PRAY: Heavenly Father, you have sent us the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth. Lead us now into right discernment of your Word and make your truth effectual in our lives
READ: 1 Corinthians 15:1–19
MEDITATE:
Throughout his letter to the Corinthians, Paul addresses various matters of dispute. Now he turns his attention to the most critical of these: the resurrection. Some at Corinth were saying that there was no resurrection of the dead. Paul speaks of the resurrection as primary to the faith “received”: not only his personal faith, but the faith of all the true church. The resurrection both fulfills and verifies scripture. Paul reminds his readers that Christ’s resurrection is not merely a rumored event, but a widely witnessed occurrence, for the resurrected Jesus had appeared to literally hundreds of people, many of whom were still alive (and so available to confirm or refute the story). The bottom line? “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain” (v.14). Yet, today, a vast number of churchgoers, including clergy at all levels, do not believe in the literal, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. In their opinion, a spiritual resurrection or a metaphorical resurrection is perfectly congruent with the Christian faith.
Questions and Application:
- What do you believe about the physical resurrection of Jesus?
- Why do you think Paul says that “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins” (v.17)?
- In your mind, does the notion of salvation require a literal resurrection? Why or why not?
PRAY:Lord Jesus, you rose from the dead that we might have eternal life. Grant us the certainty of that promise in this life and in the life to come.