The First-fruits of Them that Slept 1 Corinthians 15:20

Paul the apostle told the church members in Corinth, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”, and in chapter fifteen and verse twenty of First Corinthians, Paul told the church members in Corinth how “Christ” was “risen from the dead” and became, “the first-fruits of them that slept”, where we read:

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept.

The verse begins, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, ...” Paul began with the word, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “now” which means “just now or at this very moment” “is Christ” or “the anointed One, the Messiah and Son of God” “risen” which means “aroused, caused to rise, awakened and appeared” “from the dead” which means “out of and away from one who has breathed his last, deceased, destitute of life and inanimate”. Jesus Christ has “risen” from the “lifeless and deceased” state.

The verse continues, “... and become the first-fruits of them that slept.” Paul added the words, “and become” which means “come into existence, happened and appeared as “the first-fruits” which means “the first of the produce from the earth like the first of the dough from which sacred loaves were to be prepared” “of them” which means “the people whether male or female” “that slept” or “were still, calm, quiet and asleep or dead”. Jesus Christ was the “first” to be among those who are to be resurrected who put their faith in trust in Him.

When we consider these words from Paul, we see how Jesus became the “first” person to “rise from the dead” under His own power. Because He did, He was able to secure the same for those who trust and believe in Him. Jesus Christ came into the world to save people from their sins, and when they receive Him as “Savior and Lord”, they obtain the promise of “eternal life” of whom Jesus became the “first” to enjoy.

Next time Paul tells the church members, “by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.