1 Corinthians 15
Bible Passage: 1 Corinthians 15
Today’s passage is all about the resurrection of Christ and our salvation. Honestly, I have no idea of what to write that could add some value to our biblical knowledge. After all, I think a lot of that subject had been covered by Pr Ko HH in the soteriology course.
So, I think I’ll just share my thoughts and feelings when reading this.
The Risen Christ, Our Hope
For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable…
– 1 Corinthians 15: 16-19
The above mentioned verses summarise the crux of our Christian faith. The reason why we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. The reason why we have water baptism for the forgiveness of our sins. The reason why we hold on to this faith. The reason why we look forward to returning to our heavenly home.
To be frank, sometimes I do wonder, but just as a situational thought: What if Christ really did not resurrect? Then indeed, we are in a very very pathetic state. However, when I read the passage, and seeing how much emphasis Paul put in this subject, I am further reminded on the importance of this aspect in our belief. And with that, I give myself a gentle “slap” on the face, reminding myself of what I truly believe in.
As Christians, we believe that God came down to be like one of us, died on the cross for our sins, and conquered over death to be resurrected in a spiritual body. And what is the effect of all of this? So that we too can follow Him, the firstfruits of the resurrection. But of course, we must also do the necessary things in order to achieve this. And that is to believe in Him, be baptised and obey His commandments to the end.
Our Final Victory
If we hold on to the end, we would be able to achieve the final victory. And that is to be raised from the dead into a spiritual body. Christ is the firstfruits to be resurrected from the dead into a spiritual body. And those who believe in Him and are His will follow suit (1 Corinthians 15: 23).
I also sometimes imagine what the scene would look like. I would imagine it to be something truly awesome, although I am guilty of thinking of zombies rising from the ground from time to time (all thanks to the zombie craze happening everywhere). But seriously speaking, I would think that on that day, it would be quite a sight to behold, as those who have died before that are resurrected from the ground into spiritual bodies, and those are alive are transformed as well.
This also reminds me of the fourth verse of the hymn, “Sweet Hour Of Prayer”, which was shared during a sermon quite some time back. For those of you who don’t have an English hymn book, here is the verse:
Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer, May I thy consolation share;
Till from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height I view my home and take my flight;
In my immortal flesh I’ll rise, To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout while passing through the air, “Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!”
Also, it was shared that the word “flesh” in the third line should be replaced by something along the lines of “robe” I think, because the flesh can never be immortal. Even more reason for me to imagine what this spiritual body is like. And I can’t remember what was shared on the last line, but I’d like to think it means that once we have achieved the final victory, we no longer need to have prayers, because we will be with our Father in heaven, and we can communicate with Him directly.
And what’s with the reference to Mount Pisgah here? Well, this was where Moses last stood before he died. And from there, he saw the promised land of Canaan. And here again, I would like to imagine myself standing somewhere viewing our heavenly home like Moses did, and take flight in the spiritual body towards that place.
After all of this imagining, all the more I would like to get there in the end…
Holding On Till The End
Until then, we must remain focused in achieving this goal. All of us will face different obstacles in our lives that could make us go off course. Thus, we really need to constantly pray to God to give us the strength and the guidance to pull through, to keep all of His commandments and never straying from the faith.
If we manage to do so, I think what happens in the end is best described by Paul:
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing…
– 2 Timothy 4: 7-8
May we be able to finish this race and keep our faith till the end, so that too may receive this crown of righteousness (and our spiritual bodies).