blow! Jesus Christ has trodden on the old serpent's head and, to
the Christian, in the matter of death, the devil is completely
destroyed, for he that believes in Christ shall never die! Death seemed
to be all black and evil, like Satan, himself, seething into which he
had put his most venomous sting! But now, to Believers in Jesus, death
is an angel from our Father in Heaven calling us home to Him–not a
black angel, striking terror in our heart–but one who is exceedingly
bright and fair, coming to bid us fly away to realms of light and love!
Remember, Christian, "the sting of death is sin," but that has been
destroyed for you. And remember, too, "the strength of sin is the Law,"
but that has been fulfilled for you! Rejoice, therefore, that both are
gone so far as you are concerned–and that your greatest causes for
fear are entirely removed!
III. Now let us spend a few minutes in thinking of THOSE THINGS
CONNECTED WITH DEATH WHICH USUALLY CAUSE DREAD.
I borrow the list of them from a popular commentator. There are some
things connected with death which even the best of men naturally fear
and the first is the death-pang. It is generally supposed that there is
exquisite pain associated with the act of death, but I am persuaded
that this is mistaken and that there is no pain whatever in dying–the
pain is in living. The man who has a long sickness previous to his
departure must not lay the pain he has to endure at the door of death,
for the pain afflicts the living, not the dying. If life would but give
way, death would inflict no pain. The departure out of life is, one
would judge, the cessation of pain, the ending of the strife. But if we
take the popular view for granted–that death involves some
extraordinary pain–then Jesus Christ partook flesh and blood, died and
destroyed the devil, so far as we who believe in Him are concerned, in
order that we might not have any fear of this pain.
He says to each one of us, "My child, whatever pain there may be about
your death, I have endured it with an emphasis. I died, not as you
probably will, on your bed, but upon a Cross. Instead of sympathizing
friends around Me, I had mocking foes. Instead of soft pillows, I had
cruel thorns–and tearing nails instead of cooling draughts and
sustaining cordials. Men gave Me vinegar to drink mingled with gall. I
died under far more trying circumstances than can possibly surround
your deathbed, so now, My child, are you now willing to do at your
Fathers' bidding what I have done? The cup passed not from Me, I
drained it to the dregs–why, then, should it pass from you–why should
you wish it to pass from you?"
I have sometimes seen a mother, when her child has had medicine to take
which it could not bear, sip of the cup and then say, "Drink it, my
child, it is for your good and it is not so bad as you think. Mother
has tasted it herself." And then the little one, not always with
cheerfulness, but still with submission, drinks it up. "So Jesus brings
us the cup and says to each one, "Drink, My child. I drank of this cup,
so why should you fear to drink of it? There can be nothing deadly in
it, for it has not destroyed Me. It has been to Me a gain and it shall
be a gain, also, to you, for it shall take you from your humiliation to
your Glory even as it took Me."
But to some others this may not be their particular phase of death that
they dread. They fear the darkness and gloom which sometimes attend
departed out of this life. There are different ways of taking down the
earthly atonement. There are certain forms of disease which seem rather
to increase the sufferer's joy than to diminish it, while there are
others which so affect the brain and the whole nervous system that
depression is a melancholy symptom of the disease. Some are
constitutionally so nervous that they are afraid that when they come
face to face with death they will be easily vanquished. But many of us
must have noticed that the very people who are most depressed in
anticipation of trouble are frequently those who bear it best when it
does come! So it may be with you, my poor nervous Friend. My
observation warrants me in remarking that the most of Christians, when
they die, are either in a deep calm or else triumphant in an ecstasy of
delight.
But if it should not be so with you, if gloom surrounds your spirit,
yet remember that Jesus Christ became a partaker of flesh and blood in
order to deliver you from the dread of death. It is flesh and blood
that fear the gloom. It is flesh and blood that shrink from the
despondency–and Jesus Christ passed through that experience when He
said, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death"–and later,
when He cried, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" You cannot
possibly have such gloom surrounding you as He had to pass through! He
went down deeper than you will ever have to go and you will always have
His almighty arm to sustain you! Besides, the remembrance that Christ
suffered for you, that He has destroyed Satan' s power over you and
that He has opened the gates of Resurrection and of Glory for you
should take away from you all the gloom that you dread! You are making
the mistake of looking at that part of death which belongs to this
world. I pray that the Holy Spirit may anoint your eyes with Heavenly
eye salve so that you may see that death is but the gate of Life, the
porch to Paradise and may no longer fear to enter the portals through
which you shall pass into the Presence of your Lord who went that way
before you!
I know other Believers who do not so much dread the pain as they do the
mystery associated with death The handwriting upon the wall troubled
Belshazzar, not only because of the appearance of the fingers that
wrote the message, but also because no one could interpret the writing
until Daniel came. It was the mystery that terrified the impious
monarch! When traveling among the Alps in a dense mist, we have seemed
to see vast lakes without a shore, crags that appeared like the
battlement of Heaven and awful depths that thrilled us with horror! Yet
much of that mystery was only caused by the mist, for, when we
journeyed the same way on a bright morning, the great lake proved to be
only a little pond! The mighty battlement was a crag that a child could
climb and the vast depths that had made us shudder with terror were
gentle slopes which we could have descended with ease.
It is the mysteriousness of death that alarms you. That the soul should
be divorced from the body to which it has been so long united is
something that startles you. Yes, but as the light dissipates the
terrors of the mountains, so the fact that Jesus Christ has brought
life and immortality to light will scatter all your gloom! There is no
"undiscovered country" to you, Christian, for your Master has returned
from the land of Death-Shade and He has told you all you need to know
concerning it! He has come back to tell you that, for you, there is no
such thing as death! Everything that constitutes death has been
abrogated so far as you are concerned and your portion is to be
everlasting life! If you would only believe
all that is revealed in the Word concerning believers in Jesus, the
mystery associated with death would no longer alarm and terrify you.
There are some Christians who are afraid of the grave. I must say that
I like the thought of sleeping in the cemetery, with green grass and
flowers and shrubs growing all around–and winding walks upon the
rising ground far away from the busy city! I say I like the thought of
all that, yet, when I stand by an open grave, as I so often do, and see
the cold clods of clay and think of the chill and silence of the night,
the cemetery appears in another light! But, after all, what does it
matter where the poor body is laid? If it could lie in state,
surrounded with light and music, you know that very soon even the chief
mourner would have to say, "Bury my dead out of my sight!" When we
think of those who are sleeping in Jesus–I speak, of course, only of
their bodies–it does seem appropriate that they should be wrapped in
their white robes, as men are when they go to their beds, and lovingly
committed to the care of mother earth from which they sprang. I do not
think there is any need to be troubled about all this–much of it is
mere sentimentalism and certainly, as far as Christians are
concerned–when we remember that the blessed body of Jesus was laid in
the tomb, we are quite content in that matter to be even as He was.
I am afraid that I have not hit the center of the target even yet, for
some of "the children" are afraid of the Judgement Seat of God. Does
this remark surprise you? It ought to do so, for it ought to be
impossiblefor a child of God to tremble at the thought of meeting his
Father anywhere! Why is it that some of us are thus afraid? It is,
Beloved, because they have a dark suspicion that they are not reallyin
Christ, not reallysaved–and this indicates a greater evil than the
dread of death–while it also point out the remedy for that evil. If I
have the Divine Assurance that I am washed from every sin and that,
clothed in the righteousness of Christ, I am without spot, or wrinkle,
or any such things, how can I give way to fear? It is the dreadful
doubt, the doubt whether it is so, that causes the dread of death and
ofjudgment! It is unbeliefthat is at the bottom of it!
If we would take such Scriptures as these–"He that believes on the Son
has everlasting life." "By Him all that believe are justified from all
things." "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ"– and if we really trusted in the Savior of whom
they speak, we would have no fear of either death or judgement, but
would cry with the Apostle, "Who shall lay anything to the charge of
God's elect? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is
Christ that died, yes, rather that is risen again, who is even at the
right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us." No doubt there
are some professing Christians who oughtto be afraid of death–there
are some members of Christian Churches who oughtto dread the Judgement
Seat! There are deacons and elders and ministers who oughtto tremble at
the thought of the world to come because their profession of
Christianity is a mere profession without any real work of the Spirit
of God at the back of it!
When you have doubts about your eternal state, do not say that they
come from the devil! It may be that the Spirit of God is striving with
you to bring you to see the hollowness of all the religion in which you
have put your confidence! Never be afraid of self-examination, but obey
the Apostolic injunction, "Examine yourselves, whether you are in the
faith; prove yourselves." Better still, pray David's prayer, "Search
me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if
there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
Those who have only a name to live, but who are spiritually dead. Those
who talk about believing, but who have not believed. Those who talk
about regeneration, but who have not been born again have good cause to
be afraid of death! If that is your condition, Friend, I pray that you
may become still more afraid of death and that God's gracious Spirit
may make you so afraid of it that you may turn from it and fly to Him
who, by carrying away your sin, shall also take away from you the fear
of death.
But as for you, dearly Beloved, who are really in Christ Jesus, you
ought not to have any fear of death. There is no condemnation for you,
for Christ has borne, on your behalf, all the punishment that was due
to your sins! The sword of Justice has no terrors for you, for it was
plunged in the heart of Jesus on purpose that He might die in your
place. You need not fear the possibility of being cast away from
Christ, for you are members of His body, of His death and of His blood!
And unless He were to dismember Himself, He could not cast away any who
are thus vitally united to Him. Let the thought that He became a
partaker of flesh and blood, died to put away your sin and to destroy
your great adversary, the devil, be a quietus to all your fears of
death!
It may not be long before some of us will have our faith tested in our
dying hour. The preacher may be called away or you may receive the
summons first. It would be well if we were all so familiar with death
that we could say as one old
saint did, "Dying? Why, I have died daily for the last 20 years, so I
am not afraid to die, now!" Or, as another said, "I dip my foot in
Jordan's stream every morning before I take my breakfast, so I shall
not be afraid to go down into the stream whenever my Lord bids me enter
it." May that be your experience and mine, Beloved, and then we shall
have no fear of death!
I have told you before of that godly woman who fell asleep in Jesus one
night and on her table were found these lines–
Since Jesus is mine, I'll not fear undressing, But gladly put off this
garment of clay! To die in the Lord is a Covenant blessing, Since Jesus
to Glory through death led the way."
May we all have like precious faith, for Jesus sake! Amen.
EXPOSITION BY C. H. SPURGEON: 1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-32.
Verses 1, 2. Moreover, brethren, Ideclare unto you the Gospel which
Ipreached unto you, which also you have received and wherein you stand.
By which also you are saved, if you keep in memory what Ipreached unto
you, unless you have believed in vain. By which the Apostle means,
unless they had a false faith, a merely notional faith or, he may also
mean, "Unless what I have preached unto you should have been a fable
and, therefore, you will have exercised your faith upon nothing real,
and so it would have been in vain."
3. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I, also, received,
The preacher of Christ must not make new doctrines! He is not to be his
own teacher. He is first to receive the Truth of God and then to
deliver it. The Christian minister takes the lamp out of the hands of
God and then passes it on to the hands of his people. Think not that
any originality is needed in the pulpit! All that is required is that
the herald should faithfully deliver his Master's message just as his
Master gives it to him. "I delivered unto you first of all that which
I, also, received."
3, 4. How that Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture; and
that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to
the Scriptures. There are many passages in the Old Testament which
describe the Messiah as dying for sinners, especially the chapter of
Isaiah's prophecy. There are others that speak of Him as being buried,
yet not corrupting in the tomb. These were facts which the Apostle had
received upon the testimony of others; now comes the great fact of the
Resurrection.
5-8. And that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after 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. After that,
He was seen of James; then of all the Apostle and last of all He was
seen of me, also, as of one born out of due time. [See Metropolitan
Tabernacle Pulpit, No. 2663, Volume 433–" A Leap Year Sermon." ] The
Apostle does not attempt to defend the doctrine of the Resurrection by
an argument fetched from reason, but he proves it by undoubted
evidence. If I had to prove that there existed such a tree as the
cedar, I should not use logical arguments further than this–I produce
a certain number of men who have seen a cedar and the thing is proved
by their testimony. If the evidence of honest men is not accepted, then
there is an end, not only to Christianity, but to all the sciences–and
you and I must wander forever in a maze of doubts. Now, of all the
facts recorded in history, there is not one which is better attested
than the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The men who testified that they
had seen the risen Christ evidently had no selfish reason for doing so.
What is the result of their testimony? They were cast into prison! They
were stoned! They were sawn asunder, simply for believing the evidence
of their own senses, and testifying what they knew to be true! It is
clear that they would have had no interest in publishing this fact if
it had not been true–their interest would have lain quite the other
way. Besides, it was not as if only a few had seen Him, but over 500
brethren at once beheld Him. For 40 days He was gazed upon by different
persons and the feat is proved beyond all doubt.
9. For I am the least of the Apostles and am not meet to be called an
Apostle because Ipersecuted the Church of God. "God has forgiven me,"
said a good man once, "but I shall never forgive myself." So was it
with the Apostle Paul. He knew that God had forgiven him and honored
him by making him an Apostle, but he could not forgive himself and, no
doubt, the tears gushed from his eyes when he wrote these words, "I am
not meet to be called an Apostle because I persecuted the Church of
God."
10. But by the Grace of God I am what I am: and His Grace which was
bestowed upon me was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than
they all: yet not I, but the Grace of God which was with me. [See
Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, No. 2833, Volume 499–" Lessons on
Divine Glory."] In what humble tones Paul speaks! He will not deny what
Divine Grace has done in him and by him, but he will ascribe it all to
God. Brothers and Sisters, you are not to shut your eyes to the
gracious change which God's Holy Spirit has worked in you! You may
speak of it and speak of it often, but always guard against taking any
of the honor to yourselves–and be especially careful to put the crown
upon the right head.
11, 12. Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so you
believed. Now if Christ is preached that He rose from the dead, how say
some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?For Christ was
the pattern Man to all His people. He is their Representative. Whatever
He did, He did for them and whatever was worked in Him shall be surely
worked in them. So if Christ rose from the dead, then all who are
members of His mystical body must rise, too, for when the Head comes
out of the grave, you cannot retain the members in it! Prove that
Christ rose and you prove that His people rise, for they are one with
Him.
13. But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not
risen. [See Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, No. 2287,Volume 38– "If
There Is No Resurrection,"] Yet it is proved by hundreds of credible
witnesses that Christ is risen, therefore there is a resurrection.
14. And if Christ is not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your
faith is also vain. This Truth of God is the keystone of the arch–put
this away and the whole tumbles down! It is upon this that the whole
Christian system rests. If the Resurrection of Christ is a mere myth
and not a positive matter of fact, preaching and faith are equally
vain.
15. Yes, 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 it
is so that the dead rise not.The Apostle puts the matter strongly, yet
not too strongly. He seems to say, "You know me to be an honest and
truthful man, having no selfish motive in what I declare unto you. But
if Christ did not rise from the dead, I have testified to you a gross
falsehood and led you to put your trust in an imposture." So he stakes
his own personal character upon the fact of Christ's Resurrection.
16. 17. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if
Christ is not raised, your faith is vain; you are yet in your sins. Yet
they knew that they were not in their sins, for they had the witness
within then that their sins had been pardoned. They knew that sin had
no more dominion over them, for they had been made to walk in holiness
before the Lord. "Therefore," says Paul, "Christ must have risen, for
if He had not risen, you would have remained sinners as you once were."
18. Then they, also, which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. A
supposition against which both Nature and Grace revolt!
19, 20. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men
most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the
first fruits of them that depart As they always brought into the Jewish
tabernacle and temple, a portion of the harvest which indicated that
the harvest was begun, so Christ's going up to Heaven was the taking of
the first sheaf into God's great garner–and all the rest must follow.
21, 22. 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. Not that all shall be saved, but all will be raised from
the dead! Or else the passage means that as all who were in the first
Adam died as the result of Adam's sin, so all who are in the Second
Adam, that is, Christ, shall live as the result of His righteousness.
The question is, Are we in the Second Adam? Faith is that which unites
us to Christ. If we are trusting in Him by a living faith, then His
rising from the dead ensures our rising from the dead. And if not, it
is true that we shall rise, but it will be to shame and everlasting
contempt.
23-28. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits,
afterward they that are Christ's at His coming. Then comes 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 For He
must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet The last enemy
that shall be destroyed is death. For He has put all things under His
feet But when He says all things are put under Him, it is manifest that
He is accepted, who did put all things under Him. And when all things
shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son Himself also be subject
unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all This
is a very difficult
passage, but I suppose the meaning is this–Jesus Christ, in order to
remedy the great mischief of sin, was appointed to a mediatorial
kingdom over all worlds and that kingdom will continue until all His
enemies shall be destroyed and sin shall be trod under His feet. Then
Christ–as Mediator, mark you, not as Lord–shall deliver up His
mediatorial kingdom to His Father and there shall be heard that great
shout, "Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! The Lord God Omnipotent
reigns!" Christ as God, as one of the Persons of the ever-blessed
Trinity, will still be as glorious as ever, but His mediatorialreign
will then be over, seeing that He has accomplished all its purposes.
29. Otherwise what shall they do who are baptized for the dead, if the
dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?'This is
another most difficult passage and many meanings have been given to it,
but I think the most likely to be correct is this–As soon as a member
of the early Christian Church was given up to the lion or to be burned,
another convert would step forward and say, Let me take his name and
place." Though it was almost certain that they, also, would soon be put
to death, there were always found persons bold enough to come forward
to be baptized–to take the place of the dead. "Now," says the Apostle,
"what advantage is there in this if the dead rise not ?"
30. And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? Why were the Apostles
always subjecting themselves to cruel persecution?
31. I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord,
I did daily. [See Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, No. 828, Volume 14–"
Dying Daily."] He was so hunted about everywhere that there was not a
day in which he felt secure of his life, so he asks, "Why should I
endure this if there is no world to come ?"
32. If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus,
what advantage is it to me, if the dead rise not?It is quite possible
that Paul was thrown to the lions in the theater at Ephesus and that he
fought with them and came off a conqueror. "But why," he asks, "did I
try to save my life for future labor and for future suffering if the
dead rise not?" 32. Let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die. This is
the best philosophy in the world if there is no life to come. So Paul
has proved his point right well by every argument that he has used.