1Corinthians 15:23. “But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterwards they that are Christ’s at His coming.”
HIS OWN ORDER. CHRIST… Christ – the Message of the Gospel: preached, received, saved. Christ – the Substitute for us: died, for our sins, it really happened. Christ – the Fulfiller of the scriptures: it was written, He fulfilled them. Christ – the Resurrection: visible, real, heard, touched, real communication. Christ – the Subject: it’s about Him, He is raised from the dead, faith in Him is real. Christ – the Person: in Him, trust in Him, rest in Him, die in Him, asleep in Him. Christ – the Hope: assurance, confidence, happiness, real joy. Christ – the Life: dead in Adam, life in Christ, activity, purpose, service. Christ – the First-fruits: there’s more to come, the fruit will continue. Christ – the Coming One: His saints, His friends, His supper, His kingdom, His authority.
THEY THAT ARE CHRIST’S… They are His own – bought with a price. They are His creation – given a body by Him. They are earthy – belonging to earth. They are corruptible – because of mortality. They are laborers in the work of the Lord. They will be His – at the resurrection. They will be changed by His power. They will be heavenly – suitable for heaven. They will be changed instantaneously. They will be incorruptible – made immortal. They will be victorious through the Lord Jesus Christ.
“O God of creation in the past and of all that will be in the future: I can see through the word
of the scripture that the resurrection will open up new spiritual vistas that I would have never dreamed of, let alone experienced. I am anxious for that change to come, and all that will happen after that will be a continual unfolding of things not able to be imagined. Thank you for the written foretaste. Amen.”