The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-11-01
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
NOVEMBER 5.
Lesson Text: sFThe Resurrection" "
Cor. xv., 1926 Golden
Text: Cor. xv., 81
Commentary.


Commentary.
12. ''Now if Christ be preached that He
rose from the dead, how say some among
you that there Is no resurrection OF the
dead?" The resurrection OF the dead Is one
OF the oldest of Bible truths, believed by
David Cps. EH., 9. 10Y, firmly held by Job
COB xix, 25, 26, also the margin) and en-
braced by the antediluvians as taught in the
cherubi1n (Heb. xl., 13).
13. :'But if there be no resurrection OF the
dead, then is Christ not risen." The Sad
duces believed that there was no resurrec-
tion, neither angel, nor spirit Guke Xxx. 27 :;
Acts xiii, 81, and the wisdom Of Greece
Knocked at the idea OF resurrection Acts
xvii, 32). A letter Just to hand from Japan
tells OF congregation to whom the gospel
was being preached, and when they heard OF
the resurrection and ascension OF our Lord
some one in the audience cried out, "No, no
denying these glorious facts"
IA. 'tAnd If Christ be not risen, then Is our
preaching vain and your faith is also vain" {"
As it was foretold that Christ should rise
from the dead II he rose not the Scriptures
are broken, and II broken are therefore un-
reliable, and we have no foundation on
which to rest, no gospel to preach, no Saw
iour in whom to trust. II O man who Is
surety for another goesto prison for the debt,
his continuance in prison proves the debt
unpaid, while his release shows asettlement.
Christ not risen would prove the debt un-
paid.
15 "Yea, and we ore found false witnesses
of God because we have testified of God that
He raised up Christ, whom He raised not up,
II so be that the dead rise not" The great
point ofthe apostles preaching was the res
direction Of Christ (see Acts il, 81 ILL.,, Is ;
w., g. SO; ", 80 K, SO, 40; xiii, 33) and II
they had been teaching falsely then they
were liars and deserved the wrath OF God,
but God had endorsed their teachings by
many miracles (NIark xvi 20; Acts viii, 13).
16. "For il the dead rise not then Is not
Christ raised" With the records Of the Old
Testament concerning the boys raised to lie
by both Elijah and Elisha one would think
that no Jew could deny the resurrection, but
then, as now, there were both Jews and gem
tiles who laughed at the supernatural and
miraculous. In Jesus days on earth they
could not deny the resurrection OF Lazarus,
but It only angered them so that they wanted
to kill Him (John xii, 10).
II. 'sAnd il Christ be not raised your faith
is vain ye are yet in your SINS" He was de-
livered for our offenses and was raised again
for our justification (Rom. iv., 25). II He
be not raised, where Is our justification? But
since He died and rose again and is at Gods
right hand for US, there Is no one to con-
demn. and there is no condemnation Rom.
viii, 34,
49, "Then they also which are fallen asleep
in Christ are perished." Such teachers as
Buddha, Confucius and Mohammed are dead
teachers and cannot save. Their followers
perish. Our Christ Is alive forevermore, as
He said.to John on Patmos over sixty years
after His ascension, and has all power even
over hell and death Grew. l., II, 18) ;there-
fore His sheep can never perish (John x>
27, 2s).
19 IF in this life only we have hope in
Christ, we are Of oil men most miserable
Faithfulness to Christ and His gospel will
always provoke opposition from world
lying in the wicked one John xvi, 2, 33 ; III
Tim. ILL.,, 12; T John V. 19); it will give US
anything but a pleasant time, rs far us
friendship and surroundings 81. Therefore
II there be no future, rest and recompense
we are most miserable and great fools. But
see Rom. viii. 1S ;IPet. xii, IL.
20. But now is Christ risen from the dead
and become the first fruits OF them that
slept" Hundreds OF His followers saw Him
after His resurrection, and Stephen. Paul
and John each saw Him after His ascension
oversees 6, 8, with Acts VIII, IS, Sc; Rev. l.,
in. He was the first to rise from the dead
never to die again (Acts XVI, %; Rev. l.,
s., the first fruits typihed in the sheaf pre-
sented to the Lord on the morrow after the
Passover Sabbath (Ley. xiii, 10, III.
81. For since by man came death by man
came also the resurrection OF the dead" By
one man sin entered into the world and
death by sin. Through the offense OF one
many are dead, but see the grace OF God,
and the gift by grace, that by one man Jesus
Christ hath abounded unto many, even unto
1nhn
j., 12).
%. "For as in Adam all die, even 80 in
Christ shall all be made alive" All without
, exception are in Adam, and consequently by
nature children Of wrath and dead in tres
passes in sins (Eph, IL, 8, 81, but not all are
in Christ. as that position necessitates the
new birth-the receiving OF Christ as their
Saviour (John ill.,, 8, S J., 12). All who are
truly in Christ shall surely be made alive as
to their bodies und take part in the first re-
surrection (Rev. Xxx, g..
%. But every man in his own order
Christ the first fruits ; afterward they that
are Christ's, at his coming" The word
translated '!order" signifies q company or
band or legion and is used only here. 1t is
suggestive OF the various companies VINO
shall take part In the first resurrection. more
definitely referred TO in Rev. ", vii, xiv.
Observe the long period covered by the wcrd
"afterward" It is now over 1S60years since
Christ, the first fruits, rose, and we still wait
for the ''afterward."
a. s'rhen 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" As the
"afterward" hos already covered 50 long q
period, so the "then" will cover at least the
thousand years during which He with US will
subdue all things unto Himself (Rey. v, 10
Xxx. 6). -.
Is. .:Fcr He must reign till Es hath put all
enemies under His feet" He is able to sub
due all things unto Himself. and He will
(Phil. ill.,. 2D. To Him every knee shal!
bow (Phil. H., 1O). Yca, ell kings shall fall
down before Him. All nations shall serve
Him (Ps. lxxii., ~. He is new ut the
Fathers right Land Oh tho Fathers throne
(Ecv. ill.,, 2D.
26. Tho last enemy that shall bo destroyed
is death" 1t would seen from Isa. lHv.. 20.
that there will BIZ death during tEa thousanI j
years. for it is not till the end OF that per!o'l
that death and badcs shall ne cast into the
lake Of fire. lRev. XXX. AZ. But the time viii
como when on this eartn there shall be no
more death (Rsv. xxi, y. Ooserve that
death IS an enemy, Gid we are nowhere
taught to love it. Let us never hink OF death
rs in any sense :ke coming OF Christ. At
death the believer goes TO be with Christ and
then, as now, Christ Is with us. nut ut the
coming of Christ see in verses 81, 50, with :
Thess. ir., 1918, what shall take place.