Category: 1 Corinthians

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep  (1 Corinthians 15:5-6).

He wasn’t quiet about it.

He didn’t sneak in the side door, tiptoeing past Mom and Dad as they snoozed on the sofa.

He made himself known to his people. He put their minds at rest, soothed their anxiety and grief and pain.

This may seem pretty basic, but I find it encouraging.

The Word of God, having defeated death itself and having risen in glory and power, chose to stay with his people for a bit.

Sure, this provided proof to future generations that Jesus had risen from the dead, but I think it was more than that. I think that Jesus was showing his humanity–not just the physical humanity that let him snack on fried fish and allowed his wounds to be touched, but the humanity that let him enjoy his people, love his people, restore his people.

I’m sure Peter was glad of that.

His throne awaited, but he chose to hang out in the mud for a little longer.

Who does that?

He does.

Happy Friday, Beloved.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures… (1 Corinthians 15:4).

Jonah spent three days and three nights in the fish.

I wonder if the prophet knew he was, himself, a prophecy.

I wonder if he knew, as he lay in stomach juice and partially digested fish bits, that he was a shadow of the One to come.

I’ve always liked Jonah. He’s so human, so imperfect. The fact that God would use him to save the people of Nineveh–even after his rebellion–gives me a measure of hope that I might someday prove useful. The fact that God would use Jonah to prefigure his beloved Son, well, that’s another example of how God is just so much better at this than I would be. I would have flushed Jonah, and the world would have missed out on this reflection of God’s love and salvation.

Let’s just call that reason #4970 to be glad that God is God, and I am just Michael.

Happy Thursday, Beloved

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried… (1 Corinthians 15:4).

Buried

Cut off from light and life and hope…

Well, not hope.

Beloved, I don’t know what Jesus experienced as he lay  in that borrowed tomb. Did he go into Hell to preach to the fallen, as Peter suggests? Did he break down the gates of Hell and free Adam and Eve, as the early creeds say? Did he preach to Noah’s generation, or to the fallen angels–and was that preaching an offer of salvation, or a declaration of victory?

Wiser folk than I ponder and debate that question.

And what of the disciples? Well, I think we can be on firmer ground there. They likely felt 

lost 

confused  

abandoned 

alone.

They had bet over three years of their lives on what now seemed a losing cause.

They had loved, and lost.

It is easy for us, sitting safely on the other side of the cross, to miss what the disciples must have felt. For us, the resurrection is literally a few words away. For them, life as they knew it was over.

Which, of course, was true–they just didn’t know how true

yet. 

Happy Wednesday, Beloved

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to Scripture… (1 Corinthians 15:3).

Surely he has borne our grief

    and carried our sorrows,

yet we considered him punished by God,

    stricken by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,

    he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on him,

    and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

    each of us has turned to our own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

    the iniquity of us all.  (Isaiah 53:4-6)

Before the tomb

Before the cross

Before the manger

God knew what would happen to his Beloved Son

for His Beloved Bride.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to Scripture… (1 Corinthians 15:3).

Nothing is more important than this.

Not your morning devotions or prayer time

Not your position on spiritual gifts, or predestination, or eschatology

Not your preaching or teaching or building houses in poor countries or serving in the soup kitchen

Nothing

Without the Gospel, all else is empty.

With it…

Happy Thursday, Beloved

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to Scripture… (1 Corinthians 15:3).

After yesterday’s post, I realized that I had passed over something vital.

I don’t like to pass over somethings that are vital, so we’re backing up a few words here.

Paul received the Gospel

and 

he passed it on.

Simple enough concept, but how often do we employ it?

God intended His Gospel to come to you, and to flow through you, but not to end with you. He expects you to pass it on. Do we all have the gift and calling to be evangelists? Maybe not, but we must all be prepared to–as Peter said–give a reason for the hope that we have.

You have received.

Pass it on

Happy Wednesday, Beloved

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to Scripture… (1 Corinthians 15:3).

You know that thing where you take John 3:16 and substitute your name for “the world”?

For God so loved Michael that He gave His only Son.

Go ahead–try it with your name–I’ll wait.

…

…

That always wrecks me.

It wrecks me because I know that it’s true, yet I feel like it shouldn’t be. I mean, I’ve seen my heart, and it terrifies me. My capacity for evil is mind boggling. It really is. And the fact that He knows that–knows it far better than I do–and still chooses to love me is…

very nearly unbelievable.

But I choose to believe the unbelievable, because I trust His word. I even believe Romans 5:8–

For God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us–

even though that one snags me and drags me behind the truck for a mile before leaving me in a mud puddle, covered in motor oil and road rash.

They’re good words, Beloved.

They’re true words.

Hold to them with white-knuckled firmness.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved

By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain  (1 Corinthians 15:2).

Huh?

In vain?

For crying out loud, Paul! Couldn’t you leave well enough alone? I was feeling all warm and fuzzy and gospely, and then you had to go and throw in, “Otherwise, you have believed in vain.” Does this mean I can lose my salvation?

Breathe, Beloved.

Go back up and read the whole verse.

The condition is there–if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. What word is Paul talking about? Well, he’s going to go into that in a minute, but for the nonce let’s focus on this phrase.

Do you hold firmly to the gospel, Beloved?

I mean, have you staked everything on it? Is the truth of Christ’s love at the very center of your identity?

Then you’ve got nothing to worry about.

But

if you want to tell me that Jesus is a great addition to your life, that he’s your buddy, your copilot, your spiritual counselor…

then you’ve got issues, because Jesus allows for none of that.

He is, first and last, your King

your Lord

your God.

The world doesn’t believe it, but then you are not of the world, are you?

Are you?

Happy Monday, Beloved

Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand (1 Corinthians 15:1).

Paul is about to pivot from worship etiquette to simpler subjects, like Christ’s resurrection, and our resurrection, and what kind of body we’ll have…

You know–the easy stuff.

But before he goes there, he pauses for a quick reminder of the reason we’re all here in the first place.

Thanks, Paul. You’re a real mensch.

I am so very thankful that God had folks like me in mind when he gave us Scripture. He knows my tendency to drift, to get caught up in minor things and forget the main point. He knows that I am the inspiration for the dog chasing squirrels meme.

And He loves me anyway.

So He reminds me.

And though I know you don’t need the reminder, I appreciate your patience with me.

Happy Friday, Beloved

Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way  (1 Corinthians 14:39-40).

The sun rises and sets.

The tide comes in and goes out.

The stars are so firmly set in their patterns that we can know what the night sky looked like 1000 years ago and how it will look 1000 years from now.

Rain will come the day I wash my car.

Beloved, we have been given a world of order, by a God of order.

So often, it is we who bring chaos.

One of the great arguments in favor of the existence of God is the very nature of the world around us, the abundant evidence for a divine design. 

That Designer does not emulate us; He calls us to emulate Him.

When we enter His sanctuary, our worship should not be random or tumultuous, but should reflect the God we worship.

Don’t get me wrong–I’m not saying that God is predictable. My life is full of “Well, I never saw that coming” moments.

No, He is not predictable

but 

He is consistent.

He is trustworthy,

like sunrise

or gravity

or grace

Happy Thursday, Beloved