The Resurrection Reality
Paul brings up the resurrection without request. They didn't bring up in their letter to him. After dealing with the many problems of this charismatic yet deeply flawed body of believers, he focuses their minds to the message that started it all for them.
1 Corinthians 15:1–4 (ESV) 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,
The repeated phrase, "in accordance with the Scriptures" is important. This was not happenstance or accidental. It's been written about since Genesis 1. God is the author of life and the creator of all things visible and invisible. He spoke and the World came into existence. He is the God who broke into the darkness with light. So too Jesus is the light of the world.
Genesis 2, God presents a bride for Adam. How does God do it? He puts Adam into a deep sleep (the Hebrew is a term related to death). He wounds the "perfect" and sinless body of Adam by taking a rib from his side. Out of that womb God forms a bride. God awakens Adam and brings him his bride. So God put His Son on the cross, He gave up His spirit, you could say Jesus went to the "deep sleep" of death. The soldier pierced his side and blood and water flow. We are the bride of Christ make holy by the blood of Jesus and the washing of Water with the Word. God awakens His son and the women (a symbol of the bride) are there to meet Him.
Genesis 3, God tells the serpent the woman's seed (singular) will crush his head. Satan will finally and forever be defeated from the seed of the woman. God says this to a virgin woman (Think about it, Adam had not yet known his wife Eve). The seed that is Christ comes from virgin Mary. How amazingly God's story intertwines from the very first pages all the way through to Jesus.
Bottom line Corinthians believers... and we as well... this thing is for real. You can't put these 66 books together with such poetic prophetic perfection. And this is the reality of what we believe, death which reigned is reigning no more. Christ has conquered and we are redeemed. New life awaits.
It's been planned from everlasting days.
PRAYER:
Father, how great You are. Thank you for bringing me to Jesus. Thank You for saving me. Thank You for promising me in Christ a new life. May I learn to let go of this old world more than ever. May I be joyful in hope and patient in affliction because I know the glories that shall be revealed in me due to the work of Christ. Your Name be Praised! Amen.
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