Heart of a Shepherd Ministry
Daily Devotional Meditations and a Biblical Perspective on Current Events
Today’s Daily Devotional
What If There Was No Resurrection? (1 Corinthians 15)
Scripture reading – 1 Corinthians 15
Today’s Scripture reading moves from focusing on Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 12-14) to the central doctrine of our faith–the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Corinthians 15). Paul’s exposition of the Gospel (the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4) makes 1 Corinthians 15 one of the most significant and pivotal chapters in all the Scriptures.
Are You Guilty of Blind Faith?
“Blind faith” is an expression that describes a decision to place trust or confidence in something or someone that has not or cannot be proved. Some say glibly, “You just got to have faith.” Faith in what? Faith in who? Many follow religious personalities and cults that require “blind faith.” Are Bible believers to be numbered among the “blind faith” followers of men and religions?
In what or in whom do we put our faith? The writer of Hebrews defined faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Yet, is that “blind faith?” For instance, we were not there when God created the world and set the stars in place and the planets in their courses (Genesis 1). Nor were we there when God created man and said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness?” (Genesis 1:16). When Christ was crucified, we were not among the witnesses who watched Him die, nor did we see Him following His resurrection and ascension to heaven (Matthew 26-28).
Ours, however, is not a blind faith but a confident faith in God’s Word, truths, and promises. Those who witnessed the life of Christ, His death, and resurrection went to their deaths as martyrs rather than deny those things they had heard and seen. The apostle John wrote, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13).
The Heart of the Gospel: The Certainty of Christ’s Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-7)
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul assured believers that Jesus Christ was risen from the dead. The believers in Corinth were suffering persecution, and many died for their faith in Christ. However, they faced death being confident in the heart of the Gospel—the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Paul did not challenge believers in Corinth to have “blind faith.” Instead, he assured them, saying, “I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand” (1 Corinthians 15:1).
The apostle again shared three great truths. First, that “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3; Isaiah 53:5-7). He continued, “that He was buried” (1 Corinthians 15:4a), leaving no doubt Jesus was dead, and his body was lifeless when it was removed from the cross. Finally, “He rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4b; Psalm 16:10; Matthew 12:40).
Rather than “blind faith,” there were eyewitnesses who validated Christ’s resurrection from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:5-9). Numbered among them were “Cephas” (i.e., the apostle Peter) and “the twelve” disciples, less the traitor Judas (1 Corinthians 15:5). Then, Jesus was “seen of above five hundred brethren at once” (many of whom were still alive when Paul penned this letter, 1 Corinthians 15:6). One, named James, was a witness of Jesus’ resurrection. Scholars believe he was the half-brother of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:7a), who became the head of the church in Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 15:13-21). There were other witnesses Paul identified as apostles (1 Corinthians 15:7b). (The number of apostles was not given; however, Jesus sent out seventy in Luke 10:1-17.)
Paul’s Encounter with Christ (1 Corinthians 15:8-9)
Paul then gave his account and observation concerning the risen Christ, whom he encountered on the road to Damascus when the LORD’s heavenly glory temporarily blinded him. Paul wrote, “Last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time” (1 Corinthians 15:8). Paul went on to declare his feeling of unworthiness that he, the persecutor of the church, should himself see Christ in His heavenly glory and be called to be an apostle (1 Corinthians 15:9).
Christ is Resurrected from the Dead. (1 Corinthians 15:10-19)
Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead is central to our faith and motivates our bold and unapologetic declaration of the Gospel. Without the resurrection, preaching a Savior crucified would be a hollow, lifeless, hopeless message. There is no Gospel, good news, hope of salvation, forgiveness of sins, or eternal life if Christ was not raised from the dead.
Paul assured the believers of Corinth, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits [the first of many raised from the dead] of them that slept [who died in faith, believing]. 21 For since by man [Adam, the first man] came death, by man [Jesus Christ, the Second Adam] came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:20–22).
Closing thoughts –
Every man, woman, boy, and girl is a son or daughter of Adam. We are born with his fallen, sinful nature and bear the curse and penalty of sin (1 Corinthians 15:22a; Romans 6:23a). When a sinner confesses his sin and believes Christ paid the penalty of his sin by His substitutionary death on the Cross (Ephesians 2:13), he is promised to “be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22b). To be “made alive,” is to be revived in spirit (i.e., our inner man). He is also promised to be raised from the dead to life eternal (1 Corinthians 15:23).
What about faith? We who are saved put our faith in this: “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9).
“Blind faith?” No! We join Paul and declare: “55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:55–57).
Copyright © 2024 – Travis D. Smith
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