Closer To Heaven
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LUSAKA, ZAMBIA — Hakainde Hichilema, a baptized member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, has won re-election as president of Zambia, securing a second five-year term after receiving 61.4 percent of the valid vote, according to results announced by the Electoral Commission of Zambia on August 18. His main challenger, Brian Mundubile, received about 38 percent. […] Source: https://atoday.org/zambias-hichilema-wins-second-term-amid-election-concerns/
Introduction: Logical arguments have a certain structure. That structure requires at least one premise, and more often two, before you can reach a conclusion. 
Here is an example. Murray is a grasshopper. All grasshoppers are insects. Therefore, Murray is an insect. The conclusion is that Murray is an insect, and the essential premises are that Murray is a grasshopper and all grasshoppers are insects. In our study this week Paul builds the argument for the conclusion that there is a resurrection of the dead. The critical fact for that conclusion is that Jesus was raised from the dead. Paul then argues that Jesus’ resurrection, as the “firstfruits” of those who have died, assures the future resurrection of those who belong to Him. Let’s explore Paul’s argument for the resurrection!
I. The Argument for the Resurrection of the Dead
A. Read 1 Corinthians 15:13. What premise does Paul give us about the resurrection of the dead?
(If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised.)
B. Read 1 Corinthians 15:20. What fact does Paul establish that bears on this premise? (Christ has been raised from the dead.)
1. If Christ has been raised, what does that tell us about the claim that there is no resurrection of the dead? (That claim must be false. Therefore, there is a resurrection of the dead.)
II. The Consequences if Jesus Was Not Raised
A. The critical fact—that Jesus has been raised from the dead—is the most difficult proposition to establish for people who know nothing about Christianity. It was difficult enough to argue that God could be crucified. But additionally arguing that the crucified God came back to life was a heavy lift. How would you argue that Jesus was resurrected from the dead?
B. Read 1 Corinthians 15:14. What is the first consequence if Jesus has not been raised from the dead? (If it is not true, the religious beliefs of the Corinthians are false and worthless.)
C. Read 1 Corinthians 15:17. Let’s backtrack and examine Paul’s arguments for the truth of the Corinthians’ religious beliefs. Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-2. Why should the Corinthian Christians believe that their religious beliefs are true? (Paul reminds them that they already accepted the gospel as true, and this truth is saving them.)
D. Read 1 Corinthians 15:15. What is Paul’s second argument to support the fact that Jesus has been raised from the dead? (If that fact is false the Corinthians are not simply deceiving others, they are misrepresenting God.)
E. Read 1 Corinthians 15:16-17. What further consequences follow if Christ has not been raised? (If the resurrection is untrue, the Corinthians not only have accepted a “futile” faith, worse, they are still in their sins. They have no hope for the future.)
F. Read 1 Corinthians 15:18. What is the fourth logical argument Paul makes for the resurrection of Jesus? (If it is not true, then all of the Corinthians’ friends and family who have died are just gone. They have perished and will not be seen or heard of again.)
G. Read 1 Corinthians 15:19. What is the fifth logical argument for Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? (If it is not true, Christians are a foolish group who should be pitied by those who understand the truth.)
   1. Paul’s statement could easily be misunderstood. If there were no hope of a future life, would Christianity still teach a good way to live? (I believe that is true. A Christian life is a life well-lived.)
III. The Evidence for Jesus’ Resurrection
A. Read 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. What evidence exists for Jesus’ resurrection? (Paul says that the “Scriptures,” meaning the Old Testament, contained detailed predictions about Jesus’ death and resurrection.)
B. Read 1 Corinthians 15:5. What other evidence is there for Jesus’ resurrection? (Peter (Cephas) and the rest of the disciples saw Jesus alive after He was killed.)
1. Since the disciples died for sharing this belief, what motive would they have to lie about the resurrection?
C. Read 1 Corinthians 15:6. What kind of evidence is this? (Paul writes that over 500 of Jesus’ followers saw Him alive after His crucifixion, and most of them can be interrogated about what they saw.)
D. Read 1 Corinthians 15:7-8. What is special about this eyewitness testimony? (These are the leaders of the church. Would you be a leader of a church based on what you knew was a lie?)
1. The obvious answer to the prior question is, “No” – unless there was money to be made. Was there profit in being a leader in the early church? (No. Suffering was the more likely outcome. And this is especially true for Paul who reports that he also is an eyewitness.)
IV. The Theology Supporting the Resurrection of Jesus
A. Read 1 Corinthians 15:20-22. Our understanding is that Adam destined us for eternal death. Why do you think that theological concept is true? (Because Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, sin entered our world.)
1. Is that fair? (We routinely inherit consequences—both good and bad—from decisions we did not personally make. We are born into a world profoundly shaped by those who came before us.)
2. How has Jesus reversed the misdeed of Adam? (Adam brought us death, Jesus brings us life. Jesus is the “firstfruits” for those being resurrected.)
a. Look more deeply into this idea. What works did we do to inherit Adam’s death sentence? (None. We did nothing to be born into a fallen world, although we later commit sins of our own.)
b. If we did not acquire Adam’s legacy by our works, does it make sense that we can receive Christ’s gift of life without earning it by our works? (Yes. Eternal life is God’s gift to those who belong to Christ.)
B. Read 1 Corinthians 15:23-24. Christ rose three days after His death. What is the timing for our resurrection from the dead? (At Jesus’ Second Coming when He has defeated every opposing rule and authority.)
C. Read 1 Corinthians 15:25-26. What does it mean for death to be destroyed? (Death is no longer a possibility for those who are saved.)
V. Answers to Questions
A. Read 1 Corinthians 15:29. Paul has been arguing for the resurrection of the dead. Here he reports that others say that a person can be baptized on behalf of a dead person. If an unbeliever died, can you give him eternal life by a proxy baptism? (If the person is dead that person has passed the point of accepting Jesus.)
1. Is Paul endorsing the idea of baptism for the dead? (I don’t think so. Paul is reporting what others say. Paul’s point is this claim makes no sense unless the dead will be raised to live again.)
2. Let’s assume that Paul is endorsing, and not simply reporting the views of others. How should we understand this? (A reasonable way to understand this is that our baptism is an acceptance of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Our baptism accepts His death and His resurrection makes our resurrection possible. This makes perfect sense in the context of Paul’s argument.)
B. Read 1 Corinthians 15:35. Does Paul assume that the resurrected dead will have bodies rather than existing merely as disembodied spirits? (Yes. The question itself asks what kind of “body” they will have.)
1. Read 1 Corinthians 15:42–44. What kind of body will we have? (An imperishable, glorious, powerful “spiritual body.” A spiritual body is still a body; Paul is not describing a disembodied spirit.)
C. Read 1 Corinthians 15:36-39. What is the “bare kernel” of your body? (I believe it is the code for who you are.)
1. What should you expect for your new body? (God gives us the new body, and Paul compares it to “flesh.” The reasonable conclusion is that this is an actual body because otherwise the reference to the flesh of animals makes no sense.)
D. Read 1 Corinthians 15:51-55. When is the resurrection where we receive our new body? (At the “last trumpet.” When Jesus comes again He raises the dead and changes them into their new bodies.)
E. Read 1 Corinthians 15:57. Who should we thank for this victory over death?
F. Friend, are you convinced that Jesus was raised from the dead? If so, His resurrection means that you—and everyone who belongs to Him—can have the certain hope of resurrection and eternal life. Will you share that hope with those who do not yet believe? Why not make that determination now?
VI. Next week: Love-driven Ministry
Copr. 2026, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail, but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you study.
Filipinas – Una camioneta que transportaba a más de 20 personas, en su mayorĂa miembros de la Iglesia Adventista del SĂ©ptimo DĂa que regresaban de un programa de asistencia social, se precipitĂł por un barranco en Upper Sepaka poco despuĂ©s del mediodĂa, lo que causĂł la muerte de dos personas y dejĂł heridas a otras […] Source: https://atoday.org/dos-personas-mueren-en-accidente-de-transito-mientras-regresaban-de-una-actividad-de-la-iglesia-adventista-del-septimo-dia/
FIRST AND SECOND CORINTHIANS
Lesson 8. The Power of Christ’s Resurrection
8.3 Christ, the Firstfruits
Christ lives – therefore His people will also live
1. IntroductionPaul answers the dreadful possibility from the previous section with a powerful confession: “But now Christ has been raised from the dead.” In doing so, he makes it clear that our hope is not based on wishful thinking, but on a divine reality. Christ did not rise merely in order to live Himself, but as the “firstfruits” of those who have fallen asleep. His resurrection is the beginning of a greater harvest. All who belong to Christ will be raised at His second coming. Therefore, the future of believers is inseparably connected with the risen Lord.
2. The Biblical FoundationPaul writes:
“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
1 Corinthians 15:20
Further, he explains:
“For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man.”
1 Corinthians 15:21
Then Paul contrasts Adam and Christ:
“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”
1 Corinthians 15:22
And he describes the order of the resurrection:
“But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward, at His coming, those who belong to Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:23
These texts show that the resurrection of Jesus is the guarantee of the resurrection of believers.
3. Connection to Our TimePeople today also need a hope that is stronger than death. Many try to suppress death, explain it away, or make it more bearable through beautiful memories. But Paul offers more than comfort: he proclaims a real future. Because Christ has risen, those who have died in Christ will also rise. Death separates, wounds, and shakes us deeply, but it cannot destroy God’s promise. The resurrection of Jesus makes it clear that God has the final word over life, death, and the future.
4. Central Message of the Lesson
Christ is the firstfruits of the resurrection: His resurrection is the beginning, the guarantee, and the promise that all who belong to Him will rise at His second coming.
5. Theological FocusThe theological focus of this lesson lies in the meaning of the word “firstfruits.” In the Old Testament, the first fruits of the harvest were dedicated to God. They were not the whole harvest, but the beginning and the assurance that the rest of the harvest would follow. When Paul calls Christ the “firstfruits,” he is saying that Jesus’ resurrection is the beginning of the great resurrection harvest.
Christ did not rise merely as an isolated individual without any connection to us. His resurrection has representative significance. What happened to Him will also happen to those who belong to Him. He is the beginning of a new humanity.
Paul contrasts Adam and Christ. Through Adam, death entered human history. Through sin, separation from God, and mortality, humanity came under the power of death. Every human being experiences this reality: we live in a world in which everything is subject to decay.
But Christ comes as the new Adam. Where Adam was disobedient, Christ was obedient. Where Adam fell, Christ remained faithful. Where Adam brought death, Christ brings life. Therefore, Christ is not only the Savior of individual people, but the Head of a new humanity.
The expression “in Adam” describes our natural condition: mortality, sin, and death. The expression “in Christ” describes our new hope: forgiveness, new life, and resurrection. Paul therefore shows that our future depends on whom we belong to. In Adam all die; in Christ those who belong to Him will be made alive.
The order Paul describes is also important. Christ rose first. Afterward, at His second coming, those who belong to Christ will rise. Paul therefore clearly places the hope of deceased believers at the return of Jesus. The resurrection does not occur independently of this great event, but at His appearing.
This confirms the biblical hope of death as a sleep. Believers who have died are described as having “fallen asleep.” They are not consciously waiting in an intermediate state for some final completion, but rest until the call of Christ. Their hope lies in the resurrection at Jesus’ second coming.
Paul also speaks about Christ’s final victory over all powers. Christ will reign until all enemies have been placed under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. In this way Paul shows that the resurrection is not merely a personal hope, but part of God’s great victory over evil.
In the end, Christ will hand the kingdom over to the Father. This submission does not imply any inferiority of the Son, but rather the perfect harmony of the plan of redemption. Christ, the second Adam, faithfully accomplishes the will of the Father and restores the order that was damaged by sin.
The theological core is this: Christ is the firstfruits of the resurrection because His resurrection marks the beginning of the new creation. Whoever belongs to Him shares in His future. Death will not remain victorious, because the risen Christ will lead His church to the final resurrection.
6. Spiritual ReflectionThis lesson gives a hope that reaches deeply into the heart. Paul does not merely say, “Christ has risen.” He says, “Christ has risen as the firstfruits.” This means that His resurrection is not an isolated event, but is filled with promise for us.
When we stand beside a grave, we see only loss. We see separation, pain, and finality. But faith sees more in the light of the resurrection. It sees that Christ has already come forth from the grave and that all who belong to Him will follow.
The image of the firstfruits is especially beautiful. The first fruits are a promise. They say: The harvest has begun. More will follow. In the same way, the resurrection of Jesus declares: Death has been broken. God’s new world has begun. The complete harvest will come at Jesus’ second coming.
This gives the Christian life a strong direction. We are not living toward the grave, but toward the return of Christ. The grave is not the destination, but a temporary sleeping place for those who have fallen asleep in Christ. The goal is resurrection, transformation, and eternal life in God’s kingdom.
This hope also helps us endure suffering differently. Paul himself lived amid danger, persecution, and deprivation. Why was he willing to endure so much? Because he knew that Christ lives and that the resurrection is real. Without resurrection, willingness to sacrifice would be foolish. With resurrection, faithfulness has meaning.
Therefore, Paul also says that it would be pointless to expose oneself to danger if there were no resurrection. Then one could say: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” If there were no future from God, pleasure would become the final standard. But because Christ lives, holiness has meaning, faithfulness has value, and service is not in vain.
This hope protects us from living only for the present world. If death were the end, many decisions would look very different. But because Christ is the firstfruits, we live for a future that reaches beyond this world. Our lives receive eternal significance.
The resurrection of Jesus also shows that God does not merely comfort, but restores. He does not only say, “I am with you in your pain.” He also says, “I will destroy death.” This is more than emotional comfort. It is the promise of a new reality.
Christ as the firstfruits also reminds us that our hope is bound to His person. We do not hope vaguely for “some kind of continued existence.” We hope in Christ. Because He lives, we too will live. Because He has risen, His church will rise. Because He is Lord, death will not have the final word.
This helps us deal with fear. Many people fear death, aging, illness, or the loss of loved ones. The resurrection does not immediately remove every tear, but it gives a hope that is deeper than fear. It says: Christ has gone before us.
Jesus is not merely someone who calls us from the outside. He is the One who Himself passed through death and the grave and emerged as Victor. Therefore, He can safely lead His people through death to the resurrection. No grave is closed to His voice.
Baptism also takes on profound meaning in this light. It connects the believer with the death and resurrection of Christ. Whoever is baptized confesses: My old life belongs to death, but my new life belongs to Christ. Baptism points to the hope that God’s life is stronger than death and sin.
This lesson invites us to live with Christ’s future in mind. We should not live as though this world were everything. We should live as though Christ had truly risen and were coming again soon. This changes priorities, decisions, hope, and faithfulness.
If Christ is the firstfruits, then the harvest is certain. God’s plan will not remain unfinished. The resurrection of Jesus is the guarantee that history will not end in death, but in God’s completed kingdom. This hope can make the heart peaceful, courageous, and steadfast.
7. Application in Daily LifePractical Steps:
8. Reflection QuestionHow does the certainty that Christ is the firstfruits of the resurrection change the way I deal with death, suffering, service, and my daily decisions?
9. Closing ThoughtPaul proclaims with complete certainty: Christ has risen from the dead. He is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. His resurrection is the beginning of the great harvest that will become visible at His second coming. Therefore, death is not final for believers, but a sleep until the call of Christ. Whoever belongs to Jesus will share in His life. Christ lives – and therefore His people will also live.
“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
1 Corinthians 15:20
The Biblical Person of the Day
Jehoram – the king who chose a bad legacy
Profile
Short StoryJehoram was the son of King Jehoshaphat and became king of Judah after him. His father had sought the Lord, instructed the people in God’s law, and experienced God’s help in a time of great distress.
But Jehoram did not follow in his father’s footsteps. He modeled himself after the house of Ahab, the godless royal house of Israel, because he was married to Athaliah, a daughter of Ahab.
When Jehoram established his rule, he killed his brothers and some of the leading men of Israel. Thus his reign began with bloodshed, fear, and a thirst for power.
He led Judah into idolatry and caused the people to turn away from the Lord. In this way, the good spiritual legacy of his father was severely damaged by his decisions.
During his reign, Edom and Libnah rebelled against Judah. The kingdom lost stability, and Jehoram’s leadership brought not blessing, but unrest and judgment.
The prophet Elijah sent him a written message announcing God’s judgment upon his course. Jehoram had abandoned the ways of his father and his grandfather Asa and had led the people astray.
His life ended painfully and without honor. The Bible reports that he died without being mourned. His story is a serious warning against despising a good spiritual legacy and surrendering oneself to harmful influences.
The Decisive MomentJehoram chooses to reject the spiritual legacy of his father and follows the ways of the house of Ahab.
7 Special Things About Jehoram
Strengths & Weaknesses
he had a good spiritual legacy through his father Jehoshaphat
he possessed royal responsibility and influence
he could have led Judah in the ways of God
he probably knew the story of God’s help in his family
violent and power-hungry
despised God’s ways and followed harmful influences
The Mistake That Defined HimJehoram abandoned the path of his father Jehoshaphat and inwardly aligned himself with the godless house of Ahab.
His story shows that a good legacy can be lost when a person deliberately opens himself to wrong influences and wrong paths.
Key Verse“And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab.” (2 Chronicles 21:6)
The Life LessonA good spiritual legacy protects only when a person personally accepts it and faithfully continues it.
Application for TodayDo not rely only on the good example of others. Choose God’s way for yourself and pay attention to the influences that shape your heart.
Question for YouWhich influences draw you closer to God, and which ones gradually pull you away from His way?
ContextJehoram ruled Judah after Jehoshaphat during the time of the divided kingdom. His reign was strongly shaped by his connection with the house of Ahab.
ConnectionJehoram is connected with Jehoshaphat, Ahab, Athaliah, Elijah, and the spiritual decline of Judah after a period of renewal.
Jehoram shows that family background, position, and a good example are not enough if one’s own heart chooses the wrong path. His story calls us not to despise a godly legacy, but to carry it forward faithfully.
See you tomorrow with the next biblical person!
The Life Story The Life Story of Jehoram – A King Who Left His Father’s Light Behind 
A Son of JehoshaphatJehoram was born as the son of King Jehoshaphat. He therefore grew up in a household shaped by a significant spiritual legacy.
Jehoshaphat had sought the Lord, had the people instructed in God’s law, and in great danger had experienced how God delivered Judah. His family therefore had testimonies of prayer, trust, and divine help.
But a spiritual legacy does not automatically become a person’s own faith. Jehoram had to decide for himself whether he would continue in his father’s path or open himself to other ways.
The Beginning of His ReignWhen Jehoram became king, he received power, influence, and responsibility. He had the opportunity to strengthen Judah in faithfulness to the Lord.
But his beginning was dark. After securing his kingship, he killed his brothers and also some of the leading men.
This act revealed what was stronger in his heart than the fear of God: fear for his own power, distrust, and the determination to eliminate possible rivals.
A Brother Becomes an EnemyJehoram’s violence against his brothers was especially serious because it struck his own family. Instead of protecting the house of David, he began his reign with bloodshed within his own family line.
In this, he was very different from a king who rules in trust in God. Whoever tries to secure his throne through fear reveals that inwardly he does not rest in God’s hands.
Jehoram’s decision destroyed trust, burdened his reign, and showed how dangerous uncontrolled ambition for power can become.
The Influence of the House of AhabJehoram was married to Athaliah, a woman from the house of Ahab. Through this connection, the spiritual influence of Israel’s godless royal house penetrated deeply into Judah.
Ahab and Jezebel had led Israel into idolatry and spiritual darkness. Instead of distancing himself from this path, Jehoram allowed himself to be shaped by it.
The connection with a corrupt house became a spiritual danger to Judah. Jehoram did not adopt the godliness of his father, but the ways of Ahab.
Judah Is Led AstrayJehoram led Judah into idolatry. He built high places and caused the people to become unfaithful to the Lord.
As king, he bore responsibility not only for himself. His decisions had consequences for the entire nation.
When a leader takes the wrong path, he can pull many others along with him. Jehoram did not use his position to lead the people to God, but to lead them away from Him.
Rebellions and LossDuring Jehoram’s reign, Judah began to lose stability. Edom rebelled against Judah and made itself independent.
Libnah also rebelled against him. These political losses were not merely external events, but were connected with Jehoram’s departure from the Lord.
His reign brought not peace and blessing, but unrest, rebellion, and weakening.
The Letter of the Prophet ElijahJehoram received a written message from the prophet Elijah. In it, God’s judgment was announced to him.
The message reminded him that he had not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat and Asa, but in the ways of the kings of Israel. His guilt concerning the death of his brothers was also mentioned.
God therefore saw not only the public idolatry, but also the bloodshed within his own family. Nothing was hidden from Him.
Sickness and an End Without HonorAs foretold, Jehoram became seriously ill. His illness was prolonged and painful.
In the end, he died without being mourned by the people. Although he was buried in the City of David, he was not buried in the tombs of the kings.
This sober description of his end is deeply disturbing. A king may possess power and yet live a life that ultimately leaves behind no love, no honor, and no grateful remembrance.
A Lost LegacyJehoram’s life is especially tragic because he could have known better. He came from the house of Jehoshaphat and had a spiritual legacy before his eyes.
But instead of preserving this legacy, he rejected it through wrong alliances, idolatry, and violence.
His story reminds us that a person is shaped not only by what he receives, but also by what he consciously chooses.
The Lasting Message of His LifeJehoram shows that a good beginning within a family does not guarantee that a person will continue well. Spiritual role models are a gift, but their example must be personally accepted.
His story warns against harmful alliances, the hunger for power, and contempt for a good spiritual legacy. Whoever abandons God’s light can, despite holding a high position, fall into darkness both inwardly and outwardly.
Closing ThoughtJehoram was the son of a king who sought the Lord. He could have continued on a good path, but instead he chose the influence of the house of Ahab and the way of violence.
His life ended without honor because he despised God’s ways and led people into sin.
His life story shows: A good spiritual legacy is a precious gift, but it remains alive only when we personally accept it and faithfully carry it forward.
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