Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from 1 Co 15:2 and following. Indeed, a serious question remained to be settled: Some people in Corinth denied the resurrection. Paul demonstrates that one cannot touch this doctrine without overturning the whole edifice of the Christian faith. If there is no resurrection, Christ Himself is not risen; his work has not received God’s approval; death remains undefeated and we are still in our sins. As a result, the gospel no longer has any meaning and our faith has lost all support. Then the life of renunciation and separation of the Christian becomes absurd, and of all men, he is the most to be complained about since he loses both the present life and eternity.
God be blessed, this is not the case: “the Lord is truly risen” (Luke 24:28-35). But in the face of the importance of this truth, we understand why God took so much care to establish it. First, through Scripture (1 Co 15:3-4). Then by irrefutable witnesses because of their quality: Cephas, James, Paul himself (while declaring himself indignant); or their number: about 500 brothers who could still be interrogated. And no doubt, more than one listener, without yet having seen the Lord Jesus with his eyes, has experienced for himself that His Savior is alive (Job 19:25-27). For “the risen Christ only preceded the believers who have ‘fallen asleep’.” They will be resurrected when He comes. As for the other dead, they will not be “made alive” until later, to appear before the throne of judgment (Rev 20:11-15). And only then will everything be definitively submitted to Christ. After which the thought is lost in the depths of blessed eternity where God will finally be all in all (1 Co 15:28).
Thus the decree we are examining does not pronounce on the nature of the things defended, but takes care of their expediency, the Gentiles having in fact had the habit of doing all these things. It should be noted that these practices were not things defended by law alone; they were either contrary to the established order of the Creator God, or contrary to a defense made of Noah when the meat was given to him to eat. The woman was to have a relationship with man only in the sanctity of marriage, and this is a great blessing; life belonged to God; all communion with idols was an outrage against the authority of the true God. Let Moses teach his own laws; but these things were contrary to the intelligent knowledge of the true God.
For what the decree contains is therefore not a new law imposed by Christianity, nor an accommodation to the prejudices of the Jews: the decree does not have the same kind of validity as a moral ordinance, obligatory in itself; but it is the expression, for christian intelligence, of the terms of man’s true relationship with God, in the things of nature. Provided by the goodness of God, by means of the leaders who were in Jerusalem, to ignorant Christians, this practical instruction freed them from the law, and enlightened them with regard to God’s relationship with man, and with regard to what suited man; things they didn’t know, as out of pagan idolatry. These directions are addressed to the Christian intelligence: it is by grasping the true character of the decree, that we see that there is nothing inconsistent in it with the directions to eat of all that is sold to the butcher, because by doing this, I recognize God who gave these things, and not an idol. If the act involves communion with the idol, even in the consciousness of others, I provoke God to jealousy, I sin against him or against my neighbor.
When we are presented with the meat, we do not know if the beast has been suffocated or not. If we act in such a way as to make it seem irrelevant whether man recognizes that life belongs to God or the opposite, then we still sin if we accept or sanction this way of doing things. For we are not defiled by the thing we eat, but we lack Christian understanding of the rights of the Creator God. As for fornication, it also falls into the category of offenses against Christian purity, as well as offenses against the order of the Creator God; so that this is directly about good or evil and not just about God’s rights revealed to my mind. This was important as a general principle, more than in the detail of the things themselves. In sum, here are the established principles: Purity through marriage according to the institution of God originally—the fact that life belongs to God—the unity of God as the only true God. In other words: God; life; and God’s ordinance for man, from the beginning. The same is true of the foundations that the assembly lays as the basis of its decree: “He seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us.”
The Holy Spirit had manifested himself in the case of Cornelius and in that of the conversion of the Gentiles, of whom Peter, and Paul and Barnabas had given the account. The apostles were, on the other hand, the custodians of Christ’s authority, custodians to whom the government of the Assembly, as founded in relation to the true Judaic faith, had been entrusted. They represented the authority of Christ ascended to the top, as the power and will of the Holy Spirit had been shown in the examples we have just cited. The spirit of grace and wisdom is well shown in their way of doing things. They put their seal in full on the work of Paul and Barnabas, and they send with them influential people from the Jerusalem assembly, who, as could have happened to Paul and Barnabas, could not be suspected of providing an answer to support their own claims. The apostles and elders gather to deliberate, but the whole flock acts in concert with them.
Paul too and Barnabas and many others continue the work in Antioch (1 Co 15:35); and in this city we find again the full freedom of the Spirit. Some time later, Paul proposed to Barnabas to set out with him to visit the assemblies already formed by their means in Asia Minor. Barnabas consents to this, but he would like to take with them Mark who, as we have seen (1 Co 13:13), had abandoned them before. Paul wants as a companion someone who has not shied away from the work, nor abandoned, to return home, his character as a stranger out of love for the work. Barnabas insists, and these two precious servants of God separate, Barnabas taking Mark and going to Cyprus; But Marc was his relative and Cyprus his country. Paul takes Silas who had preferred the work to Jerusalem, instead of preferring Jerusalem to the work, and he leaves. This name of Silas makes believe that Paul’s new companion was Hellenist. For it is sweet to know that later Paul speaks of Barnabas with full affection, and wants Mark to come and join him because he is useful to him for the ministry. Moreover, Paul is recommended by the brethren in favor of God in his work.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
- Our Deliverance from Sin through Christ
1 Co 15:3I have taught you first of all, as I had also received, that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures; Gal 1:4 who gave himself for our sins, to tear us away from the present evil century, according to the will of our God and Father;1: 2:24 he who carried our sins in his body on the wood, that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; he by the bruises from which you have been healed. 1 John 2:2 He Himself is an atoning victim for our sins, not only for our own, but also for those of the whole world. Rev 1:5 and on behalf of Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth! To the one who loves us, who has delivered us from our sins by his blood.
- Savior: Christ suffered and died to redeem men Isaes 53:12 That is why I will give Him His share with the great; He will share the spoils with the powerful, Because he has given himself up to death, and he has been put among the evildoers, Because he has borne the sins of many men, and he has interceded for the guilty.
Jn 10:11 Je is the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for his sheep. Jn 12:23-24 Jesus answered them: The hour has come when the Son of man is to be glorified. 24 Truthfully, in truth, I tell you, if the grain of wheat that has fallen into the ground does not die, it remains alone; but, if it dies, it bears much fruit. Rom 5:6 For when we were still powerless, Christ, in his time marked, died for the ungodly. Rom 14:9 For Christ died and lived, in order to rule over the dead and the living;1 Co 15:3 I taught you first of all, as I had also received, that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures;2 Co 5:15 and died for all, that those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died and rose for them. Col 1:22 to make you appear before him holy, irreprehensible, and blameless; He he 2:9 But he who has been lowered for a little time below the angels, Jesus, we see him crowned with glory and honor because of the death he suffered, so that, by the grace of God, he may suffer death for all. Rev 5:9 And they sang a new hymn, saying: You are worthy to take the book, and to open its seals; for you have been slain, and you have redeemed for God by your blood men of every tribe, of every language, of every people, and of every nation;
- Resurrection of Christ highlighted in the epistles: Rom 1:4 and declared Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
Rom 4:25 which was delivered for our offenses, and is resurrected for our justification. Rom 10:9 If you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth, and if you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 1 Co 15:4 that he was buried, and that he was resurrected on the third day, according to the Scriptures;17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is in vain, you are still in your sins; Eph 1:20 He unfurled it in Christ, raising Him from the dead, and having Him sit at His right hand in the heavenly places; 1 Thess 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, let us also believe that God will bring back through Jesus and with him those who have died. 2 Tim 2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, from the seed of David, risen from the dead, according to my gospel;1 1:3 Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his great mercy, regenerated us, for living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead;1 3:18 Christ too suffered once for sins, he just for the unjust, in order to bring us to God, having been put to death as to the flesh, but having been made alive as to the Spirit,
- Members of the Family of God are called brothers
Mt 23:8 But you do not call yourself Rabbi; for only one is your Master, and you are all brothers. Mt 25:40 And the king will answer them: I tell you in truth, whenever you have done these things to one of these little ones of my brethren, you have done them to me. Lk 8:21 But he answered: My mother and brothers are those who listen to the word of God and put it into practice. Jn 21:23 On this, it was rumored among the brethren that this disciple would not die. However, Jesus had not told Peter that he would not die; but: If I want him to stay until I come, what does it matter to you? Rom 8:29 For those whom he knew in advance, he also predestined them to be like the image of his Son, that his Son might be the firstborn among several brethren. Heb 2:11,17 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one. Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 17 Consequently, he had to be made like his brethren in all things, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to atonement for the sins of the people; Rev 12:10 And I heard in heaven a loud voice that said: Now salvation has come, and the power, and the reign of our God, and the authority of his Christ; for he was precipitated, the accuser of our brethren, the one who accused them before our God day and night. Rev 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him; but he said to me, “Beware of doing it! I am your companion of service, and that of your brothers who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God. -For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
From all the above, we note that the title given to Paul and Barnabas by the apostles shows the difference between the apostolic authority established by Christ himself, and that which was constituted by the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul and Barnabas had been sent, no doubt by Christ himself; but in fact they had left Antioch by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and legitimized their mission by his power. For the twelve apostles, these two men have no title but their work, they are “men who have exposed their lives for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ”. If Jesus appeared to him, although Ananias may bear witness to it, Paul must basically demonstrate it by the power of his ministry. For the effects of this ministry, as well as its character, are told below, which will show us in a striking way the action and freedom of the Holy Spirit. For the apostle shows how believing or not believing in the future life determines the behavior of all men… starting with his own (1 Co 15:30-32). How many of those unfortunate people whose whole religion is held in these words: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we will die”! They persuade themselves that nothing exists beyond the grave to apologize for enjoying their brief existence without hindrance, “like animals devoid of reason” (2 Pet 2:12-14). As for the Christian, his faith should keep him awake, protect him from associating himself with dangerous companies, prevent him from eating and drinking with the drunkards of this world (Mt 24:45-51). May the companionship of the Lord and His people be enough for us until His return. Our prayers accompany you all, in the name of Jesus.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may be shining in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby watering point to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow on “Final Exhortations: the collection for the saints.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.