Lesson 482

(Lesson 482)(12-10-12) 1 Corinthians 15:12-25, "Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, 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. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 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 firstfruits of them that slept. 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. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then 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. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet."

In this lesson Paul tells us that without the resurrection of Jesus, there could be no resurrection, or redemption from sin, for anyone else. He clarifies that through the disobedience of Adam, the spiritual death was brought upon us (all of mankind).

Paul goes on to assure us that because Jesus, the Son of God, overcame death to rise and live again, for those of us whom have placed our faith in Him, and all others who will, resurrection of the soul and its eternal salvation is guaranteed. This is the promise Jesus made in John 4:25, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.".
What blessed assurance!

NOTE: This passage does NOT say one who believes MAY be passed from death to life. It clearly says, in the past tense, that one IS passed from death unto life.

From this we know that upon the moment of belief, we are eternally saved.~