Called To God's Greater Purpose

A Seed Planted and a New Body Raised

“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

Called To God's Greater Purpose As Saved Sons

A good parent is someone concerned about their child's future and the direction their life, who gently guides them without interfering with God's greater purpose. What is God's greater purpose for all those He calls into His divine family? To answer the question of God's greater purpose, let us look at 1 Corinthians 15:1-2. "Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain."

In Paul's assessment of the Corinthians' salvation so far as they believed the Gospel that he preached, which they also received, and took a stand, but then he adds this little conjunction "if." The problem with that little word in the Greek is that it is always conditional. It is dependent upon other factors. The critical factor in this context is their holding fast to the word preached, and as he said, unless you believe in vain. The word vain means without cause or ground, without basis, and therefore not to be taken seriously or considered valid. This adverb suggests, "What goes to no purpose." The purpose of authentic salvation is repentance of sin and grief of a guilty conscience, and the death of God as a man in our place and because of our sins. Confessing belief in Jesus Christ when there is no sincere purpose or cause, because there is no real awareness of sin that would send the believer to hell for eternity, means it was in vain.

Called to God's Greater Purpose As Resurrected Sons

In chapter 15, Paul goes on to give us an order of the resurrection. In verse 20, we are told, "Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep." What Paul means by the first fruits of those who are asleep is this. As long as a person sleeps, they are not conscious of those around them until they awake. The believer who dies is perfectly aware of Christ, the angels, and other saints who occupy heaven. Christ, after freeing those held in Abraham's bosom, according to Jesus' account of the rich man and Lazarus, was raised from the dead and appeared to over 500 people of faith.

There is more than one resurrection, and they are according to God's precise and predetermined schedule. Verse 23, "But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming," The purpose of this resurrection is stated in verse 24, "when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power." Lost and condemned men rule at present, but it will not always be that way.

Jesus Christ will reign as He promised He would, and He will rule from the seat of David, as He is the greater David. Jesus is the man after God's own heart like no other. Jesus Christ is the template for all people who will have a heart after God. Furthermore, there will be a resurrection as prophesied in Revelation 20:5-6. "The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

Called to God's Greater Purpose As Incorruptible Sons

Paul then speaks about the nature of the resurrection. People who succumb to Satan's constant deceitfulness are forever distorting Biblical teaching. Men question how God will raise the dead, "But someone will say, "How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?" It is hard to conceive how God can raise a decayed body.

Nevertheless, in verses 36-37, "You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies; and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain..." God is not planting a body in the ground that He will resurrect; He will raise an entirely different body.

My dear reader, if you have any doubts about the resurrection from the dead, put them to rest with the following teaching from Paul in verses 42-45. "So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable [body], it is raised an imperishable [body]; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual [body]. So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL." The last Adam [became] a life-giving spirit."

In God's Sovereign Plan There Are Two Resurrections.

Verse 5 is followed by the tragic end of those who do not take part in the first resurrection. "Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years." All believers from the time of Adam forward will take part in the first resurrection and will reign with Christ for a thousand years. The horrifying reality of the second resurrection is that the second death will have eternal power over all of those who partake.

There are two resurrections, and they are entirely different from each other. The first resurrection is of those who have been transformed by the death and resurrection of the Son of God. Identification with Christ at the cross means the removal of all their sins. Identification in the resurrection means the impartation of Christ's righteousness has already taken place.

The horrifying reality for all those who take part in the second resurrection is the absence of God's calling and grace to identification in Jesus Christ. The consequence of no resurrection from the dead but remaining dead is as follows. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised a perishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in dishonor; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in weakness; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a natural body. Those who partake in the first resurrection will bear the image of the heavenly. Those who participate in the second resurrection will bear the image of the earthy. The Perishable will remain perishable. The mortal shall remain mortal. Existence will continue, but it will be a sinful existence. All will be tormented by their inner pride, jealousy, and idolatry, deceit, and unrighteous anger.