The Progress., 1893-10-28

lntrodu tory. Paul begins his ia
nous chapter with the proofs of tb,
resurrection of Christ lie brings
witness after witness, even 500 at one
tine who, between the resurrection
ana ascension. saw Jesus. touched
h'm, heard him talk, walked with
NM ate with him. Later on Paul
met Jesus. No event i'm all history
"aS greater or more convincing proof
than that Jesus rose from the dead.
Jesus must be alive
]. An Essential Truth of the iospel-
vcrs. l2-l9. L. IF Christ be preach
"i that he rose from the dead" II
one man was raised how can you say
there Is no resurrection of the dead.
IL. IF there be no resurrection of
the dead, then is Christ not risen" If
the resurrection is an impos ,ibilitv.
then there must bc a mistake about
the resurrection Of Christ.
II. Then is our preaching in vain"
The error combated, if logically csc-
ricd out would destroy christianity
altogether. And your faith is also
vain" The foundation of your faith
and hope has vanished II Christ
has not risen, he has broken his
promise our proof of Immortality is
taken away, there has been no atone
ment made for our sins, there can be
no second coming, and the testimony
Of the apostles is false; for they
testified of God that he raised up
Christ" This epistle was written
within twenty-five years of Christ's
resurrection. They would not be
mistaken witnesses but false
Is. Then they also which are
fallen asleep in Christ are perished"
How much blessedness is gone from
life aud hope il we are never to meet
friends and loved ones again.
10. "Of all men most miserable"
Because in that case his life is a fail
ure. He loses both present and future
lie has gained nothing for himself or
others.
III. The BLESSINGS of the Resurr &C.
tion-verS 20-2i. 30. "But now is
Christ risen" Let us turn TO the glo-
rious morning. The resurrection Of
Christ is "A fact ''Become the fir st
fruits" The pledge aud promise. the
type and proof of the resurrection of
all his people. ''Of them that slept"
\ most beautiful and instructive term
for death. The soul lives while the
body is unconscious. The very ex-
preston implies immortality.
4, I,
the sin of our first ancestor Adam.
Through man." Jesus Christ, ''came
also the resurrection of the dead"
90. "As in Adam ALL" his descend
ants, not all beings, ''die, even so in
Christ shall all, who are in him, his
children, "be made alive" The resur-
rsction is as certain as death.
23. But every man in his own or
der" Or succession of time. AT his
coming" AS frequently promised in
the New Testament.
-. Then cometh the end" OF the
age, the world, the present dispensa-
tion. when the kingdom of Christ is
fully come. "When he shall have de-
livered up the kingdom of God" His
work as Mediator will be accomplished.
"Shall have put down all rule, and all
authority and power" All hostile
powers, whether demoniacal or
human. These are to be subdued; not
annihilated, and not converted; bat
simply deprived of all power to dis
turb the harmony of the kingdom. -
Hodge.
25. "For he must reign" As Medi-
ator over his people and through them.
It'll he hath put all enemies under
his feet" Till he has completely tri-
umpbed over every wrong, every op-
preston, every hostile power.
20. ''The last enemy . is death. 3"
Which is destroyed by the resurrec-
ton, when every disciple of Christ will
have a spiritual body that cannot die.
MAKERS OF HISTORY.