DAY #262: 1 Corinthians 15;12-34

The gospel message the Corinthians had received and believed included the basic fact of the Resurrection—a fact central to the Christian faith. But apparently some were saying there will be no resurrection of the dead. Such a belief contradicted the entire gospel message. This may have come from the Greek view that matter was evil and, therefore, no physical body would rise. The church at Corinth was in the heart of Greek culture. Thus, many believers had a difficult time believing in a bodily resurrection. Paul wrote this part of his letter to clear up this confusion about the Resurrection.

Paul argued that if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Jesus is still in the grave. If Jesus is still in the grave, then the apostles’ preaching is useless because they preached a risen Savior. If Christ has not been raised, the believers’ faith is also useless. Why believe in a dead “Savior”? If Jesus is still dead, then his sacrifice did not appease God for believers’ sin, and believers have no advocate with the Father (Hebrews 7:25; 8:1).

They also have no Comforter in the Holy Spirit, for he was to come when Christ returned to glory (John 16:5, 13-15). They have no hope of eternal life, if not even their Savior gained eternal life. If Christ has not been raised from the dead, the apostles would all be lying about God because they had said that God raised Christ from the grave. However, if resurrection is impossible, if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised.

Refusing to believe that Jesus rose from the grave means that Christians are still under condemnation for their sins. If Jesus died and was never raised, then his death did nothing to accomplish justification. God’s raising him from the dead showed acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice. If God left Jesus in the grave, then the sacrifice was not accepted and no one has received cleansing from sin. The condemnation for sin is death (Romans 6:23).

Death came into the world as a consequence of the sin of one man, Adam (Genesis 3:17-19). Adam sinned against God and brought alienation from God and death to all humanity. All human beings are related to Adam and have two characteristics in common: they are sinners; and they will die. Adam’s sin brought condemnation and death to all; Christ’s sinless sacrifice and resurrection brought resurrection from the dead to all who are related to Christ through accepting his sacrifice on their behalf. Those who believe in him will be given new life.

If there is no resurrection, why should the apostles risk their lives, facing death for the sake of the gospel message. Why would any sane person do this for the sake of a gospel that only ends in death, just like anything else?

Paul’s final words about this issue were simply that the Corinthians should come to their senses. To deny the resurrection amounted to sinning, for it denied the truth of the claims of Christ and the promises of God. It was to their shame that some among them did not even know God. To not understand and believe the doctrine of the resurrection meant to not understand anything about God, for the doctrine is central to all that God has done for sinful humanity.



SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Lord, today my heart is filled with the joy that comes from knowing what Christ did for us through the Resurrection. I think about the DL Moddy quote where he sees a drunkard lying in the gutter and proclaims - "There but for the grace of God go I."

Where would I be with out Christ. Where would any of us be? Lord, remove the old crusty sinful nature from me. Remind me everyday of who I am in Christ. Renew my heart and mind.

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)