With exceptional clarity, Paul reminded the Corinthians of the basic tenets of the gospel he preached: Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, he was buried, he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and he appeared to Peter and the Twelve and more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters.
While the gospel means so much in so many ways, Paul boiled down the basic points: Christ dead, Christ buried, Christ resurrected.
This pointed tone of Paul reflected truth under attack. False teachers spread the idea that the resurrection never happened. It certainly sounds improbable today, and then as well. Paul pushed back strongly.
If Christ has not been raised, your faith if futile…
The young church faced this problem not long after the resurrection of Jesus. Why?
I don’t know all the reasons, but I do know of one—spiritual issues bring attention from spiritual places. Paul wrote to another church: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12).
If the resurrection of Jesus is a done deal, then how does the enemy of our souls discount that act? One way is to encourage people to believe the resurrection never really happened, was made up—only a myth. It doesn’t really matter anyway, Jesus said good things, just follow them and ignore the hard to believe stuff.
Paul saw through this obfuscation, and reminded the church of the futility of religion divorced from the resurrection. Then this final shot—come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning.
It’s not make believe. Jesus is alive—he is risen! Don’t let any spiritual authority tell you otherwise.
1 Corinthians 15 in week thirty-seven of reading the Bible cover to cover
Photo by Kelly Sikkema
Good to have that reminder this morning!