Ephesians 1:7-11 "In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His Grace: 8. Wherein He has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence: 9. having made known the mystery (secret, see verse 5) of His will, according to His good pleasure which He has purposed in Himself: (look at Job 23:13-14; Psalms 33:11; 2 Timothy 1:9, now here it comes in verse 10.) 10. That in the dispensation of the fullness of times (this coming Kingdom. That’s just another way of putting it. Isaiah 2:2-4; Daniel 2:44, 9:24-27; Amos 9:11; Micah 4:1-2; Malachi 3:1; 1Corinthians 10:11) He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him. 11. In whom also we obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will:" (Jeremiah 31:31, 32:40; Ezekiel 37:26; Matthew 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 8:6-13, 9:15, 10:16-17, 12:24, 13:20) See note 37 in the teachings on Galatians in our other blogspot listed to the left corner of the front page here, http://whmaynard.blogspot.com.
Now these are all references then, alluding to His coming power and majesty that will be put above everything, and all of His enemies will be put under His feet. Now we think we can also go back to I Corinthians chapter 15, and let’s come in at verse 12, because we see, none of these things could have been consummated without His resurrection from the dead. Now it was one thing that He was crucified, but none of these things could have come to pass had He not been raised from the dead - that was a preeminent thing. He could not put everything under His feet until He had defeated His arch enemy, Satan, sin and death. And this was all for us, to our benefit, no matter if we be Hebrew or Gentile of the nations.
I Corinthians 15:12-14 "Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13. But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14. And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching in vain, and your faith is also vain." In other words, when people reject the resurrection they are destitute of faith! They have nothing to go on, because everything rests on this spiritual fact, that Christ arose from the dead, had He not risen there would be no new birthing available to man. Verse 15.
I Corinthians 15:15a "Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God;…" Paul says, we would be a liar, because we witnessed Christ in resurrection and ascension form. Remember first the apostles saw Him, Mary saw Him, and after that, he was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, and last of all he was seen of me also, all proof of His resurrection. So Paul’s writing here with first hand knowledge that, yes, Christ is alive. Now verse 16.
I Corinthians 15:16 "For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:" How many people, even in our enlightened America and indeed the world, think that when you die, it’s like when a dog dies. Oh, they’ve got the wishful thinking for something better, that somehow they’ll get there, but you see they’re not going to get there if their trust isn’t in this crucified, buried, and risen Christ. And if we can’t believe the resurrection, we’re as good as nothing, still in our deadness of spiritual separation from God. Now read on in verse 17.
I Corinthians 15:17 "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; (it counts for nothing) you are yet in your sins." In other words, there’s been no forgiveness or redemption until we appropriate the whole Gospel of God's Grace by trusting His Word. Remember that the whole Gospel is for us only that which the risen Lord spoke to Paul or gave to Him by inspiration of revelation. We're too receive this inspiration by revelation from the Holy Spirit when He confirms within us that what was revealed to us is the Truth, as He can only reveal the Truth. And on our part this may take years for us to hear and see what the Holy Spirit is revealing both within, internally and without our intelligence or intellect.
I Corinthians 15:19 "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." And that’s a lot of professing “Christians” today. Oh, they talk about Jesus, and they claim they love Jesus, and are followers of Jesus, but on the other hand, have never placed their total trusting in the obedient, humble and contrite, suffering, crucified, risen and ascended Lord. They've never learned of Him, just seen the external of Him with whom we have to do. Now come on down to verse 24, so let’s keep going with verse 20.
I Corinthians 15:20 "But now (there’s no doubt about it) is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. 21. For since by man came death, ( we’ll be looking at that next) by man (the second man, the second Adam, Jesus of Nazareth) came also the resurrection of the dead." So on the one hand we have the Federal head of the human race, Adam, who plunged us into the fall and into our lost estate of spiritual separation from God by sin which gave us death, but we also have the second Adam who has accomplished everything to bring redemption and salvation to everyone that will believe and receive Him into themselves. Which changes us from the old nature into a new birthing by His Grace through His planned way into and through redemption leading to our total salvation, if we falter not. Now verse 22.
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