Day of Jesus Christ
Jesus will arrive on the Day of the Lord when the dead are raised, the wicked are judged, and death will cease forevermore. The coming of Jesus is not a major topic in Paul's two surviving letters to the Corinthians as it is in his Thessalonian correspondence, but he does touch on several aspects of that event, including its identification with the “Day of the Lord,” the consummation of God’s kingdom, the resurrection, the judgment, and the cessation of death.
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| [Photo by Martin Jernberg on Unsplash] |
He begins his first Letter to the Corinthians by thanking God for His grace to the Assembly, and he puts the proper perspective on spiritual gifts by pointing to the expectation of Christ’s return.
- (1 Corinthians 1:4-9) - “I give thanks unto my God at all times concerning you… That you come short in no gift of grace, ardently awaiting the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who will also confirm you unto the end, unimpeachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is God through whom you have been called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Rather than
overvalue spiritual gifts, believers must remember that they are still waiting for
the much fuller glories to be dispensed at his “revelation” on the “Day
of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The term rendered “revelation” translates
the Greek noun apokalupsis, meaning “revelation, disclosure, unveiling” -
(2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, Luke 17:30, 1 Peter 1:13, 1 Peter 4:13).
The English word “unimpeachable”
translates a legal term that was applied to someone against whom legal charges could
no longer be leveled (anegklétos, Strong’s - #G410). Thus, on the
“Day of Christ,” no one will bring charges against believers in God’s
court since He has “confirmed” them.
In Paul’s
writings, the “Day of our Lord Jesus Christ” becomes synonymous with the
“Day of the Lord” in the Hebrew Bible, the day when Yahweh would deliver
His people and judge His enemies. By adding “Jesus Christ” to the
phrase, Paul focuses this ancient hope on him - (Amos 5:18-20, Joel 2:31,
Philippians 1:6, 2:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 2 Peter 3:10).
UNTIL THE LORD COMES
The Apostle deals
with inappropriate attitudes in the congregation. Some members were questioning
his teachings and apostolic authority. He responded by employing the image of
household servants or stewards. As a faithful “steward,” Paul was
entrusted with the “mysteries” of God - (1 Corinthians 4:3-5).
However, he was
accountable only to the Master of the household, and therefore, the evaluation of
him by the Corinthians was of no real consequence. Only the judgment of Jesus mattered,
and his valuation would become evident when he arrived at the end of the age.
A few verses earlier,
Paul wrote of the coming day of evaluation when each man’s work would be
examined to see whether it was built on the proper foundation. Again, that judgment
would occur on the “Day of the Lord” - (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).
Paul had to deal with
a shameful incident that brought the congregation into disrepute. A member was
having sexual relations with his stepmother. While fornication and adultery
were common enough in Greco-Roman society, engaging in sex with one’s
stepmother was beyond the pale even for pagans. Rather than boast of their
spirituality, he exhorted the Corinthians to “mourn” that such an
egregious sinner was in their midst - (1 Corinthians 5:4-5).
The Apostle admonished
the Assembly to expel this man so that his “spirit may be saved on the Day of the Lord.” The “destruction
of the flesh” would become part of his remedial process. This meant the
destruction of what was carnal in the man as he was buffeted by the satanic
forces that operated outside of the believing community.
The result Paul hoped for was the offender’s repentance and salvation on the “Day of the Lord.” Once again, the Apostle associated that Day with judgment, including the assessment of believers by Jesus. Final salvation and judgment would be realized on that day.
Paul next mentioned
the “coming” of Jesus in his discussion on proper behavior during the
Lord’s Supper, especially in consideration of his impending arrival in glory - (1
Corinthians 11:24-26). In his explanation, he combined the commemoration of
Christ’s death with the promise of his return. By eating the bread and drinking
the wine, the congregation was proclaiming his death “until he comes,” linking
the two events, and both were (and are) essential to the Gospel.
AT HIS COMING
Paul also responded to men who were denying the
future resurrection, and he argued for it from the past resurrection of
Jesus. If there is no future
resurrection, then “not even Christ has been raised, and if Christ has not
been raised, void is our proclamation, void also our faith” - (1
Corinthians 15:22-28).
In Chapter 15, he presents the general order
of events leading up to the day when Jesus “arrives.” He is the “first
fruits of those who have fallen asleep” – the first participant in the
larger resurrection, and therefore, his past resurrection is inextricably connected
to the future resurrection of the believer.
Since death came into existence through a
man, Adam, so “through a man,” Christ, would come the raising of the
dead. Just as “in Adam, all die,” so in Jesus, all would be made alive. His
followers in Corinth were waiting to be raised at his arrival on the “Day
of Christ” - (1 Thessalonians 1: 2:19, 3:13, 4:15, 5:23, 2 Thessalonians
2:1, 2:8).
Paul provided the key as to when the resurrection
would occur. First, he correlated it with the “arrival” or parousia
of Jesus. Second, he specified that it would mean nothing less than “the end”
of death itself. All this would occur after Jesus “delivers up the kingdom
to his God and Father, whenever he brings to nothing all rule and all authority
and power,” including the “last enemy” – Death.
Paul’s purpose in Chapter 15 was not to provide
all the details relating to the coming of Jesus, but to substantiate his argument for the
future resurrection of believers. At issue was not the return of Jesus, but the
bodily resurrection of the saints.
Thus, in his
Corinthian correspondence, Paul referred several times to the “Day of the
Lord Jesus,” whereas, the Old Testament speaks of the “Day of Yahweh,”
the time of deliverance for the people of God, and the day of destruction for
His enemies – (1 Corinthians 1:8, 5:5, Philippians 1:6, 1:10, 2:16, 1
Thessalonians 5:2, 2 Thessalonians 2:1).
In the Letter,
the Apostle described key aspects of that event. First, he expected only one
future coming of Jesus. Second, his “arrival” would occur on the “Day
of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Third, it would include the examination and
judgment of the righteous. Fourth, Jesus would “arrive” after he subjugated
all God’s enemies. Fifth, his coming would include the bodily resurrection of
the dead and the cessation of death. All this is to occur on the coming “Day
of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
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