Page 28 - Christ in You - The Hope of Glory

I Corinthians 9:24-27
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one
receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. And everyone
who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to
receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way,
as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I buffet my body
and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should
be disqualified.

Paul clearly had something in mind here other than the common view held today by
a majority of Christians concerning what awaited him in the afterlife, in the resurrection
from the dead. Paul discerned that there was a prize for which to strive. Paul was raised as
a Pharisee. He knew the Law and the prophets. Paul discerned the types and shadows of the
Old Testament and he discerned that something of a profound nature was foreshadowed
in the laws of the firstborn and the laws regarding firstfruits. He wanted to be numbered
among that elite company.
In the Old Testament, the firstborn was considered the strength and honor of the
Father.

Genesis 49:3
Reuben, you are my first-born; My might and the beginning of my
strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.

Reuben was the firstborn son of Jacob. In what is spoken of him we can discern the
role God has chosen for the firstborn. What does it mean to be “preeminent in dignity and
preeminent in power”? The word preeminent is defined as “surpassing all others.” Those
who attain to the first resurrection will surpass all others in the resurrection from the dead,
both in dignity and in power. Most saints have no understanding that there will be
distinctions in the resurrection, but the Scriptures plainly teach that there will be VAST
distinctions among mankind in the resurrection from the dead.

I Corinthians 15:39-42
All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of
beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish. There are also heavenly bodies
and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly
is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another
glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So also is the resurrection
of the dead.

There will be those in the resurrection of the dead who are preeminent, surpassing all
others. These will have a glory as of the Sun shining in its strength. There will be others who
have the glory of the moon and the glory of the stars. Consider that there are as many stars
in the daytime sky as there are in the nighttime sky. The stars cannot be seen during the
daytime due to the far surpassing glory of the Sun. The Sun in its radiance is so magnificent
that it renders invisible to the eye of man all the other heavenly bodies.
There will be saints in the resurrection whose portion is as the Sun, while many others
will be as the moon and the stars. The apostle Paul declared that there is an imperishable