Wednesday, July 25, 2012

First importance: there is resurrection of the dead

I Corinthians 15:1-19
For what I received I passed to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.
After that he appeared to more than 500 of the brothers at the same time. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to Paul, as to one abnormally born. The resurrection has many witness men.
By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them- yet not I, but the grace of god that was with me.
If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
Why?
Most of the Jews believed in the resurrection of the body. To the Greeks it was the soul that was immortal. The very idea of resurrection seemed ridiculous to them.
This is of the first importance that the evidence for Christ's resurrection. On it the Christian faith stands or falls. What of those who saw the risen Lord are still alive (about 25 years after the event)
Christ's resurrection is the guarantee that his followers, too, will be raised from dead.
Paul humbled himself said he like one abnormally born. Jesus has shown to him.
The grace of God: I am what I am, has great effect on me, worked harder. It is my salvation, the work of Spirit and His mercy on me.
Resurrection is the truth of Christians. Jesus Christ was resurrection so we have hope, one day we will be raised from dead as Jesus.
Paul received this gospel and passed it out, it is the truth, no his words but the words of God.
How?
I believed that there is resurrection of the dead, and I believed Jesus was buried and was raised on the third day. In addition I have experienced effects of the Holy Spirit and effects of prayer in name of Jesus Christ.



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