1 Corinthians 15-16
Gospel
of Resurrection
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Psalm 138:1-8 God's Word and Ways
I Will Give Thanks with My Whole Heart
1I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise; 2 I bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word. 3 On the day I called, you answered me;
my strength of soul you increased.
4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD,
for they have heard the words of your mouth, 5 and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD,
for great is the glory of the LORD. 6 For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly,
but the haughty he knows from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
and your right hand delivers me. 8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.
Application
Since God has exalted His word and ways above all, it makes sense to devote the best of our efforts to knowing and following them.
Prayer
God, thanks for being the God who communicates, and remains ever true to His promises; may I know and trust You more and more intimately each passing day. Amen.
TMS Philippians 4:6-9 Get the Peace of God and God of Peace
Observations
4:6-7 These verses are a great encouragement to pray about whatever concerns you. Prayer is conversation in a relationship (See studies on Prayer on Truthbase.net, including the Survey of Biblical Teaching on Prayer that encompasses all the instructions on prayer in the Bible). If you're just doing what comes naturally, you're not praying in the Spirit, nor Biblically. As a child of God, you have the privilege to talk with Your heavenly Father about everything in your life, getting guidance, encouragement, admonishment, strength and perspective, as well as answers. Prayer is expressing dependence upon God, which is why proud people have lousy prayer lives, and rarely pray for their daily bread and needs. Prayer is for getting things (“Ask and it shall be given to you” said Jesus -Mt 7:7; “You have not because you ask not” -Js 4:2). We might not get the exact thing we asked for, because God won't give His faithful children what isn't best for them. So rest in His peace, because you know He knows what's best. Fortifying yourself with prayer (more praise focus in God's ability and sufficiency, like Jesus in the Garden acknowledging that God could do anything) and supplication (more of a petition, asking), with thanksgiving (that He knows what's going on, what you need, and what's best), is the way to guard your mind from anxiety, and your heart from bad, panic decisions. The peace of God will guard you.
Own this verse by studying it (see 7PASSAGES in the sidebar) and then pass it on to others.
4:8-9 But wait! There's more! Getting anxious, praying, getting peace...getting anxious, praying, getting peace, is an oft-repeated cycle, that misses out on something far better. Would you rather have the peace of God, or the God of peace? To get God Himself, follow the steps in verses 8-9. Focus on the right things, and obey what you know is right, and God will be with you (John 14:21).
Application
Develop the habit of automatically praying when encountering whatever causes anxiety and experience the peace of God. Even better, practice the skills in 4:8-9 to experience the God of Peace.
Prayer
God of peace, thanks that I can pray to You about anything that causes me concern, and thanks that I can know You and Your ways to the extent that I need not be concerned about anything except pleasing You. Amen.
1 Corinthians 15-16 Gospel of Resurrection
Chapter 15 serves as the climax of the book, explaining the implications of the gospel and the resurrection. The fact of Christ's resurrection is used to prove that we will be resurrected. And if that is the case, it makes a huge difference in how we live, because our behavior in this life determines our glory in the next. Don't be deceived about this, your labor will be rewarded, your laziness won't.
1 Corinthians 15 The Full Gospel of Glory
The Resurrection of Christ
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.The Resurrection of the Dead
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.The Order of Resurrection
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. 29 Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? 30 Why are we in danger every hour? 31 I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! 32 What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 34 Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.The Resurrection Body
35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” 36 You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. 39 For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 40 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. 42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.Where, O Death, Is Your Victory?
50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 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 shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Application
If you snooze and snack, you lose; if you work and worship, you win. Your choice.
Prayer
Lord God, may I not be deceived about my purpose here on earth, but sow the life you've given me, so that it will yield abundant glory in the future. Thanks for the possibility. Amen.
1 Corinthians 16
The Collection for the Saints
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. 3 And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.Paul’s Travel Plans
5 I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, 6 and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.Timothy and Apollos
10 When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. 11 So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers. 12 Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity.Concluding Exhortations
13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love. 15 Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints— 16 be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer. 17 I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, 18 for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people. 19 The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. 20 All the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. 21 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. 22 If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.Application
Don't become a statistic in the Christian life of those who didn't finish well, but be on your guard, standing firm in the faith (believing the promises of God), submitting to Biblical leadership, and doing all in love.
Prayer
God, thanks for the examples of those who have labored for You, both in the Scriptures and in my life; may I imitate their example by Your grace, and please You. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God will resurrect faithful believers and give them differential glory.
Build-a-Jesus: Jesus will rule as promised with those faithful to Him, subduing all under Himself, and then submitting Himself to the Father.
Us in a nutshell: We should labor wholeheartedly in the service of the Lord (we should also know what that means), knowing that He will reward us for doing so.
Where to go for more
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