The Heresy of Corinth

 Is Paul talking about you?

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. (1 Corinthians 15)

 The passage today comes from 1 Corinthians 15:12-28. (Please read the passage first)

There were some in Corinth who started spreading this doctrine that there is no physical resurrection. No one in the church professes this today. Well-- not verbally anyway. I am deeply concerned that through the way we live we proclaim that there is no resurrection. Many fall into two camps:

1. We are so caught up in this idea of "Heaven" that we forget that part of God's grand design is actually to redeem this Earth. We are called to be a blessing to the nations (Genesis 12:1–4; Galatians 3:7–9; Matthew 28:18). Forgetting that the resurrection means a restoration of Earth, we adopt an escapist mentality and forget to do good deeds. 
   
   
   Or...
    
2. We are so caught up in this Earth that we forget there is a resurrection coming. We follow the world's lead and adopt their strategy to fix racism, injustice, poverty, slavery, etc. There is little distinction between us and the unbelievers as we hold cardboard signs and slogans with the same message as the world. Our focus shifts to fixing this world instead of preparing people for the next! We forget that Christ is returning and true, perfect, and impartial justice will be forever restored. 

When Jesus returns, those who belong to Him will be raised. Jesus will deliver the kingdom to the Father and will destroy every rule and every authority and power. The last enemy, Death, will be destroyed once and for all. Everything will be in subjection under the risen King! (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)

Last month when my in-laws came to town, there was this energy within my children. They cleaned. They were antsy. They couldn't sleep. "Grandma/Grandpa's coming tomorrow!" M offered up her room and got all her toys out of there to make space for our guests. She kept going around the house reminding everyone that grandma/grandpa's almost here. At times she got impatient and wanted to call them to see how much longer until they arrive. She wanted to stay up late and wait. 

Yes. We say there's a resurrection, but do our lives reflect that? Is there a deep and achy longing for His return? Is there an urgency to share the Good News? Is there a childlike giddy joy welling up within you for the day that Jesus returns?

It is the very joy of this earthly life to think that it will come to an end.

- Charles Spurgeon