Episode 216 - "The Good News!" - 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

1 Cor. 15:1 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.

1Cor. 15:3 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, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

As I write this, it is the eve of Thanksgiving in the United States, and I cannot be more thankful for this section of Scripture because it’s about the most important thing for humanity. It’s about the Good News of Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul shifts from his instruction concerning spiritual gifts and conduct in worship to setting these Corinthian believers straight on the gospel. Paul reminds them that he had preached the gospel to them when he was previously with them. Speaking to the whole group, he states they have “received” this gospel and “stand” in it. This means that it’s his understanding these people to whom he’s writing have both received, or placed their trust in, the message of the gospel when he preached it, and he believes they are still committed to it. He adds that they “are being saved (by faith in this gospel) if you hold fast to the word I preached to you – unless you believed in vain.” (v. 2). The term “saved” in the Scriptures can often have a past, present and ongoing, and a future use of this term. When the Scriptures use this in the past tense, it means someone has truly trusted in the message of the gospel and they have received forgiveness of their sins and have gained a hope of resurrection and eternal life in the presence of God. The present-ongoing, which I believe is in view here, is speaking of God’s work in our lives presently to prepare us for eternal life with Him. Finally, the future sense of will be saved reflects the promise of Christ to return from Heaven to earth someday and raise from the dead all who have trusted in the gospel.

But notice the condition, “if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.” (v. 2). What does this mean? I believe it means that those who aren’t holding fast to the gospel message cannot experience the work God wants to accomplish in their life if they do not trust him. However, the phrase “unless you believed in vain” is interesting. Notice that the English word “vain” appears twice within a short span (verses 2 and 10). In verse 10, Paul has just argued that he doesn’t deserve to be an apostle because he persecuted the church. But, even so, God’s grace to him was not in vain. In the original Greek language, the words translated as “vain” are different words. The word that Paul uses for God’s grace to him being not in vain means “without purpose or cause.” In other words, Paul is saying that in spite of his past history, God showed his grace to Paul and it has produced a result and was not wasted.

In verse 2, speaking of the Corinthians and the possibility that some believed in vain, means “randomly or without cause.” It would suggest that perhaps some really didn’t believe the gospel. They were, in essence, just nodding their heads along with others without really believing. Either way, it is important that people not just believe but hold fast to the gospel. This means that we shouldn’t just acknowledge that we made a profession of faith in the gospel and act like, “Oh. I’ve already done that.” The gospel must become central to our life of faith.

Paul now lays out a brief and clear synopsis of what the gospel is. Some commentators suggest that Paul lists four components of the gospel here. I think he only lists two, along with the evidence for each one. The first fundamental truth of the gospel Paul says is “that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried.” Paul’s comment, “in accordance with the Scriptures” is to argue that Christ’s death on the cross was a fulfillment of a prophecy in the Old Testament. His subsequent fact “that he was buried” is Paul’s proof that Christ was truly physically dead. Some might argue what is called a “swoon theory,” in which people believe he only appeared dead. But there were multiple people who took responsibility for his lifeless body after he was taken down from the cross and could testify that Jesus was really dead and really buried. The death of someone does not sound much like good news. The death of a good person would certainly not be a happy story. However, Paul explains in this how the death of Christ is the first part of this gospel, the Good News. He explains that Christ died for our sins. His death on the cross served to take care of the just penalty for our rebellion against God.

He follows immediately with, “that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” Notice the emphasis once again on “according to the Scriptures.” This is the second fundamental element of the gospel. Paul is suggesting that the Old Testament also prophesies that the Christ (Messiah) would not only die but be raised from the dead.

Now, to be honest with you, I don’t know what Scriptures Paul refers to, and Paul doesn’t tell us. However, we can make some educated guesses which I believe reasonably support his argument.

First of all, let us establish two figures that were prophesied in the Old Testament that were to come. The first is the descendant of David (the Messiah), whom God told David would be on the “throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Samuel 7:13b). The second is the “one like a son of man” whose “dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13-14). This explains why the people around Jesus questioned Jesus about the foretelling of his imminent death on the cross.

32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 34 So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” (John 12:32-34)

I can’t tell you whether people of Jesus’ time had made any connection between the expected Messiah (Christ) and the “Son of Man.” But both of these figures sure seem to have some things in common, like eternal life. Their argument to Jesus is a reasonable argument. Here, he is not only telling people that he is going to die, but how he is going to die. He’s claimed to be the Son of Man, AND Peter has professed him to be the Christ. Things aren’t quite adding up for these people.

Another Scripture Christians turn to in making sense out of this apparent controversy is Isaiah 52:13-53:12. This speaks of a righteous servant of the Lord who is “pierced” for the transgressions of the people. The Servant suffers and dies for the people but appears to be alive afterward (v. 12).

After saying that Christ died for our sins AND was raised, he gives evidence for the historical reality of Christ’s resurrection. He lists the numerous occasions after his resurrection when he appeared alive to people, including over 500 people at one time. Paul adds that many of them are still living. His point is, “Go check it out for yourself.”

The point of all this is to help the Corinthian believers, as well as us, to understand that Jesus is God’s Servant who really died for our sins. That is Good News for us because it makes us at peace with God. Secondly, it gives us hope that Christ, who rose from the dead, can and will raise us from the dead. Again, this is nothing but Good News for us.

Episode 191 - "Don't be an obstacle to the gospel" - 1 Corinthians 9

1Cor. 9:1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? 2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

1Cor. 9:3 This is my defense to those who would examine me. 4 Do we not have the right to eat and drink? 5 Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? 7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?

1Cor. 9:8 Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10 Does he not speak certainly for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more?

Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

1Cor. 9:15 But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. 16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

1Cor. 9:19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

1Cor. 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

I believe this is a first in nearly 200 episodes of our Bible studies. I am covering an entire chapter of Scripture with the intent of minimalizing the volume of my own commentary. There is a beauty in what is revealed in this chapter that I do not want to split into tiny pieces or pollute with my own words.

In verses 1-14, Paul presents his credentials and role given by God and says that it comes with rights that are reasonable, supported by the Law of Moses, and supported by the Lord himself. In other words, it is fair, and it's Biblical for Paul to be supported by those he serves. (Such as the believers at Corinth) No one can offer a reasonable accusation against him concerning this.

In verses 15-23, Paul says that he’s not taken advantage of these rights, and he’s not asking for them even though there’s nothing wrong with it. Why? His answer is so that it could not become an obstacle to leading people to the good news of Jesus Christ. His priority is the gospel, and his reward is to share the blessing of those who receive it. He understands the joy, peace, and hope that people get when they experience God’s grace to them, and that is what Paul desires.

Finally, in verses 24-27, Paul likens his work in the gospel to a race to be won. Like participants in a race, one must be disciplined and have self-control. He’s not racing other people. His race is in the finite amount of time he knows he has in this life. He is not going to live his life worrying about getting his rights or making sure everything is fair. He knows that if the priority and focus turn upon himself, he will not be effective in his race to lead as many people to Jesus as he wants.

Isn’t that awesome?

Prayer: Lord, help us regard others and not ourselves. May our priority be to lead others to Jesus and not become an obstacle to your grace and mercy to others.