We'll continue our journey through the letters to the church at Corinth this week. Our reading assignment looks like this: Monday -- 1Cor. 15, Tuesday -- 1 Cor. 16, Wednesday -- 2 Cor. 1, Thursday -- 2 Cor. 2, Friday -- 2 Cor. 3.
Paul makes his case for the resurrection in these first verses of chapter 15. The Christian faith is unique in its focus on resurrection from the dead among global philosophies. Paul encourages the Corinthians to examine their faith lest they have come to believe in vain. I have pondered this statement many time from Paul. What would it mean to have believed in vain? We must take our faith walk seriously as we rest in the grace of God. Salvation is not something that we can produce, but it is something we can receive by grace alone.
It is interesting to read and follow as Paul puts order to the resurrection process. "But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power." 1 Cor. 15:23-24 NRSV.
When Paul addresses our resurrected bodies, he seems to indicate that all flesh - perhaps even animals? - will be resurrected. "But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. Not all flesh is alike, but there is one flesh for human beings, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are both heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one thing, and that of the earthly is another." 1 Cor. 15:38-40 NRSV. I like this idea of the whole creation being redeemed and resurrected.
I really like the way Paul closes this portion of his letter. "Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 1 Cor. 15:51-54 NRSV. Death has been swallowed up in victory... thanks be to God for the gift and promise of resurrection!
About Me
- Pastor Bill
- I am a committed follower of Jesus Christ, a happy husband, father and grandfather!
3 comments:
The resurrection of Christ is amazing. It really does differentiate our religion from others, because there’s no tomb for us to go and worship our God. It’s great to be involved with a god who is alive!
I like how Paul talks about salvation also – we can’t fight for it our buy it or argue for it or rationalize it. We can only be saved by grace.
We always worry about what we’ll look like in Heaven, but who cares if we’ll be there, right? As we learned a couple chapters ago, we take away the hope and faith and just remain in love in Heaven – it’s gonna be awesome. Maybe for once we WON’T think about what we look like.
In the end, as Paul seems to elude here, everyone will know God, whether they decided to know him on Earth or not. Anyone who had any doubt in their minds about who God is or IF he is will not wonder anymore when this earthly life is over. Won’t that be reassuring? Going back to the taking away the faith and hope----just God, and his Love. Great things are coming!
You know I miss you guys!
God bless,
Marshall
Miss you too Marshal, and I pray for you and Sara every day!
Heaven will be more and different than we can imagine. I don't think we have intelectual categories to contain or explain what we will see hear feel and do. The final Adventure!
Bill
I love this chapter with familiar verses often used at a committal or funeral. So much hope for people in these verses. I'm very confused by verse 29:
"Otherwise, what will those people do who receive baptism on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?"
Were the early Christians in the practice of baptizing living folks as if they were baptizing those who had already died? I'm baffled!
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