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As in the former verse the apostle made use of the hope of the resurrection, as an argument against immoderate sorrow, so here he proves the resurrection by Christ’s rising again, &c.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again; he supposeth they did believe that Christ died and rose again; it was that which he had taught them, and which they had received, as being the two first and fundamental points of the Christian faith, without which they could not have been a church of Christ.
Question. But how doth Christ’s resurrection prove the resurrection of the saints? He being the eternal Son of God, might have a privilege above all.
Answer. This first shows the thing is possible, God hath already done it in Christ.
2. Christ rose for our justification, Rom_4:25; and in justification sin is pardoned which brought in death, and which alone by its guilt can keep under the dominion of death.
3. Christ rose not as a private person, but as the Head of the body, his church, Eph_1:4,20, &c., and so loosed the bands of death, and conquered the grave, for his people.
4. As the first-fruits, 1Co_15:20, which was a pledge and assurance of the whole harvest to follow.
5. God hath predestinated the elect, whom he foreknew, to be conformed to the image of his Son, Rom_8:29.
6. He is not complete without them, Eph_1:23.
Lastly: They sleep in Jesus, as the text speaks; not only live but die in him, Rev_14:13, their union remains with Christ even in death.
Even so them also which sleep in Jesus; by which words also the apostle distinguisheth believers from all others; it is only they shall have the privilege of this blessed resurrection who sleep in Jesus. And perseverance in Christ to the end is here also intimated.
Will God bring with him; and though their resurrection is not expressed in the text, yet it is implied in this saying. By God is meant, as some understand here, the Son of God, who is to come from heaven, 1Th_1:10, and who will bring the spirits of just men, made perfect in heaven, with him, and unite them to their bodies, which cannot be done without their resurrection: whereby the apostle gives another argument against excessive sorrow for the saints departed, they shall return from heaven again with Christ at his coming. Others understand it of God the Father, who will raise the dead, and then bring them to his Son, and bring them with him to heaven. Those that read the text, those that sleep, or die, for Jesus, and so confine it only to martyrs, restrain it to too narrow a sense.