But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. or as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all of his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For God has put all things in subjection under his feet. But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. 1 Corinthians 15:20-28
As we celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord this week, it is important that we bear in my mind what exactly God was accomplishing through Christ and his redemptive work. In 2 Corinthians we are told that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. This was accomplished not only by Christ’s justification of sinners, but also through his exaltation to the right hand of the Father. You see, Christ’s work as priest cannot be divorced from his status as heir of the world. When Christ had offered his sacrifice for sins forever, he sat down at the right hand of God, signifying that his sacrifice was complete, that his revelation of God was perfect (Hebrews 1:1-3), and that he is reigning over the earth.
Put simply, when Christ was raised from the dead his reign on the earth began. The Father has put all things under his feet, and even now, Christ is destroying his enemies. At the end, the last enemy to be destroyed will be death in a cataclysmic event that will shake both the Heavens and the Earth.
But as for the text we have just read we see some eschatological benefits of Christ’s resurrection. First, there is the hope of a future resurrection. All those who sleep in Christ will also be raised in him. The fact of Christ’s own resurrection guarantees it to be so.
But secondly, before this bodily resurrection there is another resurrection that takes place. The resurrection of our spirits, form a dead status must occur. This is what it means to be Christ’s. We have already been raised from the dead in his resurrection.
Third, Christ is enthroned now at the right hand of the Father, waiting as the Father makes his enemies his footstool. Christ’s reign is a conquering reign.
Finally, Christ’s reign is real. The Father has already put all things in subjection under his feet. We don’t have to wait for Christ to be crowned King, because he already is King, a we are his subjects. We do not serve a defeated Messiah, but a Risen Saviour who is ruling and reigning today.
