Scripture: "What you sow does not come to life unless it dies (15:36)...The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body." (15:42-44)
Observation: This passage is about hope, excitement, and longing for the lives that we will have after our resurrection. But I also see so many parallels to what it means to die to self and truly live in Christ in the present life. I remember my friend Donato talking about how the seed (our sinful nature) has to go into the ground (die) or it cannot be transformed into a new life (alive in Christ) and yield a harvest (being obedient to Christ). "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness." (1 Peter 2:24).
Application: I think the application for me is to be excited and to look forward to the much longer life that I will have in heaven, living with Jesus with a glorified, resurrected body. I also think that the application for me is to seek forgiveness for the many times when I am not fully surrendered to Jesus as my Lord.
Prayer: Father God, I cannot even comprehend the blessings that You have in store for me in heaven. Thank you for promising to raise me in glory and power and with eternal life. Give me the strength today to live for You more each day, and to die to my selfish desires more each day.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
The resurrection of the dead
Scripture 1: "But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? (15:12) ... Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God - I say this to your shame." (15:33)
Observation 1: If I understand this correctly, Paul equates denial of the resurrection of the dead with sin. He uses shame and admonishes the Corinthians to correct a serious false doctrine.
Application 1: False teaching cannot be tolerated.
Scripture 2: "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins...If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all others." (15:17, 19)
Observation 2: The church of Christ is not a club. It is not a debating society. It is not a place to kill time. It is not a place to try to convince others that your fabricated, unbiblical ideas are correct. It is a community in which we are supposed to live out our faith. Where we are slaves to our Lord, doing His will instead of living only for our own. Where we have bright hope for tomorrow (the resurrection), not just strength for today.
Application 2: Honestly, I spend much more energy seeking God's power for this life, for today's problems, than I do living in light of the resurrection.
Prayer: Almighty God, forgive me for living mostly for myself. Help me to see Your big picture. Help me to grow from this teaching and not just move on to the next one.
Observation 1: If I understand this correctly, Paul equates denial of the resurrection of the dead with sin. He uses shame and admonishes the Corinthians to correct a serious false doctrine.
Application 1: False teaching cannot be tolerated.
Scripture 2: "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins...If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all others." (15:17, 19)
Observation 2: The church of Christ is not a club. It is not a debating society. It is not a place to kill time. It is not a place to try to convince others that your fabricated, unbiblical ideas are correct. It is a community in which we are supposed to live out our faith. Where we are slaves to our Lord, doing His will instead of living only for our own. Where we have bright hope for tomorrow (the resurrection), not just strength for today.
Application 2: Honestly, I spend much more energy seeking God's power for this life, for today's problems, than I do living in light of the resurrection.
Prayer: Almighty God, forgive me for living mostly for myself. Help me to see Your big picture. Help me to grow from this teaching and not just move on to the next one.
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