Resurrection
Resurrection - 1 Corinthians 15
Fifteen chapters into 1 Corinthians, and we continue to Paul being the chief reminding officer. This was utterly necessary then, and I believe it is appropriate for us today. We all need to be reminded of the gospel and how it transformed and changed our lives.
“Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.” - 1 Corinthians 15:1 NIV
Why did Paul continue to remind and point back to their decision and their transformation? Because they continued to slip up and fall back into old life habits and find themselves corrupted. Here we see a key issue they were dealing with was not fully accepting and believing in the resurrection.
“But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.” - 1 Corinthians 15:12-13 NIV
Chapter 15 is long, mainly because Paul spends a lot of time reminding, and walking through a lot of details and facts that the Corinthians needed to shake them out of sin and poor decision. Paul lands this key message with a take-home for all of us, check this out:
“So stop fooling yourselves! Evil companions will corrupt good morals and character. Come back to your right senses and awaken to what is right. Repent from your sinful ways. For some have no knowledge of God’s wonderful love. You should be ashamed that you make me write this way to you!” - 1 Corinthians 15:33-34 TPT
BAD COMPANY CORRUPTS GOOD CHARACTER. If we get nothing else from this chapter, let this sink in. We can be the purest of pure, and if we surround ourselves with bad company, we will eventually be corrupted. But don’t just think this is the people we hang with, I believe it goes further. Bad company, in my opinion, extends to all that we hang with, the TV we watch, the media we take in, the inputs from all around us...all of this is our company, all of this can corrupt our character. We must come back to our senses and shake off lousy company!
Paul then goes on to bring clarity around the resurrection of the body. It starts with Christ, then deals with death, and finally hammer home with the body. Again, lots of details Paul walks through reminding the Corinthians of what they already knew - but they needed to hear again. How about you, what do you need to hear again today? What is it that you already know, but have just lost some of the fire inside, the inner passion has left or dwindled. May this be your reminder, and a reminder for me. The Gospel is real, alive, and the good news we all need! Dead has been defeated, and has NO STING!
“When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” - 1 Corinthians 15:54-58 NIV
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?
May our passion burn deep inside, may we take this reminder and live our lives chasing after Christ, and living for Him. Our labor and experiences given to the Lord are not in vain. He is alive and working in and through us.