First Things First
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| Photo by Jad Limcaco on Unsplash |
One thing that fascinates me more than most about the NFL is that there is a sincere lack of good quarterbacks. There are maybe 10-15 guys who can play the quarterback position in the NFL at an above average to high level. Now think about this, the NFL is the only major football league of it's kind. That means that not only are these the best quarterbacks in the league, they are the very best of the best quarterbacks in the whole world.
How are there only a handful of guys in the whole world who are good at playing this one position? It's rather astounding. It also makes the quarterback position in the NFL a position of immense importance. Having a good quarterback can mean that your team can make a playoff run, which means more ticket sales, jersey sales, and overall revenues. Having a bad quarterback means less fans and less revenues. The quarterback position in the NFL is of utmost importance.
In his first letter to the Corinthian church, the Apostle Paul is seeking to remind them of something that is of utmost importance. Paul is writing to the church at Corinth, a church that he helped build. He writes the church in a pastoral way. He is seeking to shepherd them, and guide them out of some spiritual troubles and struggles that they are having as a corporate body.
The Corinthian church is almost always the butt of jokes about just how bad a church can be. In Paul's letter, he is trying his best to address many different hot button, controversial, and concerning problems that the church is having. In the letter, Paul has already addressed such topics as orderly worship, spiritual gifts, idolatry, sexual sin, and much more.
1 Corinthians 15:1-8
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
Paul is pastorally trying to help the Corinthian church grow out of these sins and struggles. In doing so, he gets to his important breakdown of the resurrection doctrine. Paul is reminding them of the important thing, the thing to keep first: d More than that, he is centering the gospel on the chief importance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
In this section of the letter, after examining the sins struggles, along with all the spiritual and theological debates in Corinth, Paul sees fit to center on the gospel message.
1. Jesus died in accordance with the Scriptures. (The death of the Messiah as a sacrifice for sin was foretold throughout the whole of the Old Testament.)
2. Jesus was buried, and was raised on the third day, (again in accordance with the Scriptures).
3. Jesus appeared to Peter (Cephas), and to the twelve. (He was seen as raised.)
4. Then Jesus appeared to more than five hundred brothers, most of whom are still alive! (Jesus was seen by hundreds as raised. Paul is saying, "Don't believe this? I'm telling you, these guys are still alive, go ask them!")
5. Then Jesus appeared to James. (James, his doubting brother.)
6. Last of all, Jesus appeared to the Apostle Paul. (Cf. Acts 9:1-31)
Paul delivered the resurrection with utmost importance. Nothing matters more to the gospel than the fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
"The doctrine of Christ’s death and resurrection is at the foundation of Christianity. Remove this foundation, and the whole fabric falls, all our hopes for eternity sink at once. And it is by holding this truth firmly that Christians are made to stand in a day of trial, and kept faithful to God. It was that alone by which they could hope for salvation (v. 2), for there is no salvation in any other name; no name given under heaven by which we may be saved, but by the name of Christ. And there is no salvation in his name, but upon supposition of his death and resurrection. These are the saving truths of our holy religion. The crucifixion of our Redeemer and his conquest over death are the very source of our spiritual life and hopes."
Do you believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead?
Paul is reminding us, that above all else, first and foremost is the gospel message:
Jesus Christ died for sins, and was raised for sinners.
Above all else, the gospel is "of first importance."
When we are debating issues with those inside and outside of the church, do we keep the "first importance aspect of the gospel?" Is the gospel (that we share belief in) the central driving force behind our discussions?
In our day to day walk with Jesus, do we remember the good news of his resurrection with "first importance?" Do we cling to the fact that we have eternal, joyful, glorious hope in him?
Do we remember that the power that raised Christ from the dead is the same power at work within us? Do we trust God's resurrection power in our own lives? (Cf. Ephesians 1:19-20)
Let's keep first things first.
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If you do not know Christ, have you heard the good news of his resurrection?
We are all sinners. We are not God. God is holy, we are not. We all have turned from God's perfect and righteous ways and traded worship of Him for the empty worship of created things. We are in desperate need of a Savior.
Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty, to absorb the just wrath of the holy God for sin. Jesus in his flesh absorbed the punishment that our sins deserve. Yet Jesus was holy, and God raised him from the dead with His immeasurable power.
Christ's death on the cross means that the penalty for our sin has been paid, once for all. His resurrection shows us that we can be justified and in right standing before the holy God. This justification happens when we put our faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and the fulfillment of all his promises, even eternal life.
Death doesn't get to have the final say for all who put their faith in Jesus Christ. Have you?
When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 15:54-57)
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17:3 ESV)
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