5/10/10 1 Corinthians 15-16
Looking Ahead
In chapter 15 Paul addresses the final difficulty the Corinthian church was having within their fellowship, the teaching on the resurrection from the dead. The gospel is centered on the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Paul is concerned that if some have not accepted this doctrine then they have believed in vain, because this is crucial to what it means to be a follower of Christ. This idea was completely foreign to the Greek thought that ruled the day. To them this was a strange and bazaar teaching as evidence in Acts 17:16-18. Here Paul first lays down the facts that the resurrection of Jesus indeed happened as witnessed by Jesus disciples, then 500 others, James, all the apostles, and last of all Paul himself.
Paul then stresses the significance of the resurrection in 1 Cor 15:12-19. He states that if the resurrection has not happened then this belief, this faith is worthless. Next Paul assures them that the resurrection indeed did happen and the reasons for it were to overcome all that is in opposition to God’s kingdom the last enemy to be defeated is death. Based on this fact believers are to look ahead to what awaits, which is a resurrection for everyone who believe that follows that of Jesus Christ our Lord.
This is where the believers hope rests that because Jesus conquered sin, death, and the grave we have a confident expectation that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is the same Spirit that will give resurrection for all those who are in Christ. Do we look forward to that day with a longing and anticipation? We are not made to live in this earthy body forever as much as we may try to prevent death. At God’s timing each person will pass away, but what is crucial is have you trusted Jesus to cleanse you from your sin asking him to be your Savior and confess that He is Lord where you have willingly acknowledge Him as your Lord. If this is true of you then you have much to look forward to.
Therefore we have nothing to fear in this life even if our physical days ahead are met with suffering and persecution we can endure looking ahead to what will come after, which is resurrection from the dead and life for evermore with the One who rules all things.
Prayer: Father, I praise you for Jesus Christ who lived a victorious sinless life and in so doing has provided forgiveness, salvation, and a confident hope of being resurrected. Your eternal plan is absolutely amazing. It is hard for my mind to grasp all that you have planned and purposed in eternity past and eternity future. I look forward to the time when I will see the Lord Jesus Christ as 1 Cor 13:12 says “then face to face” and the time when “I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.” In the meantime I ask for your grace to make me “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” in Jesus great, magnificent and resurrected name. Amen.