Kress Biblical Resources :: The Wisdom of the Cross and the Christian's Resurrection (1Co 15)

Detailed Outline of 1 Corinthians

The Wisdom of the Cross Purifies and Unites Believers, the Wisdom of the World Pollutes and Divides

9. The wisdom of the cross and the Christian’s resurrection (1Co 15)
   1. The resurrection is certain (1Co 15:1-34)
      1. Christ’s resurrection is the crowning testimony of the gospel (1Co 15:1-11)
         1. Salvation rests entirely on the gospel message (1Co 15:1-2)
            1. The gospel is revealed in special revelation (1Co 15:1a)
            2. The gospel comes through biblical proclamation (1Co 15:1b)
            3. The gospel is received simply by faith (1Co 15:1c)
            4. The gospel provides a sure foundation (1Co 15:1d)
            5. The gospel is the means of salvation (1Co 15:2a)
            6. The gospel requires genuine faith (1Co 15:2b)
         2. Scripture reveals the essentials of the gospel message (1Co 15:3-4)
            1. Christ’s gospel is of primary importance (1Co 15:3a)
            2. Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures [incarnation and substitutionary death/atonement] (1Co 15:3b)
            3. Christ was buried [literal, physical death] (1Co 15:4a)
            4. Christ was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures [literal physical resurrection] (1Co 15:4b)
         3. Substantial eyewitness testimony confirms Christ’s resurrection and affirms the gospel message (1Co 15:5-11)
            1. He appeared to Cephas (1Co 15:5a)
            2. He appeared to the Twelve (1Co 15:5b)
            3. He appeared to more than 500 at one time (1Co 15:6)
            4. He appeared to James (1Co 15:7a)
            5. He appeared to all the apostles (1Co 15:7b)
            6. He appeared to Paul (1Co 15:8-10)
               1. The last of the eyewitnesses (1Co 15:8)
               2. The least of the apostles (1Co 15:9)
               3. The laborer by God’s grace (1Co 15:10)
            7. He was accepted by faith through the preaching of these eyewitnesses (1Co 15:11)
      2. Christ’s resurrection the key to the gospel and our resurrection (1Co 15:12-34)
         1. The resurrection is the key to our salvation (1Co 15:12-19)
            1. If Christ has not risen your faith is futile (1Co 15:12-14)
               1. The contradiction—professed believers saying there is no resurrection from the dead (1Co 15:12)
               2. The connection—if no resurrection, then Christ has not been raised (1Co 15:13)
               3. The conclusion—if no resurrection, then your faith is futile/empty/full of nothing (1Co 15:14)
            2. If Christ has not risen the gospel is false (1Co 15:15-16)
               1. The conclusion—the eyewitnesses would be deceivers (1Co 15:15)
               2. The connection—if no resurrection, then Christ has not risen (1Co 15:16)
            3. If Christ has not risen your faith is fatal (1Co 15:17-19)
               1. The consideration—if Christ is not raised then you are still in your sins (1Co 15:17)
               2. The conclusion concerning death—those who die perish with the damned (1Co 15:18)
               3. The conclusion concerning life—those who live for Christ now are to be most pitied as dreadfully deceived (1Co 15:19)
         2. The resurrection is the key to God’s kingdom rule (1Co 15:20-28)
            1. The representative headship of Christ and the first fruits of the resurrection [The first phase of the resurrection (first fruits)—Christ] (1Co 15:20-22)
               1. The reality—Christ has been raised as the first fruits of the resurrection (1Co 15:20)
               2. The representative headship (1Co 15:21-22)
                  • By man came death (1Co 15:21a)
                  • By man came resurrection from the death (1Co 15:21b)
                  • All in Adam die (1Co 15:22a)
                  • All in Christ will be made alive (1Co 15:22b)
            2. The resurrection at the rapture of the church [The second phase of the resurrection (harvest)—the church] (1Co 15:23)
               1. There is an order in which the resurrection will take place (1Co 15:23a)
               2. The Christ’s resurrection is first (1Co 15:23b)
               3. Those in Christ will follow 1Co 15:23c)
            3. The reign of Christ, the final defeat of death, and recognition of the supremacy of God over all [The third phase of the resurrection (the unsaved dead of all the ages) after the reign of Christ and before the eternal state] (1Co 15:24-28)
               1. Then the end—the resurrection of unbelievers unto final judgment, after Christ has reigned and abolished all rule and authority (1Co 15:24-25)
                  • “Then the end” follows the order of the resurrection—Christ first, then the church, then unbelievers (1Co 15:24a)
                  • The resurrection of unbelievers will happen after Christ has reigned supreme and abolished all of God’s enemies (1Co 15:24b-25)
               2. The destroyer of the body—death—will itself be destroyed by the resurrection (1Co 15:26)
               3. The Son will then present the Kingdom to the Father—and God will be all in all (1Co 15:27-28)
                  • The functional submission of the Son as man’s representative head (1Co 15:27)
                  • The future Trinitarian glory of God (1Co 15:28)
         3. The resurrection is the key to perseverance in the Christian life (1Co 15:29-34)
            1. Without the resurrection why would people come to faith in Christ based upon the testimony of those who have died? (1Co 15:29)
            2. Without the resurrection why would people put themselves in danger for the name of Christ? (1Co 15:30-32)
               1. The principle in question form (1Co 15:30)
               2. The Pauline example (1Co 15:31-32ab)
               3. The proper perspective if there were no resurrection (1Co 15:32c)
            3. When you keep associating with those who deny the truth, you will succumb to deception and sin (1Co 15:33-34)
               1. Do not be deceived—if you associate with those given to error it will influence how you live (1Co 15:33)
               2. Do not go on sinning—embracing those who deny the resurrection brings shame on you and dishonors God (1Co 15:34)
   2. The resurrection is supernatural (1Co 15:35-49)
      1. A comparative analogy of resurrection from nature (1Co 15:35-38)
         1. The skeptic’s question (1Co 15:35)
         2. The stern correction of unbelief (1Co 15:36a)
         3. The simple comparison (1Co 15:36b-38)
            1. The resurrection of a seed is preceded by its death and burial (1Co 15:36b)
            2. The resurrected life produced by that seed far exceeds the single seed sown (1Co 15:37)
            3. The Ruler/God is sovereign over the process (1Co 15:38)
      2. A comparative analogy of the differences between the glory of the earthly and heavenly (1Co 15:39-41)
         1. An illustration from nature of different kinds of flesh (1Co 15:39)
         2. An illustration from nature of different kinds of glory (1Co 15:40-41)
            1. There is heavenly glory and earthly glory (1Co 15:40)
            2. There are even differences in glory among the heavenly bodies (1Co 15:41)
      3. A commentary on how the comparisons apply to the resurrection (1Co 15:42-49)
         1. The resurrection contrast (1Co 15:42-44)
            1. Sown perishable—raised imperishable (1Co 15:42)
            2. Sown in dishonor and weakness—raised in glory and power (1Co 15:43)
            3. Sown as a natural body—raised as a spiritual body (1Co 15:44)
         2. The representative head correspondence (1Co 15:45-49)
            1. The reference from Scripture (1Co 15:45)
            2. The resurrection order (1Co 15:46)
            3. The representative head correspondence (1Co 15:47-49)
               1. The first Adam—from earth (1Co 15:47a)
               2. The last Adam—from heaven (1Co 15:47b)
               3. The identification (1Co 15:48)
               4. The resurrection (1Co 15:49)
   3. The resurrection is our sure hope and motivation (1Co 15:50-58)
      1. The resurrection is necessary to inherit the Kingdom of God (1Co 15:50)
         1. Our current physical makeup is not fit inherit the Kingdom of God (1Co 15:50a)
         2. Our corruptible bodies cannot inherit that which is incorruptible (1Co 15:50b)
      2. The resurrection and transformation at the last trumpet will be the capstone of our victory over sin and death (1Co 15:51-57)
         1. A mystery revealed—the resurrection will be accompanied by the transformation of the rapture (1Co 15:51-53)
            1. The truth about physical death—not every believer will die physically (1Co 15:51a)
            2. The truth about physical transformation—every believer will be transformed (1Co 15:51b)
            3. The timing of the resurrection and transformation (1Co 15:53)
               1. It will be instantaneous (1Co 15:52a)
               2. It will be eschatologically determined (1Co 15:52b)
               3. It will be a forever—permanent transformation to incorruptibility (1Co 15:52c-53)
         2. A majestic reality—absolute and eternal victory over sin and death (1Co 15:54-57)
            1. The Scripture’s promises will be fulfilled (1Co 15:54-55)
               1. The future incorruptible state (1Co 15:54a)
               2. The fulfillment of Isaiah 28:5 (1Co 15:54b)
               3. The final reversal of Hosea 13:14 (1Co 15:55)
            2. The Savior will give us victory over sin and death through the resurrection (1Co 15:56-57)
               1. The painful sting of death is removed (1Co 15:56a)
               2. The power of sin, the condemnation of the law, is removed (1Co 15:56b)
               3. The praise belongs to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1Co 15:57)
      3. The resurrection is our motivation to persevere and abound in the work of the Lord (1Co 15:58)
         1. Because of our victorious resurrection … (1Co 15:58a)
         2. Be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (1Co 15:58b)
         3. Be ever mindful of the glorious fruit and future to come in the Lord (1Co 15:58c)