The Reporter     Volume 48 # 4,  --  January 25, 2008

The Resurrection Of The Body
– First Corinthians Fifteen –

 

   First Corinthians 15 provides us with a detailed description of Christ's resurrection from the dead and also of our own resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation of the entire Christian system. "If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain." (I Corinthians 15:14) The resurrection is the major proof that Jesus is indeed the Son of God. Paul wrote that Jesus was "Declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." (Romans 1:4) It would be very inconsistent to profess faith in Christ and deny His resurrection.

 

   It is by the resurrection of Christ that we can now be forgiven of our sins. If Christ was not raised then there could be no forgiveness. It is by the resurrection of Christ that we can have assurance that we will be raised. Just as we will die because of Adam, we will be raised to life because of Jesus Christ. We have the assurance that Christ was the first to be raised to life, and His people will be raised to life when He returns in the  air. The resurrection of Jesus gives the faithful final victory. "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Corinthians 15:57)

 

   Christ and the resurrection gospel – I Corinthians 15:1-11: "Christ was raised to life" is the very heart of gospel preaching. Paul and all early gospel preachers proclaimed that Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and three days later He was raised to life again. The thing that made the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus so significant was that He is the only man that ever died for our sins. Psalm 16:10 directly predicted the resurrection of the Christ. "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."

 

   The proof of the resurrection was in the fact that Jesus appeared to Peter, then to the twelve, after that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren, then to James and finally to Paul, himself. Paul was overwhelmed that the Lord had appeared to him because he had caused so much trouble for God's church. He considered himself to be the least important of all the apostles. He felt that he did not even deserve to be called an apostle. Seeing Jesus and being forgiven caused Paul to work even harder than others in the Lord's kingdom. Paul attributed all of the good that was in him and the entire good that he did to the grace of God.

 

   Consequences of denying the resurrection – I Corinthians 15:12-19: Paul asked, "If we preach that Christ was raised from death, how can some of you say that the dead will not be raised to life?" If there is no resurrection then Christ was not raised. If the dead were not raised the apostles told lies about God by saying that He raised Christ from the dead. If there is no resurrection their preaching was in vain.

 

   It is an absolute truth that if the dead are not raised to life, then Christ could not have been raised. If Christ was not raised our faith is useless and we are still in our sins. If there is no resurrection those that died with faith in Jesus have perished like all the unbelievers. If there is no resurrection the dead have just come to an end and there is nothing left. The theory of some at Corinth that said there is no resurrection led to the obvious conclusion that, "If our hope in Christ is good only for this life, we are worse off than anyone else."

 

   Christ's resurrection and our resurrection – I Corinthians 15:20-34: Paul declared that Jesus had been raised from the dead. His resurrection assures us that we too will be raised to life after death. We die because of Adam, but life is our because of Christ. The contrast is that Adam brought death and Jesus brought life. Each person will be raised to life in his own time. Christ was raised from the dead and we also will be raised when Jesus returns in the air. At that time Christ will have "put down all rule and all authority and power." The last enemy that Christ will overcome is death. Then He will deliver the kingdom to God the Father. The kingdom is the church and it has been in existence sense that first Pentecost after Jesus' resurrection.

 

   Some brethren at Corinth were in gross error concerning their teachings. Some thought that there were no resurrections. Others were being baptized for the dead. Paul asked if the dead are not raised to life why were they being baptized for those dead people. He also showed them that risking their lives for the faith would make no sense if there is no resurrection. He said, "If the dead are not raised to life, "Let's eat and drink. Tomorrow we die." Association with friends that are teaching error will destroy or corrupt. Paul said, "Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God..."

 

   Changes brought by the resurrection – I Corinthians 15:35-58: Some were asking, "How will the dead be raised to life? What kind of bodies will they have?" They were taught that changes would take place. What sprouts up from the seed looks different from the seed. God gives everything the kind of body He wants it to have. All animals are made of flesh, but each is different. Heavenly bodies and earthly things are likewise different. Even the sun, moon and stars are different. So, our body when raised from the dead will be different from its present condition. Those ugly, weak, mortal bodies will become beautiful, strong and immortal. Our physical body will be changed into a spiritual body.

 

  Adam was a person that had received life from God. Jesus, the last Adam, is a life giving spirit. The Adam with the physical body came first and then the spiritual. That is just how it is with each of us also. We first have a physical body. It is earthly, temporary, and made of dust. Our resurrected body will be like the body of Him that came from heaven. It will be a heavenly body. Our earthly body will decay because, "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incur-eruption." We will either face death or live till Christ comes. In either case our bodies will be changed. If you are living when Christ returns that change will take place suddenly. We will all be changed so that we will never die again. Death will lose the battle and we will have victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. The conclusion is that sense death does not end it all we should be, "steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord..." (I Corinthians 15:58) The resurrection proves that everything you do for the Lord is worthwhile.

 

   Will you appreciate Jesus and His resurrection enough that you will prepare for your resurrection NOW? To become a Christian you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (John 8:24), repent of sins (Acts 17:30), confess Christ as Lord (Acts 8:37), and be baptized to be saved. (I Peter 3:21). After your baptism use your life to be an honor to God and to help build up the church.  

 

- - - - Charles Box

News & Notes

 

1. Prayer List: Georgiana Hospital: Curtis Newton and Brenda Burkett. In Need Of Prayers: Jimmy Allen, Mae Beverly, Donald Davis, Ruth Davis, Birdie Lee Godwin, Roy Goodwin, Hannah Hanks, Montine Hardin, Evan Hartsell, Linda Holley, Mary Lawrence, Becky McCreay, Dee Matthews, Gary Moore, Jo Ann Moorer, Clay Newton, Henry Powell (son of Jesse Mae Powell), Mary Powell, Austin Shows, Robbie Starkie (son of Eleanor Stabler), Lane Strickland, Bobby Terrell, Jerry Thomas, Rhonda Thomas, Alma Ward (mother of Bill Ward), Richard Watts, Johnnie Wesley, and Mary Williams. Crowne Health Care: Mary Alexander, Gladys Childs, Kathy Johnson, Wallace Murry, Myrtle Perdue, and Iva Lou Wright. Pine Needle: Mary Lou Phelps. Homewood of Greenville: Marie Walton. Georgiana Nursing Facility: Helen Autrey, and Doris Pierce. Shut-Ins: Emma Lee Gafford, Jean Hayes, and Doris Taylor.

 

2. Requesting Our Prayers: Wanda Santo   responded to our Lord’s invitation. Please remember her in your personal, private prayers.

 

3. Please Pray For: The following people are serving in Iraq or Afghanistan: Taylor Bodie, Todd Till, Paul Fullington, Ben Newton (son of Curtis Newton), and Joe Barrett (nephew of Lomax Owens). Pray for them often!

 

4. Food & Supplies: In the year 2007 the Walnut Street Church of Christ was able to give 28,158 pounds of food and supplies to the needy. Through our Food Room we helped 173 families with 11,885 pound of food and supplies. Through the Senior Supplement we assisted 37 families each month with food and supplies. These families were given 16,273 pounds of food and supplies. You had a part in giving more than 28,158 pounds of food and supplies at a cost of $3,924.29. God bless you for your efforts!

 

5. Birthdays: January 27^th Blake Bagents, January 28^th Phillip Pierce, January 29^th Jane O’Connor, January 30^th Kayla Garlock and Kristi Garlock, and January 31^st Sue Arnold, Freddie Daughtry and Barbara Walker.

 

6. Thank You: Dear Walnut Street Church of Christ, We would like to thank everyone for the concern, the cards and for your prayers offered on the behalf of Austin Shows. The Cancer he has been diagnosed as Ewing’s Sarcoma. Austin is feeling much better since he has started his Chemotherapy. January the 23^rd he will have his third round of Chemo. This is done at Children’s Hospital as an inpatient for four days every three weeks. The initial plan is after he completes six series of the Chemotherapy he will have surgery to replace the left hip and femur bone. After the surgery he will have another series of ten Chemo/radiation treat-ments. The doctors said this would take about a year. We ask that you continue to pray for Austin and our family. Again thank you, Richard Shows and Family

 

7. Contribution Verification Letters: The contribution verification letters for 2007 are available at the Welcome Center in the foyer. See Deborah Stallings if you need help or if yours is not there.

 

8. Visit Our Website: The website address is: http:\\www.walnutstreetchurchofchrist.org.

 

9. Put These Dates On Your Calendar: (a)  February 1^st-2^nd – Financial Management Seminar – Walnut Street Church of Christ – Dwayne Wilson – Time Friday 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., and 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided, (b) February 2nd – 27^th Annual Ladies Day – North Lowndes Church of Christ – Speaker Clydetta Fulmer – Lessons “We are Clay in the Hands of God” and “Molded into the Likeness of Christ” – Time 9:30 a.m., (c) February 16^th – Ladies Day – Century Church of Christ – Theme: “Joy Deep in My Heart” – Speaker: Becky Blackmon – Time: 9:00 a.m., (d) February 22^nd – 24^th – Yes Weekend 2008 – Forrest Park Church of Christ Valdosta, Georgia, (e) March 30^th – April 3^rd – Memphis School of Preaching Lectures – Theme: “Strengthening The Heart”, (f) June 22^nd-26^th – Vacation Bible School – Walnut Street Church of Christ, and (g) July 6^th-13^th – Backwoods Christian Camp – Please participate!

 

Everything Christian For Less!

 

   As I prepared for an activity for the young children today, I saw an advertisement flashing in the corner of my computer screen. I realize there’s nothing in the world special about that, but the wording of the advertisement caught my attention. It kept flashing: “Everything Christian For Less!” I realize what that Christian bookstore was trying to communicate. But, I thought, that’s exactly what many so-called Christians are looking for. They want their Christianity to be FREE! Free of responsibility…free of sacri-fice…free of service…They want to do as little as they think is necessary to get to heaven.

 

   How strange it is that people would think this way! Where is the logic in seeking to do as little as possible for the God who has done absolutely everything for us? God loved us so much that He sacrificed Jesus, His only begotten Son, so that we could have hope (John 3:16). Christ left heaven where He had been equal with God, took on the form of a servant, and died a shameful death for the sins of all men (Philippians 2:7-8). While some are looking for a cheaper brand of Christianity, Christ has already paid the ultimate price for our chance to spend eternity with Him (Acts 20:28).

 

   It is also odd that people would strive for “discount Christianity,” since that very attitude guarantees that one will not obtain God’s grace.  Nowhere in the New Testament will you find divine approval for half-hearted, apathetic service to God. What you will find are countless commands for God’s children to “die” to themselves and love Him with every ounce of their heart, soul, and mind (Matt 22:37-40). A faithful Christian makes daily choices that reflect his or her love for Jesus. As Christ himself put it, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). 

 

   Maybe you contemplate privately about the things you hope God doesn’t really expect of you, cutting corners whenever you get the chance. Or, do you now realize that you’ve been cheating God out of the whole-hearted service He so richly deserves? Only those who deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Christ can be His disciples (Matthew 16:24).

-         - - - Darrell Powell

-          

 

Don’t just own a Bible; read it!

 

Walnut Street Church of Christ

P.O. Box 551

Greenville, Alabama 36037-0551

(334-382-3001)