Day By Day - 1 Corinthians 15
By John Horsburgh
Opening thoughts:
This brings to mind a topic that is largely misunderstood, a branch of theology known as apologetics. It is not as it sounds, apologising for theology but is an intellectual defence of the faith. Paul’s whole life bears absolute testimony to the reality of his faith in the risen Lord and in this chapter, he explains the gospel once again and also defends the gospel against some false teaching that had begun to raise its head in the church at Corinth.
1. The Gospel, pure and simple.
Paul must have sounded like a broken record as he continually preached and explained the gospel. There is but one path to salvation and that is Christ crucified, dead and buried, then resurrected on the third day. Jesus was the last sacrifice that would ever be needed and those who call on His name and believe that He is the Son of God shall be forgiven of their sins and raised with Christ to eternal life.
2. The resurrection is a fundamental of faith.
Somehow there was a group who had been swayed back to the Sadducee’s thinking that there was no resurrection. This was one of the major differences between them and the Pharisees, something that Paul understood from his earlier life as a fanatical Jew. Paul very strongly defends the resurrection and points out that without it Christianity falls flat on its face; pointing out once again that it is the resurrection that has overcome the power of sin and death.
It is a testament to his own strength of belief that in spite of all the pain and suffering he experienced during his preaching, that he never wavered and kept on following Jesus to the very end.
I have heard many people claim that the Bible is just a fairy story, but as Christians, we believe because our faith has been quickened. When this was written, Paul was able to say with utter boldness that the risen Jesus had been seen by Peter and the disciples, another five hundred, James and the Apostles and finally by himself. Furthermore, he states that many of those who had seen Jesus were still alive and could verify the truth of their witness.
Paul uses the analogy of the seed of wheat which, when planted, dies but when it does a new wheat plant grows. As the seed contains the germ of life for the new plant, so our faith gives rise to an eternal body. Interestingly, the disciples were able to physically recognise Jesus when they saw Him after the resurrection and on the beach, he cooked fish and ate with them.
Paul also references some of the theologies of the second coming when Christ returns to claim His victory. In that moment when the trumpet sounds the dead shall be raised and those still alive will be changed as our corruptible bodies are put off and the eternal bodies are put on.
3. Be steadfast.
To finish off his thoughts on this matter, Paul urges his readers to be steadfast and to abound in the Lord’s work. If we pause for a while to think about the messages to the churches in the book of Revelation, the constant in them is that the promise, the reward is for those who endure. The prize is not for those who start the race but for those who finish.
My brother competed in the Foster Ironman race a few years ago, a gruelling trial of physical endurance. It begins with a four kilometre swim followed by a one hundred and eighty kilometre bike ride and finishing with a marathon run. The first male and the first female contestants to cross the line are declared the winners of their sections but every contestant who manages to complete the course within the specified time frame receives a medal of honour to recognise what they have achieved.
It takes courage and perseverance to complete the course set before us and we will do well to remember that the Bridegroom stands at the end of the course waiting for us.
Closing thoughts:
Paul declared that he preached a simple message that was to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness and, yet, the message has survived the test of time. We may not be able to speak to those who saw Christ in the period following His crucifixion and resurrection but many of us have experienced the reality of His touch through healings, visions and our own personal encounters. Let our combined faith encourage each other and strengthen one another as we continue on towards that day when our faith is complete in Him.
Opening thoughts:
This brings to mind a topic that is largely misunderstood, a branch of theology known as apologetics. It is not as it sounds, apologising for theology but is an intellectual defence of the faith. Paul’s whole life bears absolute testimony to the reality of his faith in the risen Lord and in this chapter, he explains the gospel once again and also defends the gospel against some false teaching that had begun to raise its head in the church at Corinth.
1. The Gospel, pure and simple.
Paul must have sounded like a broken record as he continually preached and explained the gospel. There is but one path to salvation and that is Christ crucified, dead and buried, then resurrected on the third day. Jesus was the last sacrifice that would ever be needed and those who call on His name and believe that He is the Son of God shall be forgiven of their sins and raised with Christ to eternal life.
2. The resurrection is a fundamental of faith.
Somehow there was a group who had been swayed back to the Sadducee’s thinking that there was no resurrection. This was one of the major differences between them and the Pharisees, something that Paul understood from his earlier life as a fanatical Jew. Paul very strongly defends the resurrection and points out that without it Christianity falls flat on its face; pointing out once again that it is the resurrection that has overcome the power of sin and death.
It is a testament to his own strength of belief that in spite of all the pain and suffering he experienced during his preaching, that he never wavered and kept on following Jesus to the very end.
I have heard many people claim that the Bible is just a fairy story, but as Christians, we believe because our faith has been quickened. When this was written, Paul was able to say with utter boldness that the risen Jesus had been seen by Peter and the disciples, another five hundred, James and the Apostles and finally by himself. Furthermore, he states that many of those who had seen Jesus were still alive and could verify the truth of their witness.
Paul uses the analogy of the seed of wheat which, when planted, dies but when it does a new wheat plant grows. As the seed contains the germ of life for the new plant, so our faith gives rise to an eternal body. Interestingly, the disciples were able to physically recognise Jesus when they saw Him after the resurrection and on the beach, he cooked fish and ate with them.
Paul also references some of the theologies of the second coming when Christ returns to claim His victory. In that moment when the trumpet sounds the dead shall be raised and those still alive will be changed as our corruptible bodies are put off and the eternal bodies are put on.
3. Be steadfast.
To finish off his thoughts on this matter, Paul urges his readers to be steadfast and to abound in the Lord’s work. If we pause for a while to think about the messages to the churches in the book of Revelation, the constant in them is that the promise, the reward is for those who endure. The prize is not for those who start the race but for those who finish.
My brother competed in the Foster Ironman race a few years ago, a gruelling trial of physical endurance. It begins with a four kilometre swim followed by a one hundred and eighty kilometre bike ride and finishing with a marathon run. The first male and the first female contestants to cross the line are declared the winners of their sections but every contestant who manages to complete the course within the specified time frame receives a medal of honour to recognise what they have achieved.
It takes courage and perseverance to complete the course set before us and we will do well to remember that the Bridegroom stands at the end of the course waiting for us.
Closing thoughts:
Paul declared that he preached a simple message that was to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness and, yet, the message has survived the test of time. We may not be able to speak to those who saw Christ in the period following His crucifixion and resurrection but many of us have experienced the reality of His touch through healings, visions and our own personal encounters. Let our combined faith encourage each other and strengthen one another as we continue on towards that day when our faith is complete in Him.
Posted in 1 Corinthians