Category: 1 Corinthians

Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God–I say this to your shame (1 Corinthians 15:34).

Given the context, the sin Paul is talking about the denial of the resurrection. Their denial shows that they don’t know God or understand what He has done for them. That they claim to be Christians is an embarrassment.

But let’s take this verse out of context. Usually taking scripture out of context is a Bozo No-No, but I think we can support it here. How many people do you know–in your world, in your church, in your home, in your skin–who claim to be believers but live in obvious sin? What might Paul say to them?  Perhaps,

Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; [you] are ignorant of God–I say this to your shame.

Something to chew on this morning

Happy Friday, Beloved

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Corinthians 15:33)

I’ve heard that saying since I was a little kid.

I didn’t know it was biblical at the time, but it still seemed like a wise thing to say–and to remember.

Yesterday I was assigning a project to some of my students, and we discussed the pros and cons of working with partners. One of the inevitable cons that arose was that bad partners might do a lousy job, or not do the job at all, and pull your grade down. I pointed out that there are folks who are fun to be around, that you may like a lot, but who are not worthy of your trust–especially when your grade is on the line.

This verse came to mind.

Life lessons from the middle school classroom.

Choose good partners, Beloved.

Happy Thursday.

If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” (1 Corinthians 15:32).

Wait, so…

Did Paul really fight wild beasts? Like in the arena? Gladiator-style?

We don’t know, Beloved. Most likely, Paul is speaking metaphorically here.

Still, it’s a cool picture.

I think Paul’s point is that, without the resurrection, there is no point in working, suffering, dying  for the Gospel, for without the resurrection the Gospel is a lie. In that case, we might as well live it up, because this life is all we have.

Sobering, to think that this is it, that death is really the end of existence.  Where would that belief take you, Beloved?

Nihilism? 

Licentiousness? 

Despair?

Ah, but we don’t believe that, do we? We trust that this life is not the end, that the grave will not hold us any more than it held Him.

Tomorrow we die?

No, Beloved.

Tomorrow we rise.

Happy Wednesday

And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? I die every day–I mean that, brothers–just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord  (1 Corinthians 15:30-31).

This is a continuation of the argument in the previous verses. Paul is pointing to the hardships and persecutions he suffered on the daily as evidence that he believed in the resurrection. This same argument has been used on behalf of the Apostles in general. Given the persecution they suffered because they held to the resurrection of Jesus, you can call them mistaken, deceived, even insane, but you can’t call them liars. No one could suffer as they did for something they knew was a lie.

Beloved, I would love it if people could look to my life and be drawn to Christ. I would be honored beyond measure if God used me as an example for others to follow. But I think I would be very satisfied if people could look at my life and say, “He may be crazy, but he sure believes this stuff!”

I think I’m halfway there already.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved

Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? (1 Corinthians 15:29)

I almost skipped this verse.

Seriously. This is one of the most head-scratchiest passages in all of scripture, and I am thoroughly unequipped to handle it. Let me remind you that I am no biblical scholar. I am just a Michael, armed with internet commentaries and my trusty NIV Study Bible. And the collective wisdom of those with eversomuchmore knowledge than I have come to a consistent conclusion:

We don’t know what this passage means.

So I guess you could say that I have come to the same conclusion as the most renowned biblical scholars. 

Here’s what I am confident in:

1. Paul says “those” about the people who are baptizing for the dead. In other words, it’s not something he was doing or prescribing. It was something done by others, to whom Paul did not belong.
2. Baptism is a sign of our salvation, not a means to it. Whatever these folks were doing, it was not going to result in the resurrection of the dead. Sorry my LDS friends, but that runs contrary to pretty much all  of scripture.
3. Paul’s focus in this chapter is resurrection, not baptism. In the following verses he will talk about all that he has done and suffered because he believes in the resurrection of the dead. So this verse may be just another example of things people do because they believe strongly that the dead will be raised.
4. Paul mentions this practice in passing. If it were some massive heretical practice corrupting the Church, we can bet that Paul would have confronted it head on. We’ve certainly seen him do that in other places, haven’t we?

Beloved, this side of Glory there’s just no way of knowing what Paul meant in this verse. It’s OK to wonder, to speculate, to research. But don’t put too much weight in what you think Paul meant. If it were essential to our faith, God would have made it clear and backed it up with other scripture. As for me, there’s plenty of crystal clear scripture that I am not yet living up to. I have no problem leaving this verse on the shelf for a while longer.

Happy Monday, Beloved

Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not mean God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:27-28).

The Trinity always makes my head hurt.

Discussing the Trinity, I mean–in no way do I think that God is cursing me with migraines. 

It’s just that this brain of mine has a hard time wrapping around the concept: one God eternally existing in three persons, equal in status, distinct in personality and function. I can put it down on paper–more or less–but in my mind?

I just …huh?

Frankly, it’s not just the Trinity. There’s a lot about God that I don’t understand.

And that’s OK.

Really, how could I trust a God who was completely within my scope of reference? I’m kind of glad that I can’t understand–it reminds me how small I am, and I need frequent reminders.

Someday my mind will be big enough to understand the Trinity, as my heart will be big enough to grasp his mercy.

It probably won’t be today. 

It probably won’t be this side of Glory, which I also can’t get my brain around.

In the meantime, I will revel in the smallness of Michael and the greatness of God.

Care to join me?

Happy Wednesday, Beloved

The last enemy to be destroyed is death  (1 Corinthians 15:26).

The older I get

The more people I lose

The more I rejoice in this verse.

How many times have you heard, or read, or said, that someone, “Lost their battle,” with disease or injury–basically with death.

And we hear the words, “Death, where is your victory?”

Right here, in this room

“Death, where is your sting?”

Right here, in this heart

It’s hard to imagine death as anything other than inevitable

invincible

inescapable. 

But even death will bow

Even death will confess.

Until then, we wait in hope, and we endure in mercy, and we rest in promise.

Rest in the promise today, Beloved.

Happy Tuesday

Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet (1 Corinthians 15:25).

The Lord said to my Lord:

Sit at my right hand

Until I make your enemies

A footstool for your feet (Psalm 110:1)

I don’t know exactly how it will happen.

But it will happen.

Every person, every institution, every spirit, every idea, every sin, every thing that stands against God will fail and fall. 

Yep, even that.

Rejoice, Beloved!

Happy Monday

Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power (1 Corinthians 15:24).

Someday,

some glorious day,

this  chapter of eternity will be over.

Every person,  every world system, every spirit that has stood against the Lord God Almighty will be 

defeated 

destroyed 

done.

And we’ll be there, Beloved

too humbled to speak,

too joyous to remain silent,

too full of Him to give Self more than a passing thought.

Man, I can’t wait for Someday.

Happy Friday, Beloved

But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him (1 Corinthians 15:23).

God’s timing–not yours.

Annoying, isn’t it?

I mean, if I had a solid gold dump truck filled with diamonds for every time my plan beat God’s…

…

…

Trust him, Beloved. He’s earned it.

Happy Thursday.