It was a gift. by kerminator Blog entry

Blog: My Unusual Road of Life....
by kerminator

It was a gift.

** Paul’s whole ministry was founded upon the resurrection of Jesus. **

Date: 8/12/2018 8:35:05 PM ( 6 y ) ... viewed 915 times

1 Corinthians 15:10
Life For Today Study Bible Notes
AWMI.net

Note 18 at 1 Corinthians 15:10: Paul was definitely humble, as can be seen by his statements in 1 Corinthians 15:8-9, but his humility was nothing like the false humility that is so prevalent in the church today, where people refuse to see or say anything good about themselves. Paul knew who he was and all the authority that came with that. He just didn’t feel like he deserved it, which he didn’t. It was a gift.

True humility is not a debasing of self or a hatred of self or our accomplishments. It is simply an awareness that all that we have and are is the gift of God. Therefore, only those of us who acknowledge God can operate in true humility.

Note 19 at 1 Corinthians 15:10: This is a great statement by Paul that balances his previous statement about the grace of God, giving us much clearer understanding. All our talents, abilities, and callings are a direct result of God’s grace. However, God’s grace alone doesn’t guarantee success.

For example, God’s grace that brings salvation has been offered to all people (Titus 2:11), but not all people are saved. This is not because it isn’t God’s will for them to be saved (2 Peter 3:9), or because there is a lack of God’s grace; it’s because not all people put faith in God’s grace.

God’s grace must be mixed with faith to release its power (see note at Ephesians 2:8).
So, God’s grace is consistent toward everyone, but not everyone will reap the benefits of God’s grace because not everyone will labor as Paul speaks of here. This labor is not “works” that earn us God’s favor. That would violate grace (see note 2 at Romans 11:6). These are works of faith (see note 4 at Romans 9:32).

We don’t have to study the Word to get God to love us; He already loves us by grace. However, we do have to study God’s Word to renew our minds and convince ourselves of the fact that God loves us. We don’t have to go to church to obtain God’s grace, but because we have God’s grace, we need to go to church to keep our hearts from being hardened (Hebrews 3:13 and 10:25).

Paul acknowledged God’s grace as the source of everything he had and was, but he allowed God’s grace to have its full effect in his life by seeking God more than the other apostles did. We have to labor against the flesh to rest in God’s grace (Hebrews 4:11).

1 Corinthians 15:11
Note on 1 Corinthians 15:11
This illustrates the truth of Romans 10:14-17.

1 Corinthians 15:12
Note on 1 Corinthians 15:12
How can anyone deny something that has already happened? Jesus was resurrected. This was one of the pillars of Paul’s message (1 Corinthians 15:1).

Life For Today Study Bible Notes

Note 1 at 1 Corinthians 15:12: It was amazing to Paul that those who had heard the Resurrection preached would reject such a doctrine. Likewise today, it’s amazing that people would turn away from such a comforting truth that fills our lives with hope. The only people to whom no resurrection would be appealing are those who are fearful of punishment if there is a resurrection and they have to give an account of their actions. This fear is always the motivating factor behind those who oppose the resurrection. If there is no eternity, then they can live like animals because there will be no eternal damnation. Such is not the case.

Note 2 at 1 Corinthians 15:12: 1 Corinthians 15 provides us with much of our scriptural knowledge about the physical body and the resurrected body.
In this chapter, Paul stated that the physical body is natural (1 Corinthians 15:44), earthy (flesh and blood,
1 Corinthians 15:50), terrestrial (1 Corinthians 15:40 and 49), corruptible (1 Corinthians 15:42 and 53-54), sown in dishonor (1 Corinthians 15:43), sown in weakness (1 Corinthians 15:43), mortal (1 Corinthians 15:53-54, see also Romans 8:11), and soulish (1 Corinthians 15:45). He also said in Philippians 3:21 it is vile; i.e., the body of our humiliation.

Through the resurrection, it is said to be redeemed (Romans 8:23), quickened (i.e., made alive, Romans 8:11), fashioned (Philippians 3:21), changed (1 Corinthians 15:51 and Philippians 3:21), put on (1 Corinthians 15:53-54), raised (1 Corinthians 15:44), spiritual (1 Corinthians 15:44), heavenly (1 Corinthians 15:49), celestial (1 Corinthians 15:40 and 49), incorruptible (1 Corinthians 15:42 and 53-54), powerful (1 Corinthians 15:43), immortal (1 Corinthians 15:53-54), and glorious (1 Corinthians 15:51 and Philippians 3:21).

1 Corinthians 15:13
Note on 1 Corinthians 15:13
If Christ rose, then we will all rise. If we won’t rise, then Christ hasn't risen. Paul was saying it has to be one way or the other. There isn’t any partial resurrection.

Life For Today Study Bible Notes
Note 3 at 1 Corinthians 15:13: Paul tied our future physical resurrection together with the resurrection of Jesus in an inseparable way (this verse and 1 Corinthians 15:16).
He was saying that anyone who does not believe in the bodily resurrection of all mankind does not believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus. There can be no salvation without believing in the resurrection of Jesus (Romans 10:9), so a person who does not believe that everyone will be physically resurrected cannot be a Christian.

This put the Corinthians who had believed this lie in an awkward place. They either had to reject the lie about no resurrection or they had to reject Jesus. They could not have it both ways. This still holds true today.

1 Corinthians 15:14
Note on 1 Corinthians 15:14
Our whole Christian faith hinges on the resurrection of Jesus. This is one of the main things that sets Jesus apart from any other founder of a religion. Jesus is alive. Buddha, Muhammad, and every other religious leader are dead. Therefore, they aren’t even worthy to be compared to Jesus. Praise God!

Life For Today Study Bible Notes
Note 4 at 1 Corinthians 15:14: Paul made denying our bodily resurrection equal to denying the physical resurrection of Jesus (see note 3 at 1 Corinthians 15:13). This verse shows the consequences of denying Christ’s resurrection: It makes the Gospel vain
(“not successful; futile,” American Heritage Dictionary) and faith vain. The Corinthians who had had life-changing encounters with Jesus would have known that this certainly was not true, and they would have been forced to reject this false idea that there is no resurrection.
Note 5 at 1 Corinthians 15:14: Out of the thirteen sermons to unbelievers recorded in the book of Acts, eleven clearly mention the Resurrection. In the two sermons that remain, it was not mentioned, but it was implied. Why is the Resurrection so important?

First of all, the resurrection of Jesus makes Christianity different from religion because we are dealing with a real, alive person, not just principles. As John said in 1 John 1:1-3, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” Christianity is a fellowship with a real person who is alive.

Second, forgiveness of sins is not obtained by a doctrine but by Christ Himself (Matthew 9:2, 6; and Acts 5:31). If Jesus did not rise from the dead, He cannot give salvation to us. However, He did rise from the dead, and now He lives forever to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25).

Third, it is Christ living in us (Galatians 2:20) that gives us the power to live victorious lives (Romans 8:9). If there were no resurrection, there would be no power.
Fourth, there are a number of scriptures that link our own spiritual resurrection (i.e., being born again, John 3:3) with that of Christ’s (Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 2:13, 3:1; and Romans 6:1-11). According to Scripture, if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, we cannot be saved (1 Corinthians 15:17).

Last, the resurrection life of Jesus is the guarantee of our physical regeneration (Romans 8:11). Because Jesus conquered death, the fear (Hebrews 2:15) and the sting of death (1 Corinthians 15:55) have been removed from us. This produces great comfort for those who believe (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

So, faith in the present-tense ministry of Jesus is essential to true Christianity and would be impossible if Jesus were not alive. Without Jesus being alive, Christianity would just be another dead religion.

1 Corinthians 15:15

Note on 1 Corinthians 15:15
Paul’s whole ministry was founded upon the resurrection of Jesus. If they were going to reject the resurrection, then they had to reject everything else he taught. Although these people had strayed from Paul’s teachings, they hadn’t totally forsaken them. Paul was counting on them coming back to his teaching on the resurrection by making it an integral part of his message.

Andrew Wommack's Living Commentary.