Christ Has Been Raised!
BRD REFLECTIONS
1 Corinthians 15 and Psalm 78:1-39 (NIV)
(Foo Yu Da, Chairperson, Witness & Evangelism)
READ:
1 Corinthians 15 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
Paul reminds us that by this Gospel, we are saved (v2). What is this Gospel? That (1) Christ died for our sins (v3), (2) He was buried and rose on the third day (v4), and (3) He appeared to many people including the Apostles and finally to Paul (v5-8). This is the monumental Resurrection of Christ.
This Resurrection is crucial to our faith for if Christ was not raised from the dead, we would still be in our sins and would be without hope (v17–18). Paul even emphasised that “if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (v14).
Therefore, just as sin and death entered the world through one man, Adam, the resurrection of the dead also came through one man through whom all will be made alive (v21–22). Death has been defeated and victory given to us through our Lord Jesus Christ (v54–56), so let us stand firm in this victory and give ourselves fully to the work of God, knowing that His victory will ultimately come to pass (v58).
APPLY:
When Paul says “if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (v14), the implication is significant. He is claiming that our faith is built on an event that had to have happened; that it is true. Because if the Resurrection event did not happen, all the Apostles’ preaching and the Christian faith would be a false belief and as good as useless. It is also significant to note that 1 Cor 15:3-8 is a passage that has great consensus amongst historical scholars, both Christian and non-Christian, that it was written very early: within 5 years of Jesus’ death and resurrection1. This is one of the many evidences we have that the resurrection account was recorded and preached very early, making it unlikely to have been mythicised. As it was not recorded after a long period, witnesses such as hearers of Paul, could have easily disputed his claims if the resurrection did not actually happen e.g. if they had found Jesus’ body, and Christianity would never have survived. This should give us confidence in our salvation through Jesus’ work on the cross and further give us confidence to share this same Gospel to the people around us.
DO:
I will always remember how God has revealed Himself to us in so many ways, both in the natural and supernatural world. With that, I will constantly embrace the hope that He has given to me and to be committed to share this same hope to pre-believers with confidence undergirded by love and respect.
PRAY:
Dear Father in heaven, I thank you for your willingness to reveal your truths to us, especially by having your Son, Jesus Christ, come into time and space to die for our sins and conquering death. I pray we will be encouraged by your love each day and pray that you will continue to use us to showcase this love to the world. Amen.
1Michael R. Licona, The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach (Downers Grove IL: InterVarsity Press, 2010), 234.
