Living by Grace

The issue in chapter 15 seems to be centered around resurrection. As it is with the rest of this letter, Paul is addressing either issues he has heard are plaguing the church in Corinth or answering questions that have been raised in a previous letter from the Corinthians to Paul.

Reasons for why Paul felt it necessary to address the reality of Christ’s resurrection as well as the certainty and form of their own resurrection are not really known and there many different theories.

Sadducean theology - no resurrection

Greek philosophy - Immortality of soul but no resurrection

Gnosticism - Jesus was not raised

2 Timothy 2:17–18 (ESV)

17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.

Resurrection already happened

However, based on what we know of the church of Corinth based on our study thus far, it may very well be connected with the root of an issue Paul has been dealing with all along - the discussion about what it means to be pneumatikos - “spiritual.” They had received the Spirit as evidenced by the gift of tongues and so they believed they had achieved “true spirituality” - a form of heavenly existence with the body unnecessary and expected to be destroyed. They wanted to rid themselves of their body.

Whatever the thinking, the root cause was clear — the Corinthians were once again allowing influences and culture outside the church to reshaped how the Corinthians did church.

And so, as he says in the very first verse, Paul is going to remind them of what is really at the center of the Christian faith — the gospel.

1-11 - Reality of Christ’s resurrection which lies at the heart of what they believe. This reality is what brought them to faith in Jesus.

12-34 - Based on the reality above, Paul takes on an error that some at Corinth believed — that there is no resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:12 (ESV)

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?

12-19 - Hypothetically, what would would it mean theologically if Christ was not resurrected?

20-28 - Christ HAS been resurrected, so this is what it means for us.

29-34 - Again, if Christ had not been resurrected, what would it mean practically for us?

35-58 - HOW is it that we will be resurrected? What will it be like?

1 Corinthians 15:35 (ESV)

35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?”

While Paul is addressing an issue that is unknown to us regarding the resurrection, he does so by illuminating a foundational truth that the Corinthians and you and I need to hear found in verse 10:

1 Corinthians 15:9–10 (ESV)

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.

Grace - 3x - past, present, future

The grace of the gospel is the active power to change you enable you to live a Jesus-first life.

Grace is not just the feeling of God toward you, it is the power of God to change you!!

But by the grace of God I am what I am

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am,

What does Paul say that he is:

1 Corinthians 15:9 (ESV)

9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Which is it?: I am an apostle by God’s grace? or is God’s grace the fact that Paul is the least?

Previous sins may describe your past but they do not define your present.

Why? Because of the work and power of grace.

(Thankful to John Piper for pointing out the following:)

Galatians 1:15–16 (ESV)

15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach (future) him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;

1 Timothy 1:13–16 (ESV)

13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

Why did God allow those things to happen in Paul’s ‘former’ life? If God had called Paul, why did he allow Paul to do those things?

Previous sin was allowed that the power of the grace of God might be displayed.

The grace of the gospel redeems your past through the cross.

Your past does not define you — grace does.

Previous sin may describe your past but it does not define your present — grace does.

How did Paul ‘receive mercy?’ How did he receive the grace that powerfully changed him?

Through the gospel.

What is the gospel?

ILLUST - Seminary paper - what is the gospel?

1 Corinthians 15:1–8 (ESV)

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. 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.

The cross redeems both sin and sinners.

Sinners

Sin

God forgives faster than people.

Are you? Would your spouse say God’s grace has changed you?

Would your co-workers identify you as someone who is filled with grace?

Have you allowed God’s grace to redeem your past? Otherwise it is as if it was in vain.

What in your life do you need the power of God’s grace to redeem? It’s not just a feeling, it’s a power!

one strong enough to make a murderer into a minister.

Paul started out taking the lives of believers. Later he writes that he would lay down his life for them.

The grace of the gospel empowers your work by faith.

and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them,

Paul is not saying that he worked harder for salvation

Justification (being made in a right relationship with God) is

Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Sanctification is the changing of our lives based on that relationship

ILLUST - I have been Christine’s husband for 21 years, 6 months, 25 days. It happened on one day, but it has been a lifetime of growing in the relationship so that I can become the husband I should be.

Grace empowers the work we do.

Grace does not do the work for us, nor do we work apart from grace.

Two errors when it comes to sanctification:

continual rest

churchy religion

Continual Rest

Continual ‘resting in grace’ will only rust your faith.

The gospel was for THEN, not now.

“God will need to change me”

If you’re not growing or changing, you’re dying.

Churchy Religion

Many believe if they follow the church rules they then become more righteous, etc. They don’t need the help of grace.

Many Christians live as though they are saved by grace and sanctified by religion. NO! We are saved by grace, redeemed by grace, sanctified by grace.

Because. . .

though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

You need the grace from start to finish!!

Galatians 3:2–8 (ESV)

2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?

It looks like Paul is doing the work to others, but God get’s the glory!!

ILLUST - Taking my boys fishing - I bait the hook, I cast the rod, I reel in the slack, I unhook the fish, but THEY catch the fish.

Are you working with the power of the Spirit? Or are you attempting to live life but doing everything on your own?

Maybe you have the ‘fire insurance’ and you don’t feel you really need to work on anything.

Maybe you’ve done all the religious things but don’t feel you are actually drawing close to God or living Jesus-first.

How do we enable that grace power in our lives?

Through faith - It is faith that enables the grace of God in our lives for salvation and it is the grace of God that continues the work in us by faith.

1 Corinthians 15:1–2 (ESV)

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.

ILLUST - How does my child receive the power I can offer? By faith that I can and will help them.

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:7–8 (ESV)

7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Hebrews 11:17 (ESV)

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son,

By faith Moses,

Faith in what??

The grace of the gospel secures your hope with the resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:51–58 (ESV)

51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

The hope of resurrection allows you to risk for the gospel.

When did Christians become such ‘safe’ people?

What would you do if you were guaranteed to succeed?

If you are guaranteed the resurrection - to live forever, what would you NOT risk now?

Creates a ‘gospel resiliency.’

If you have the power of the gospel at work in your life through faith in what God has done through the cross of Jesus, is doing through the Holy Spirit in your life, then this grace serves as an unshakeable core for whatever you may encounter in life

AND it enables you to take risks

Stop resisting what God is calling you to do.

Where do you need God’s grace in your life today?

Initial grace

changing grace

empowering grace

The grace of the gospel not simply God’s feelings toward you, it is the very power of God to change you, redeem sin, and give you the power to live a godly life no matter what this world has for you.

1 Corinthians 15:57–58 (ESV)

57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.