Destined for Glory
10/01/10 17:09
In the
fifteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul
makes his argument for the resurrection. It seems
that there were some who couldn’t even believe
in the resurrection of Jesus Christ because they
couldn’t understand how God would be able to do
such a thing. Hear what he has to say concerning
this,
“For if the dead are not raised, then Christ
has not been raised either. And if Christ has not
been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in
your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in
Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope
in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all
men.” 1 Cor.15:16-19
I can never understand how or why a person could live in this life while thinking that this life was all there is. What a disappointment! Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my life (I wonder if Christ has anything to do with that? ) but if this was all there was for me, I would have felt cheated. I have never been rich, famous or powerful. “I have been subjected to the ills of the common man and I will die the death of all” It is no wonder why those who do not believe in the resurrection take up the philosophy, “Eat, drink, and be merry; for tomorrow we die.”
When a people throw off the restraints of the Gospel, they throw out the hope that it offers as well. If Christ is not raised –then we are still in our sins and our faith is futile. Then, what I have believed is worthless and my whole life has been a lie -if Christ has not been raised. But if He has, then my sins are forgiven! God, the Father has seen and approved the death of Jesus Christ for the propitiation of my sins. If Calvary wasn’t sufficient, then Jesus wouldn’t have arose. So, because He did, this proves that my sins are forgiven.
Now, Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit coming to those who believed. He said that it was important that He go away (die, resurrect and ascend) for if He hadn’t, then the Father would not have sent the Holy Spirit. The coming of the Holy Spirit is another proof that Calvary was sufficient and that God had indeed resurrected Jesus Christ. Therefore, I can know that there is a resurrection and all those who fall asleep (die) in Christ, has the hope of participating in that resurrection. But how? Paul goes on to tell us that God has given us a body for this life, one that is subjected to corruption, pain, hunger, temptation and sin.
But in the resurrection God has prepared a body that is not, nor ever will be subjected to those things. Jesus Christ is the first-fruits of this glorious resurrection and we who are waiting for Him to bring everything under His control are also waiting for Him to transform these lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body. We were created for Heaven; we were not created just for this life on earth. Flesh and blood could never endure the glories of Heaven. And just as God chose the fullness of Deity to be veiled in the body of Jesus Christ so He also chose to veil the glory of His Church while she awaits her Bridegroom.
The Church is triumphant, because Jesus triumphed on the Cross. The Church is glorious because the Father glorified the Son. “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.” Rom. 8:29
Have a God blessed week. Pastor Jim
I can never understand how or why a person could live in this life while thinking that this life was all there is. What a disappointment! Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my life (I wonder if Christ has anything to do with that? ) but if this was all there was for me, I would have felt cheated. I have never been rich, famous or powerful. “I have been subjected to the ills of the common man and I will die the death of all” It is no wonder why those who do not believe in the resurrection take up the philosophy, “Eat, drink, and be merry; for tomorrow we die.”
When a people throw off the restraints of the Gospel, they throw out the hope that it offers as well. If Christ is not raised –then we are still in our sins and our faith is futile. Then, what I have believed is worthless and my whole life has been a lie -if Christ has not been raised. But if He has, then my sins are forgiven! God, the Father has seen and approved the death of Jesus Christ for the propitiation of my sins. If Calvary wasn’t sufficient, then Jesus wouldn’t have arose. So, because He did, this proves that my sins are forgiven.
Now, Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit coming to those who believed. He said that it was important that He go away (die, resurrect and ascend) for if He hadn’t, then the Father would not have sent the Holy Spirit. The coming of the Holy Spirit is another proof that Calvary was sufficient and that God had indeed resurrected Jesus Christ. Therefore, I can know that there is a resurrection and all those who fall asleep (die) in Christ, has the hope of participating in that resurrection. But how? Paul goes on to tell us that God has given us a body for this life, one that is subjected to corruption, pain, hunger, temptation and sin.
But in the resurrection God has prepared a body that is not, nor ever will be subjected to those things. Jesus Christ is the first-fruits of this glorious resurrection and we who are waiting for Him to bring everything under His control are also waiting for Him to transform these lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body. We were created for Heaven; we were not created just for this life on earth. Flesh and blood could never endure the glories of Heaven. And just as God chose the fullness of Deity to be veiled in the body of Jesus Christ so He also chose to veil the glory of His Church while she awaits her Bridegroom.
The Church is triumphant, because Jesus triumphed on the Cross. The Church is glorious because the Father glorified the Son. “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.” Rom. 8:29
Have a God blessed week. Pastor Jim
|