Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

“Now if Christ is preached as raised up from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, Christ has not been raised either. But if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain. And also we are found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if after all, then, the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, Christ has not been raised either. But if Christ has not been raised, your faith is empty; you are still in your sins. And as a further result, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.” (1 Corinthians 15:12-18)

Chapter fourteen brings up some points of church services. First of all, Paul is THRILLED that the Corinthians want to follow after the gifts of Holy Spirit (something we ALL should do). But when it comes to a service where believers and unbelievers might mix, the unbelievers will have NO IDEA what’s going on. Add to that the fact that idolatrous temples thrived on nonsense, and they would look the same. Paul wanted them to have order in their services. Yes to tongues, but not to everyone doing tongues all the time and no interpretations. Tongues edifies the speaker, but the audience can’t be edified if they don’t know what is said. What about women in church? Well, in Paul’s day in Corinth most women weren’t educated. Uneducated people shouldn’t teach an educated person. Makes total sense. If they had questions, they should ask them at home and not in the middle of the service disrupting it. Prophets should prophesy one at a time. Otherwise it’s confusing. God doesn’t deal in confusion. He is a God of order. Tongues was permissible. Prophesy was permissible. Educated teaching was permissible. But all done in order and done decently.

Chapter fifteen brings them back to the foundation of their faith: Jesus and Him resurrected to life from the dead. Jesus lived. Jesus died. Jesus was resurrected to life and witnessed by people still alive during that day and time that could testify about it. Take away the resurrection and you take away hope for us all. If there is no sacrifice that covers the rebellion, then we’re all still in rebellion. Death is an officer of Sin. In Jesus, it has no sting. Our bodies die, but our speaking spirits live on and will receive new bodies. Resurrected bodies. Bodies made perfect in Jesus. But if Jesus wasn’t resurrected, what hope do you have? All our hope is in Jesus.

Chapter sixteen includes some instructions for the collection of a gift for the church in Jerusalem. Paul speaks about his travel plans and the work he wants to be doing. He exhorts the church to stand fast in their trust in Jesus. He gives them a few encouraging remarks and then closes with his final request to receive Priscilla well and then he writes his benediction.

Summary

Key Players: God, Jesus, Paul

Key Verse(s): 1 Corinthians 14:26-33; 15:12-28; 16:21-24