So Logical

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:12-34

Theme: The dead will be raised. It just makes sense.

Key verses: “Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised , your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive (v. 12-22). “Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? Why are we in danger every hour? (v. 29-30). “What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.’ Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’ Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame” (v. 32-34).

What I believe God said to me: Paul was a humble servant, but he was also a shrewd and brilliant debater. He didn’t allow people to mindlessly accept false teachings and ill-conceived assumptions. He forced people to confront their long-held beliefs and theories. He challenged their thinking and made them think all the way through things to their logical end. That is what he did here with the Corinthians. There were those among them teaching that people can’t come back to life. And although such a hypothesis may sound reasonable and true, by embracing that teaching, they were denying their own faith in Christ. Had they really thought of that before? Most of them probably had not. Most people don’t think much for themselves. They rely on hear-say and the charisma and charm of so-called philosophers and smart thinkers to do the thinking for them. This should not be. The vast majority of people in the world are capable of thinking clearly and logically. And in the end, they will each be held accountable for they believed and how they lived based on those beliefs. Notice Paul’s exquisite debating skills and the tools he employed in this passage to the Church at Corinth. 1) He starts with what they know they should believe but with a hint of doubt. He says, “If Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead…” 2) Then, he presents them with the conflict and issue with their thinking. “How can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?” He didn’t say everyone thought that. Some did. But many reading his letter may not have actually been saying it. Nevertheless, they were thinking it. 3) He repeated what he wanted to drive home, adding even more fuel of logical outcomes to his argument. He drove down into the negative outcomes and results of their stinking thinking. 4) Then, he brought out the positive reality without the assumptions. (But Christ has been raised…) He brought light and clear reason to the debate. 5) He returned to the negative side, highlighting the absurdity of their thinking by referencing martyrdom and unrestrained living. 6) Confident he had won the “debate” outright and made his points undeniably clear, Paul wrapped his argument with a warning and a shaming.

What I said to God: Thank You, Father, for Your mercy and grace on my life. I don’t deserve anything You’ve brought into my life. You’ve been so, so good to me. As I sit here in my hotel room in Johannesburg, I’m amazed by the incredible ministry experiences and opportunities You’ve allowed me to experience over the past few weeks in Scotland and Africa. Thank You for a day of rest before we kick it again with more ministry in Wyoming. I have loved studying the life of Paul through the books of Acts and also through his letters. Help me learn from his tenacity and lifestyle. He never stopped or gave up. He rarely got discouraged and never seemed to run low on faith in You. He continued to pour into the churches and people he had planted and met along his journeys. Even here in Corinthians, the rebukes he gave were so thoughtful and careful. He was determined to do more than throw stones of judgement at them. It’s so evident he wanted them to understand his message and change their ways. Please help me not settle with “loving them and leaving them.” Please help me and our entire team at NLW to be passionate about truly helping people be transformed into the image of Your dear Son.