Simple, but easy to overlook, what’s most important for our faith
Never forget what’s most important.
Whether we discuss business, family, government, our health, or other concerns, there must be a foundation. There are basics and fundamentals we build upon. As Paul nears the end of 1 Corinthians, he reminds the church about the foundation. Paul has dealt with several misunderstandings and addressed specific sins. He also cleared up some confusion over spiritual gifts and stressed the importance of love over and through whatever gifts we possess. And now, before he finishes, he pulls it all together.
Why offer these words in chapter 15 instead of chapter 1? Maybe it would have been better just to put it out there first. Well, Paul actually did, very early in the letter, tell the readers that God didn’t call him to baptize but to preach the gospel, the power of the cross, and the wisdom of God versus the foolishness of man. But there were a lot of relational issues, behavior problems, ego, and doctrine that needed to be addressed first. Paul met the Corinthians where they were. But before he finished he wanted to make sure everyone remembered the foundation. It is the thing they—like we— stand on. It is of first importance.
How Paul knew
As Paul addressed the gospel foundation he made an important point on the source of his information. He did not receive his information from any written Gospel accounts since they weren’t yet around. We know from Acts that Paul had a direct encounter with Christ on the Damascus Road, and it seems that Paul is reminding his readers that his source is Christ.
He summarizes succinctly what we read in the Gospel records. Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, he was buried, he was raised on the third day, and he appeared to Peter and then to the twelve. Paul adds that more than 500 eyewitnesses saw the resurrected Christ.
Who Paul was
In this powerful chapter, Paul also declared himself the least of the apostles. He described himself as unworthy of the title because he once had been a leader of those who persecuted the church; in fact, he oversaw the murder of those who believed in Jesus and the resurrection.
Paul then reminded himself and his readers that it was only by the grace of God that he was a believer and saved by God’s grace. There is no being good enough. There is no earning God’s favor. There is no participation in the Kingdom of God except by the grace of God based on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus paid the price for Paul’s sins—and for ours as well. There is no ability to know Jesus and to become a part of his Kingdom without the cross of Christ.
There is much to learn from the Scriptures. Some parts are easier to understand than others. Sadly, our human tendency seems to prod us toward debating Bible doctrine much in the same way we argue about politics or favorite sports teams. We can be obnoxious and unloving as we defend the truth. It might be good to remember our God powerful enough to raise Jesus from the dead probably doesn’t need us to argue his points for him. I think part of Paul’s point in 1 Corinthians is to get back to those things that are of first importance instead of items 7, 8, 9, or 103 things we have to get right to follow Jesus.
What God does
And whenever you doubt whether God can use you, just remember what Paul said about himself. God took a self-righteous, overly zealous murderer and transformed him into one who was focused on loving others and sharing the gospel every day and everywhere. His life was consistent with his message. Paul was no longer the one who had to prove himself by winning the argument. He trusted in the one who died for his sins according to the Scriptures, was buried in a tomb, and was resurrected on the third day. It was so simple some might say it was foolish. Paul knew otherwise. He rested in and stood on that which was of first importance, Jesus.
Let’s start and end this day the same.
Your time with God’s Word
1 Corinthians 15:1-11, 17-18 ESV
Photo by Javier Quiroga on Unsplash
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