December 3, 2017. 1 Corinthians 15-16.

 

 

The Gospel by which anyone and everyone is saved is “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,”

When a person receives this gospel, life is radically and wonderfully changed. Our earthly life, that ends in death, is no longer all that there is. 

1Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (died).

Just like Jesus rose from the dead, all those who believe and receive the gospel, will also raise up from the dead.  As if that were not wonderful enough, there is more in this risen-from-the-dead life.

1Corinthians 15:42-44 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 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.

Our body is resurrected as a body that can inherit the kingdom of God. (verse 50) 

But what if we are fortunate to not have to experience death?  Then, as a result of the gospel, here is a mystery about us.

1Corinthians 15:51-52  Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed — in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

If we are alive when this trumpet will sound for resurrection, we will not need to be resurrected from the dead.  So our “alive” body will be changed to a spiritual body of incorruption, glory and power.

All of this because we have believed and received “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,”

So how do we go about our daily lives as we wait and look forward this wonderful time?

1Corinthians 16:13-14 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.

A wonderful daily life of purpose and direction.  A wonderful daily life ready for a spiritual future of glory, because we believed and received the Gospel.