Micah Bemenderfer

September 15, 2023

Mark Mark

Passage Read: 1 Corinthians 14-15
Meditation Verse: 15:32

Thought

The hope of the gospel, certainly the most foundational, is the rising from the dead to live again, to live forever with God. If there is no resurrection, then the gospel is useless and without meaningful hope. If there is nothing beyond this life, then there is no point in living except to get as much interest out of our days here, then to wink out of existence. There is nothing to keep me from doing evil, especially if other men do nothing about it. And there is no reason to be kind to others. There is nothing but to live for whatever I want to do. But if on the other hand there is a resurrection of those who have believed in Christ, then there is reason to live in obedience to Him. And if there is a resurrection of the justified, then what about those who do not believe?

Application

The resurrection of the dead is huge, and needs to be front and center. This life is not all there is and is not even the most important thing. Its only value is in what it contributes to my resurrection. I can have a basic resurrection or I can have a better resurrection, like those saints of old who refused to be released. And interestingly, those saints of old were the kind who ended up arrested for their faith, so there was something significant about their faith, enough to get them in trouble. The fact that I will be raised with Christ to live forever should be one of the greatest promises and hopes in my life, and should affect the way I live. It should set me free from the fears and worries of this life, free to live fully for God, His kingdom and His glory.

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