The Death of Death

One of the most exciting parts of God's plan for us is revealed by Paul in 1 Cor 15 : 20 - 28.  First Corinthians 15 is known as the resurrection chapter - a sneak peek into some aspects of the future.

These few verses from the resurrection chapter give us an overview of the purpose, the process and the final result of God's program during the ages on earth, the highlight of which is God's promise to resurrect all of his creation to life and to destroy death.

Death is probably our worst enemy, the thing we fear most, especially as we head towards the twilight years of our lives or find ourselves in a life-threatening situation.  So it is very exciting to hear from Paul that death will eventually be destroyed, no longer to exist. 

Can you even imagine a world without sin or death?  Well, it's coming ...... but not for a while.  Let's examine these verses and see how we get to it.

"But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.  But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.  Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power."  [1 Cor 15 : 20 - 24  NKJV]

Just as exciting as waiting for death to be destroyed, Paul tells us that death is not even to be feared now.  Jesus showed by his resurrection that death could be overcome and Paul tells us that Jesus, in doing that, became the firstfruits of all who die.

The firstfruits was a concept that every one of Paul's contemporaries would have understood.  We can read about it in Leviticus 23.  Just before the main barley harvest, a few sheaves were harvested and offered to God.  These were called the firstfruits of the crop.  No barley could be bought or sold, no bread could be made from new flour, until the firstfruits had been presented and accepted.  The firstfruits were a sign or guarantee of the harvest to come.  Paul, in using this familiar picture, was proclaiming that the resurrection of Jesus was a sign or guarantee of the resurrection of all who had died or would die.

In God's plan, a man, Adam, was used to introduce death into the human race; and equally a man would be needed to take it out again.  That Man was Jesus who, through his resurrection, brought life back to humankind, indeed became the guarantee that all afflicted by the death of Adam would receive life through Jesus. 

Paul emphasises how comprehensive both of these actions were.  Death came to all of us because of one man's actions; life will come to all of us because of another Man's actions.

An interesting aside here is to consider that neither the action of Adam, nor the response of Christ, required our permission or "freewill" acceptance.  We were not even consulted on the matter.  Adam threw us into the realm of death and Jesus thrust us back into life again.  All of us.  And we had no say in any of it.

Indeed, if life is not the result of Jesus' actions, we would have to conclude that Adam was more effective than Jesus.  And if that were the case, we would be saying that the created being (Adam) was more powerful than the Creator (Jesus), or, that death in Adam was more powerful than life in Christ.

Paul then describes the order in which this resurrection to life will occur.  Christ first, of course, then those who belong to him at his coming, his saints, then the end group, those who are last to gain life.  It is after the resurrection of this end group that Jesus hands his kingdom over to his Father since the work he has been given to do has now been completed - all have now been resurrected to life and there is no rule or authority or power remaining other than his.

Isn't this so exciting?  Even as I am writing this, I am having to stop to celebrate.  Wow!  Praise God!

"For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.   The last enemy to be destroyed is death.   For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.   When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all."  [1 Cor 15 : 25 - 28  TNIV]

Paul explains further that Jesus could not hand his kingdom over to God until all opposition to it had been subdued.  As with all of us, all opposition to God's plan in our lives is dissolved when God gives us the faith to repent of our sin, acknowledge Jesus as Saviour and Lord, and willingly submit to his kingly rule in our lives.

We are then told what is the last opposition and hindrance to his kingdom to be subdued, to be destroyed.  Many think that Satan will be the last.  But no, it is death, spiritual death.  Death is the consequence of sin which separates us from God and his Lordship in our lives. 

Adam and Eve sinned, and experienced death and separation from God when they decided to go their own way and make their own choices about what was right and wrong rather than obey God and follow his directions.  

If death is destroyed at the end, then only life can be remaining.  No-one any longer will suffer death and therefore separation from God; everyone will be alive, reconciled to God and in fellowship with him.

Why should we ever think that this would not be the case?  Who would think that even an earthly parent would not want to use all the resources available to them to ensure their family lived in harmony with them forever?  And why should not God, the most loving and resource-rich parent of all, not arrange such a happy and victorious ending for himself and his family?

It's not a matter of who gets there and who doesn't.  Nor is a matter of who gets there first.  We all get there in the end - all of God's creation alive and in fellowship with God and with each other.  

That's the result of death being destroyed - the death of death - all will be alive.  Wow!