What a wonderful truth and hope the resurrection has for the believer. Paul explains it as part of today’s reading. Be blessed.
1 Corinthians 15: 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.
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 dishonour; 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.
Mystery and 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 labour is not in vain.
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.
Plans for Travel
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.
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.
Final Instructions
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.
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 labourer.
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 men.
Greetings
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.
Things to think about…
1. Paul puts two things in focus regarding the resurrection in 1Cor15:1-11. He mentions the essential element of the scriptures being fulfilled and the second is the testimony of those who witnessed the resurrection, in this case 500 people saw the risen Christ. This is more than enough evidence to stand in any modern court of law. The Corinthians reading this letter for the first time could have easily found hundreds of witnesses confirming the resurrection was a recent fact in history from their vantage point. As such, so can we. We are among those who not only believe the scriptures but are fellow witnesses of the Lord’s grace and power. This is our message and hence why we are in a very real sense also witnesses of the resurrection. We are the living line to it.
2. Even though heir were living witnesses to the resurrection, some were saying it didn’t happen, 1Cor 15:12. The heart of man is truly anti truth and there is nothing new under the sun with respect to rebellion against the central work of Christ, the cross and the resurrection. Why is the resurrection so important? Paul explains in 1Cor 15:12-34 that if the resurrection didn’t happen, we have no forgiveness of sin. If Jesus did not rise, then He does not defeat death and as such we are still dead in our sin. Paul’s logic then says why do we then baptise in the name of a dead person, 1Cor 15:29. He concludes that our whole faith is a sham and that we may as well give up now and party hard, vs 32. The resurrection must influence the way we live, vss 30-34, if it doesn’t then the likelihood is that we doubt it really happened. If this is the case, then we need more instruction about the resurrection.
3. Who can describe the glory of the new bodies we will receive at the resurrection when we receive glorified bodies? Paul attempts to do so by explaining what our resurrected bodies will be like in 1Cor 15:35-49, by using earthly examples. These all fail one way or another, but Paul’s point is that we will bear the full image of our Saviour Jesus, vs 49. The message is that we constantly engage with the heavenly man and His image and put to death the earthly man (Adam) and his fallen image. Therefore, we need each other as Christians and why we need to continually meet as we see the Day approaching.
4. The mystery of the gospel is fully on display in our resurrection, 1Cor 15:50-58. What a day that will be! We shall be powerfully and eternally changed, in the twinkling of an eye. What a glorious truth. I ask you, is there any better news than this. Some say it is too good to be true. But the One who is the Way, the Truth and the Life has already shown us the way to heaven by proclaiming the truth in Himself and has revealed to us the resurrected life that awaits us. Hallelujah! Therefore, our labour as Christians is not in vain, vs 58.
5. Jerusalem was suffering from persecution and possible a famine and hence Paul takes a letter and gift to the church at Jerusalem, 1Cor 16:1-4. This is a pattern for us as we see other churches suffering. Our duty is to support them as part of our mission in Christ as a united body. Please continue to pray for the persecuted church and our mission endeavours to those who are suffering under persecution. CBC supports the One for Israel ministry to the Jewish people. Please pray for this ministry.
6. What a busy Apostle, just consider what he is saying in 1Cor 16:5-11 and the travel that is anticipated here. Not all are called to such a ministry, but the spirit and desire to evangelise and be available for the Lord’s work should be evident in every Christian.
7. Paul comments on Apollos by saying he didn’t take his advice to go to the Corinthians. Apollos was clearly a man who knew the Lord and was being directed by the Lord’s Spirit. Let’s pray for more bold warriors in our day who are determined to seek after Christ regardless of other valid voices in their lives.
8. I refuse to believe that the Apostle Paul was a hard and austere man. Yet he says, “If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed”, 1Cor 16:22, these are hard but words displaying true love. Jesus says the same, Mt 12:30. But we know Paul not only wrote but he lived out 1Cor 13. Love was not academic for him. The love he displays for those he ministers to is clearly on display in every letter he writes. It is seen with his final greetings to the Corinthians, 1Cor 16:15-24. Let’s go and do likewise.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Sermon and reading topic for this week – Sermon “Proclaiming Christ”
Reading – 1 Corinthians 2
1. How would you describe your present level/ability/fervency of witnessing your faith in Christ at the moment?
2. Our witnessing must not just surround the fact that we go to a good church, listen to great music, preaching, etc. Paul says that we proclaim Christ and Him crucified, 1Cor 2:2. Explain why the cross and the resurrection are vital components of any witnessing done in Jesus’ name.
3. Doug mentioned that in order to effectively witness and share our faith we have to know Who and what we are talking about. The only way this can happen is if we are disciplined in reading God’s Word every day. Describe your current bible study/reading program. Please subscribe to the Chuwar Baptist devotions page if you have not so already. The same bible study program is on our website under RAPP Ups – Reading and prayer point Updates. www.chuwarbaptist.com . This program goes through the OT once and the NT twice every 3 years. Sundays sermons follow the weeks readings.
4. God reveals things to us by the Spirit. When we pray - “the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words”, Rom 8:26. Discuss this verse and what it means, as well how you understand its application in your current prayer life.
Prayer Points
1. Pray for testimonies that people will be doing every second week. Please consider when you would like to do yours when the pastor asks you to share yours 😉
2. Term break up for Kids@church and Recharge Youth this week.
3. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof and solar.
4. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
5. Church finances to meet our new staff and to put a roof over our café.
6. Sunday’s message from 1Cor 12, 14 - “Receiving your gift” – Pastor Jay.
Praise Points.
1. Doug’s message on Sunday. Doug also handled the sound issues. Thankyou Melinda for managing the desk on Sunday
2. New cell groups.
3. Praise and worship – thanks Rod, Rin, Molley, Riley, Zac, great job.
Announcements
1. The Amazing race - Recharge final week before breakup – 6:30pm-8:30pm Friday at church. $2 coin donation. Melinda Fourie heading up this ministry.
2. Men’s brekky TBA. But will be down at Colleges Crossing within the next month or so on a Saturday morning.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
