1 Corinthians 15:20-28

 1 Corinthians 15:20-28

Paul has been arguing for the belief in the resurrection. In this passage he links the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ to resurrection at the end of time. It is interesting that some people will look to the end or have some picture of a paradise in the future without linking it to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. There is no future bliss unless it grows out of the historical past event of His resurrection.

Paul makes three points that are profound but so subtle that if we are not careful, we will miss them. First, Jesus is described as the ‘first fruits.’ This phrase refers to the first offering of the year’s produce. It was an expression of thanks but also a request for much more, for a great harvest. There needs to be a hope-filled expectation of many ‘little Christs’ to come. This is an indirect call to evangelism. However, first fruits carried another implication. It was seen as a sort of entrance fee or cover charge. The meaning here is that without being part of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, we are barred from admission. So how do we participate in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ?

There is a military word that is used in verse 23 that has great implications for us. We see, “each in his own order, Christ the first fruits…”. The word ‘order’ is only used here in the NT and refers to a military formation. Those who march behind their commander are like him. In the rank and file of a formation, there is a certain uniformity. The implication here is that we are like Christ; by our conversion, we are remade and express the likeness of Christ. Military formations are not the place for self-expression.

The third implication of the resurrection is the transfer of the Kingdom. We are told that Christ’s Kingdom shall have no end, and here we are told that Jesus will deliver up the Kingdom to God the Father after all contrary authority and powers have been abolished. Here is our point: it is all about God. We are moving toward His fully and directly expressing  His love for us. This love is expressed in the consummation of all things at the end of the ages. It is unhindered and unveiled by time, sin, death, or distraction. But ultimately all things, and the love He has for us, is that in no way is it about us; it is only about Him. 

“Lord, help me to pattern my life after Christ because of the resurrection. AMEN”

1 Corinthians 15:1-19

 1 Corinthians 15:1-19

The church at Corinth was deeply divided, and as a result, they were susceptible to the deadly attack of the enemy by means of the denial of the resurrection of Christ. The Corinthians had heard, received, and taken their stand in the saving message of the resurrection. But now they were apparently leaving, or were about to leave, the faith having “believed in vain.” In verse three Paul begins to outline the single core and most important foundational doctrines of the faith, what is “of first importance.” If we could only have one passage of scripture, this would not be a bad choice. He presents the fact of the death, burial, and resurrection, showing it was the eternal intent of God by the statement “according to the Scriptures.” Paul talks about our salvation by reference to Jesus‘s death for our sins. Verses three and four are a near complete picture of the gospel. But Paul is not just telling a story; he is relating history, and he offers a diverse group of witnesses to the fact of the resurrection.

Having addressed the historical fact, Paul points to the idiocy of a resurrection-less faith. Both Sadducees and various Greek philosophers rejected the possibility of any resurrection. They taught that the only reality for man is material; you see, materialism is no new ideal. If there is no resurrection, then not even Jesus has been resurrected. If that were true, then the list of disasters is almost endless. Paul begins pointing out various disasters associated with a resurrection-less religion. Number one: faith is worthless, and we are guilty and worthy of wrath because we are still in our sin. Number two, the dead have perished; they may exist no more. The best the Greeks had to offer was an existence of ghost-likeness as a ghost in the gloom of the underworld. But they are certainly not alive in a vibrant sense. Point of fact, atheism is more comforting than a resurrection-less Christianity.

There is no doubt that Christianity is the best worldview for a strong moral ethic by which we can live. But the cost of being a disciple is so high that if it is lived faithfully, it is too expensive a price to pay for just a good moral life. To be a disciple means persecution and a level of sacrifice too great for any earthly reward. If there is no resurrection life to be enjoyed, then it would be wiser to satisfy the passions and pleasures of this life and pursue hedonism or epicurean philosophies. But the hope of the resurrection is so great that it makes any sacrifice a fantastic bargain.

“Lord, thank You for the hope of the resurrection. AMEN”

Bonus Devotion coming out in an hour

1 Corinthians 14:21-40

 1 Corinthians 14:21-40

Of all the churches we see described in the letters of Paul, the church at Corinth was the one with the most issues. We sometimes think that the letters were  written to the churches as a description of developing an ideal situation. In this case that may not be the best description or understanding. Looking at Paul’s treatment of the chaos in this church he may not have been hoping to bring them to an ideal state so much as move them away from a total train wreck toward being  a small messy dumpster fire.

The passage Paul quotes in verse 21 is from Isaiah and is descriptive of how Israel, not listening to the prophet's warnings, would be compelled to hear the tongues or languages of the Assyrians. This was a dire warning to Israel, and Paul seems to use it to set a gloomy or dark atmosphere for the conversation about tongues and prophecy. Paul warns that even if everyone were able to speak in tongues, and they did so at the same time, it would not appear like ministry but more like lunacy. Christians sometimes say, “I don’t care what people think.” That is not the perspective Paul advocates here. Paul wants unbelievers to develop a certain thinking about the church. Specifically that the Lord is in the midst of the church.

Paul insists that Christians practice self-control in the church, specifically over the use of their gifts. The worship of the Corinthian church was apparently somewhat freeform, and in that context, it appears that anyone who wanted to be the main speaker or at least a speaker could push themselves forward. The result of such worship would be chaos. That would not express or be consistent with God‘s character, God being a God of peace. We also need to understand that within paganism there were gods of disorder. Disorder in the church could be misleading to pagan observers. Who is to speak, when, and where they are to speak are matters over which the disciple has control, and that control is to be exercised for the greater good of the church. The message of Jesus “die to yourself” is here subtly repeated. 

But Paul includes a note of liberty. Paul commands the pursuit of prophecy but does not forbid speaking in tongues. There is a principle we can draw from all of this. Within our own personal lives there is freedom in how we respond and how we worship God. We ought to enjoy that liberty. But we do not impose on others our limits or restraints in their personal discipleship. However, in the gathering of the church, self-restraint for the benefit of others is critical.

“Lord, help me to practice self control in every way for the benefit of my brothers and sisters. AMEN”

1 Corinthians 14:1-20

 1 Corinthians 14:1-20

Having expressed the better option that is love, in contrast to their failures at almost every level. Paul returns to the theme of overcoming factionalism, but here specifically in the matter of ‘tongues.’ As with almost everything else at Corinth, there was a party spirit about spiritual gifts. Perhaps they had even written to ask which was better, tongues or prophecy. Paul answers that prophecy is in fact superior but does so in a bigger context.

Paul begins by pointing out that no gift that is self-serving can be a priority in the church. Whatever was happening in tongues at Corinth was apparently deeply moving and personally uplifting to the person having the experience. However, Paul makes the point that while he is happy for their personal experience, a benefit to the whole church is much preferred. (verse 5) The fruit of the speaker is found in the profit or benefit of the hearer. 

Paul also warns that the unbridled pursuit of experience can leave a person open to dangers. If the experience is nonsensical, it is like music that has no distinct sound or talking to someone with whom there is no common language. Our pursuit makes us useless. Our selfish pursuit expresses the wrong motivation for the wrong purpose and is driven by the wrong spirit , perhaps our own, or even something worse, rather than God’s Spirit. Paul encourages a desire for and pursuit of spiritual gifts, but those gifts that benefit the whole church, not just ourselves. 

Paul next points out the priority of engaging the mind. Our subjective personal experience may give us a good feeling, but it will not require much of us. In that ecstatic state we bump along having a good feeling without a care for others or the bigger picture or reality of the Christian faith and the relationships that it involves.  Those who are well versed in Christianity will be unhurt and unhelped by our pursuit of experience. But those outsiders will be unhelped and perhaps damaged by the display. Instead, Paul advises engaging our minds at every level. Not because it is easy, but because it benefits others. Paul compares the Corinthian experience to childishness. Children prefer easy to hard, experience to substance, and glitter to valuable. We all do, but mature people have the self-discipline to take control of themselves and do what is best even if it is hard. 

“Lord, help me to think deeply and then serve selflessly. AMEN”

I Corinthians 13:1-13

 I Corinthians 13:1-13

This is perhaps the most frequently “out of context” misused chapter in the Bible. Many people want to take this chapter and turn it into an ode to love as if it were nothing more than a sentimental free verse poem to be read at a wedding. Beautiful as it is, chapter 13 must be taken in context. The chapter break here is most unfortunate. Chapter 12 ends with Paul’s discussion of conflict over the issue of spiritual gifts. In chapter 14 Paul will take up misuse of spiritual gifts. In between these, Paul will show a “still more excellent way.” Beyond the textual context there is the greater context of this church deeply divided by all kinds of sinful selfishness. In every paragraph, almost every sentence we have seen a church fractured and broken. Now Paul points to the cure for the church’s problems, that cure is love. 

Rather than seeing this as eloquent prose, this chapter needs to be seen as a person's direct and stinging rebuke to individuals that Paul could have, had he wanted to, called by name. This chapter expresses love from three perspectives. First is the priority of love. Second is the character of love. And third is the endurance of love. In the first verse, Paul responds to those who want to make their reputation or “make their bones” on the things they did. There is a strong probability that as this letter was read, the people of the Corinthian church said something to the effect of “He is talking about…” or “He is talking about me.” In verses 4-7, the positive and especially the negative descriptions would have had faces attached to them. The church members knew who was impatient, unkind, and jealous, who bragged, and who was arrogant. Everyone could have remembered the ‘unbecoming’ display between two or more of the disciples in that church. The original reading did not produce a sentimental swelling of the heart. Rather, it likely produced embarrassment or even, at first, hot anger. 

The last section on the endurance of love begins with “love never fails.” For the entire letter up to this point, Paul has focused almost entirely on their failures; he points out here the root of the rotten record. You cannot find a failure in chapters 1-12 in the Corinthians individually or the church collectively that doesn’t trace its roots back to a lack or a perversion of love. Rather than looking at chapter 13 with romantic idealism, let's look at it as the cure for our sinful disposition. 

“Lord, help me see where I am unloving and bring about repentance. AMEN”

I Corinthians 12:12-31

 I Corinthians 12:12-31

It is worth remembering that the fractured nature of the Corinthian church had damaged and infected almost all, if not all, aspect of the church’s life.  The pride and egoism was manifested in the use and abuse of their spiritual giftedness.  Paul here continues his war against division but this time on the battlefront of spiritual gifts.

It is impossible for the one and only Holy Spirit to give gifts that create division even if these gifts differ from each other.  The commonality and singleness of the Spirit who gives the gifts makes their fractious use a monstrosity.    In fact the giving of diverse gifts is a specific and intentional act of God to fulfill His agenda.  To denigrate a brother or sister because of their role or gift is to question the wisdom of God and indeed to bring an accusation against Him.  It appears that this never occurred to the Corinthians because they were so obsessed with themselves they could perceive no one else.  

God designed into His giving of gifts an essential interdependence.  Paul uses the parable or the metaphor of the human body to illustrate this point.  In the body those parts that gain lots of attention are no more important than those parts we never notice.  We may say, “She has a lovely face”, but never, “She has a lovely colon”.  But without the latter the former is doomed.  It is immensely important to note that in v 24 we see, “God has so composed the body…” Functionally, emotional and spiritual unity is God ordained and engineered.  If there are divisions and schisms it is no small thing.

At a practical level Paul shows us in verses 25-26, at least in a beginning sort of way, how we can participate in this unity.  When one member suffers we all share in that suffering.  That means the suffering inflicted by my self serving arrogance ought to cause me as much anguish as it causes others.  If that were actually the case I would stop.  We take this as a vague generality, but we need to take this as a vivid personal experience.  We also rejoice authentically when others are glorified or honored.  Not in feigned support but in authentic joy.  But how is it possible to wrap our minds around this way of relating?  Recognize that gifts are not expressions of the individual person, but of God’s goodness shown toward me.  God has given you gifts because He loves and wants to bless me. I can’t be jealous of that.  

“Lord, help me to use all You have given to me in service to the church, and never for my own advancement. AMEN”

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

There doesn't seem to be anything that the Corinthians can’t twist, distort, and corrupt by means of their divisive spirit, pride, and selfish agendas. In this case it is a matter of spiritual gifts. For the next several chapters, Paul is going to attempt to set right this deep confusion, or willful evil, that grows out of the spiritual immaturity occasioned by the use and abuse of the gifts God had given. One wonders how God feels when the gifts He gives us are used to hurt our brothers and sisters in Christ. We give our children a gift or a tool that they can use profitably, such as a knife or an axe, and they use it to abuse their siblings. How would we feel? That is what has happened at Corinth.

Thousands of volumes have been written about the charismatic gifts, so rather than look at those issues, let's look in a different direction. Paul begins by saying, I do not want you “unaware”. The word unaware gives us the English word agnostic"; literally, it means without knowledge. It is entirely possible for Christians to live as practical agnostics, neither knowing nor caring about the truth of the Gospel and Christian doctrine. Simple and trusting faith is not the same as ignorance. As we grow in knowledge, we should grow in our faith and also in our worship of God.

Paul contrasts the value of knowing with the life of paganism. The powers of darkness lead people, as noted in verse 2. But the language here is the language of being led to execution or being condemned. The life of those outside of Christ, rather than one of libertarian freedom, is a steady march to deeper and deeper darkness, slavery, and destruction. Christians at Corinth were apparently being led by the powers of darkness toward the same doom.

Why does Paul bring this up? Because the combination of ignorance and arrogance has allowed dark powers to lead them away. So much so that some were saying, “Jesus is accursed,” and apparently claiming this was a spiritual manifestation. Very likely it was a spirit speaking, but it was clearly not the Holy Spirit. The Corinthians were apparently too ignorant to oppose this wickedness and were more concerned with how to display their gifts in order to hold the spotlight. Arrogance and ignorance is a deadly combination.

Paul is about to point out a key principle in reference to spiritual gifts that has universal application. That which glorifies Christ, unites and builds up the body, and prompts the disciple to more completely die to self is the work of the Holy Spirit. But the Corinthians, in a great many churches today, the good gifts given for the benefit of the church have been prostituted to the end that Christ is dishonored, the church divided and wounded, and individuals are becoming proud and self-serving. Any subject matter that fails to do the former and accomplishes the latter is not being handled correctly. If Christ is not glorified in word and life, something is wrong.

“Lord, help all my life be about bringing You honor and building up Your body, the Church. AMEN”