Today, we are reading about Paul's letter to the Corinthians to authenticate the resurrection. Without the resurrection there is no hope. There was those who did not believe that Jesus was raised up from the dead even though many had seen Jesus after the resurrection. He tells them if Jesus wasn't raised up then our faith is in vain. Those who have already passed has perished and we will also have the same fate. He needs to make them understand that unless this happened to Jesus it can not happen to any one. The resurrection is the reason for Christianity as the well as the reason for mankind. It is an exhilerating feeling to know we are immortal and that we will spend eternity in heaven with our Lord and Savior. Those who are not saved are also immortal but they will spend eternity in hell separated from God.
O death, where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory?(1Cor15:54)
These words are recited at funerals today. We know that as Christians we are victorious over the grave.
"There ain't no grave
Can hold my body down
There ain't no grave
Can hold my body down
When I hear that trumpet sound
I'm gonna rise right out of the ground
Ain't no grave can hold my body down."
Paul tells them in 1 Corinthians 16:2:
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay
by him in store, as God has prospered him, that there be
no gathering when I come.
Perhaps this is one of reasons why we meet on Sunday. I know Jesus was resurrected on Sunday but could Paul be telling them this is the day to worship?
Paul tells them to stand fast in their faith and to submit and to help whatever brethren may come to them. We, today, still need to hold fast to our faith. The Bible warns us that in the end days there will be false prophets. We need to know our leaders are leading us right. We do this by studying God's Word. Those of us who worship at Oak Hill are fortunate to have men of God to lead us. While other churches also have men of God leading them there are churches that don't. We need to be on guard at all times.
Paul, in closing his letter, says:
"If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema
Maranatha"(16:22) which means to be curse because the Lord is
coming. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."(16:23)
This is my wish for each and everyone of you reading this, "May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you both now and forever more.
"O death where is thy sting?" I love that verse and have heard it many times at Christian funerals. It has such hope and promise to all of us. The thing we fear the most - has no "sting" for us or those in Christ that we love. What a blessed hope!
ReplyDeleteThanks Boots for a beautiful post. By the way, your handmade Christmas afghan was a big hit at the December luncheon - thanks!!
There's a song by Matt Mahuer that says, "O, death, where is thy sting. O, Hell, where is the victory. O, church, come stand in the light! Our God is not dead, he's alive, He's Alive!"
ReplyDeleteChrist's resurrection doesn't just give us hope for eternity- it has the power to give us victory in this life. If only we will cling to him.
Great post Ms. boots.
How right you are Ms. Boots when you say that we need to be on guard for false teachers. They are everywhere and are dressed in sheep's clothing, but have the bite of a wolf! The only way we can know if they are false is if WE know the Truth. And this blog and reading through the Bible this year has helped us to do just that! We have MUCH to be thankful for at Oak Hill as we know that we are being led by true men of God and that their teaching is the Truth. Great post Ms. Boots!!!
ReplyDelete