1 Corinthians 15:1-21
I love Paul. He just tells it like it is. He's bold and kind of in your face, but his words and message are clear. Today in 1 Corninthians 15:1-21 Paul is speaking to the church in Corinth, reminding and reinforcing to them the truth about Jesus' death and resurrection and the hope we have as a result.
"But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive" (vs. 20-22).
So how can we draw on 1 Corinthians 15:1-21 to give us hope knowing that at some point in the future we, too, will face death? Tami W.
P.S. Dr. Kroll's study today on Back to the Bible is Jesus Christ Gives Us Dying Hope. If you didn't catch the program, check it out.
Paul is very careful in reminding the Corinthian Church of the death, burial and most importantly the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. He goes on to say that some of the brothers, our resurrected Lord appeared to, are asleep. Paul is making it clear that the fact that Christ was raised from the dead, those who die as believers are really 'resting', awaiting His return at which time we shall be caught up to be with him.
As sad as death is, the absence of our loved ones physically and eventually our own departure... we can have peace, knowing that those who die in Christ will be raised up to live with Christ eternally. That's why many doctors tell of the peace Christians have in the face of death compared to those who live a life outside of Christ.
At the same time, whereas we have this hope and assurance, it should challenge us to offer this peace to those around us who do not yet know Christ as their Saviour.
Well, for me, it means my vision will be restored, and the first face I see will be that of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Amen and hallelujah!
Personally i am happy with the arguments of Paul.For may times when we come upon religious arguments, we believe that people are against us and we feel despondent, but here paul encounters the same situation. As christians i have come against opposition and the holy spirit has always guided my responses, the key is to not quarrel but speak truth, ONE man in the bible asked "What is truth".. later on it was revealed that the word of God is truth , the only truth that will set us free. Verses 12-21 really encouraged me, a great start to my devotion.
I have personally seen both sides of the spectrum. I have lost friends to suicide and seen parents lose their lives to disease. My father, in particular, exemplified the hope that we have in Christ. He looked forward to being in Heaven and being healed. When my mother was dying, I was able to hold on to that hope and encourage her in her last moments.
I think I disagree slightly with Paul. I do not think that I am to be pitied if there is no hope in Christ, for I will have lived a life that is happier because of the hope I have. Having said that, I KNOW there is hope in Christ - and am very thankful for it.
The great thing about this chapter is that Paul is reminding his readers that their faith is not just based on a person or the teachings of a person but on an event, a real event that happened in a real place at a real time, evidenced by real people. Christianity is the only faith community that has such an event. Islam doesn't have it. Mormonism doesn't have it. Their "events" cannot be verified, nor are there accurate accounts.
I think this is the reason that Paul says that we are to be pitied if there is no resurrection. If there is no event, then everything Paul has said and everything we have believed is in vain. We may believe there is benefit in believing it, like there can be a benefit for children believing in Santa Claus, but that benefit is short-lived and then in the end, a terrible charade.
Studying Paul offers us such valuable insights to the whole picture of God's plan from Genesis to Revelation. The key of course, is Christ's resurrection and it's essential facet to our eternal life. This is proof that death is not the end but just the beginning.
For me , with out the hope of life with Jesus Christ after death , there is no reason to go on. Since i found Jesus , my life has meaning and hope. I thank God for this hope thru his son Jesus Christ
Just pointing out . . . The link takes you to Ten Different Occasions When Jesus was
Seen Alive After His Resurrection http://www.backtothebible.org/images/stories/pdf/Jesus_Seen_Alive.pdf
Also, I noticed and like this next link. It's Woodrow Kroll's "Start Over Poem" which I heard before and liked. http://www.backtothebible.org/images/stories/pdf/Start_Over.pdf
You can find them and more at this link. http://www.backtothebible.org/index.php/Program-Extras.html
The above link is on this page http://www.backtothebible.org/index.php/Back-to-the-Bible-Radio-Program/Jesus-Christ-Gives-Us-Dying-Hope.html . . . . . Click on "program extras".