I Corinthians 15, continued:

• I Corinthians 15:29-32 – If the dead are not raised, continued
  • I Corinthians 15:29
    • “For the dead” might mean “for the purpose of refilling the ranks of our fallen brethren.”
    • Paul might be illustrating his point by referring to an erroneous practice.
    • Whatever explanation is correct, Paul’s point in this section of scripture is easy to understand: the coming resurrection is a fact. We also know what it doesn’t mean – that we can be baptized for the benefit of people who are dead.
• I Corinthians 15:35-58 – Details of the resurrection
  • I Corinthians 15:42-44
    • See I John 3:2. We don’t know what our spiritual bodies will be like, but in some way we will be like God.

• I Corinthians 15:45-49

• I Corinthians 15:50 – We put a lot of effort into maintaining our physical bodies, but they can’t take us where we really want to go – heaven! We need a spiritual body for that.

What is the good news (the gospel)?

God authorizes local churches to teach the gospel.

Let’s make sure Benchley continues to teach the gospel!

Renewals

• Exodus 34
• Moses cut, God rewrote tablets at the top of the mountain
• Same rules as before
• God reveals Himself – Exodus 34:6-7
• Moses worships and pleads His presence with Israel
• God renews His covenant – all the same terms as before
• Moses’ shining face and the veil
• Command to obey all that God had spoken

The Tabernacle

• Exodus 35
  • Moses restates the Sabbath edicts
  • Contributions for the tabernacle
  • Workers for the tabernacle and contents
  • All offered as free will offerings
  • All who were so moved, contributed
• Exodus 36-37
  • Materials and workers pour in
  • Moses had to issue a command to stop
  • All the work was finally performed
  • Exodus 37 – Ark, table, lampstand, altar of incense made
• Exodus 38
  • Altar for the burnt offering made
  • Bronze basin
  • The court
  • Listing of materials for the tabernacle

The priestly garments

• Exodus 39:1-31
• All made to specifications as God commanded
• Every stone in order to total twelve stones
• Crowns engraved with “Holy to the Lord”

Tabernacle delivered

• Exodus 39:32-43
• The workers brought it all to Moses
• Everything that had been commanded
• Moses inspected it all
  • All was in accordance with God’s commands
  • Moses blessed them

Tabernacle erected

• Exodus 40:1-33
• This was one year after leaving Egypt (minus 14 days)
• The tabernacle was erected
  • All of its elements were exactly placed
  • All utensils and articles were arranged
  • Everything consecrated as instructed
  • Priests purified and dressed in priestly garments
  • Court was erected, veil hung
  • Lamps lit, incense burned, offerings offered, laver filled
  • All as the Lord had commanded

God’s glorious presence

• Exodus 40:34-38
• The cloud covers the tabernacle
• God’s glory fills the tabernacle
• The cloud signaled Israel’s movements
• Cloud by day, fire by night
• God present with the people as Moses had prayed

Capstone

• What was Exodus about?
  • In general terms
  • In thematic content
• What was God’s desire?
  • Israel’s love – OR –
  • Israel’s obedience?
  • I Chronicles 29:18-19
  • Circumcision of the heart
    • Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6
• Does God hear the cries of the oppressed?
  • Of the obedient?
  • Of the disobedient?
  • Exodus 2:23-25

She tried to stop the spread of God’s word.

• I Kings 18-19

She had a terrible influence on her spouse.

• I Kings 16, 21

She met the God of vengeance.

• II Kings 9

I Corinthians 15

• I Corinthians 15:1-11 – Preaching Christ’s resurrection
  • See Luke 24:44.
  • I Corinthians 15:5 – See Luke 24:34. We do not have a direct record of Peter seeing the risen Jesus, but the two on the road also referenced this. “The twelve” here is a figure of speech (“adjournment”). There were not precisely twelve apostles at this time.
  • I Corinthians 15:7 – See Acts 1:2-3.
• I Corinthians 15:12-19 – Everything depends upon Christ’s resurrection (and resurrection in general).
  • I Corinthians 15:12-14 – Apparently some in Corinth erroneously believed there was no resurrection.
  • I Corinthians 15:19 – If Christ is not raised, we are in a terrible spot!
• I Corinthians 15:20-28 – Christ leads the way.
  • I Corinthians 15:24 – Compare John 1:1-5.
• I Corinthians 15:29-32 – If the dead are not raised.
  • I Corinthians 15:29 – Facts:
    • Baptism is an individual’s response to the gospel. (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38)
    • Each person will be judged according to what he or she has done, not based on what someone else has done. (Romans 14:12; II Corinthians 5:10; Ezekiel 18:20)
    • In Luke 16:19-31, the dead man was not able to switch places in the afterlife.
    • Baptism doesn’t always refer to water baptism. It can refer to immersion in persecution/suffering (Luke 12:50; Mark 10:39). Suffering is in the context of I Corinthians 15:30, 32.
    • Therefore, I Corinthians 15:29 CAN’T be teaching us to be baptized for the salvation of those who are already daed.