1 Corinthians 15
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day "You've probably heard before what Jesus says in Matthew 22: 34 when tested by a pharisee: "Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”Jesus sums up all the commandments, laws, & prophets in this one statement. Yet, Paul passes a different top priority message on to the church at Corinth. Contradiction? No. What Paul says about Christ dying, resurrecting, and saving us of the consequences of our sins - gives PURPOSE to the law and prophets that Jesus summed up earlier. If it wasn't for what Jesus did, nothing else would matter. No amount of obeying the law would be of any benefit to us, because all have sinned & fallen short of the glory of God. Without salvation, religion is useless. Jesus killed my sin on the cross, therefore, Jesus conquered the shame of my sin. Jesus removed shame, so I can live with pride in who Jesus made me to be. Jesus defeated my failures, so I can live in victory. I live victoriously so that I can glorify God and share this victory with others.
"Let no one caught in sin remain inside the lie of inward shame, but fix our eyes upon the cross and run to Him who showed great love; and bled for us. Christ has risen from the dead! - so come awake, come and rise up from your grave!" -Matt Maher
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day "You've probably heard before what Jesus says in Matthew 22: 34 when tested by a pharisee: "Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”Jesus sums up all the commandments, laws, & prophets in this one statement. Yet, Paul passes a different top priority message on to the church at Corinth. Contradiction? No. What Paul says about Christ dying, resurrecting, and saving us of the consequences of our sins - gives PURPOSE to the law and prophets that Jesus summed up earlier. If it wasn't for what Jesus did, nothing else would matter. No amount of obeying the law would be of any benefit to us, because all have sinned & fallen short of the glory of God. Without salvation, religion is useless. Jesus killed my sin on the cross, therefore, Jesus conquered the shame of my sin. Jesus removed shame, so I can live with pride in who Jesus made me to be. Jesus defeated my failures, so I can live in victory. I live victoriously so that I can glorify God and share this victory with others.
"Let no one caught in sin remain inside the lie of inward shame, but fix our eyes upon the cross and run to Him who showed great love; and bled for us. Christ has risen from the dead! - so come awake, come and rise up from your grave!" -Matt Maher