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"Because
He Lives"
“Five
times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus
one. Three
times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three
times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in
the open sea. I
have been constantly on the move.
I have been in danger from rivers, in danger
from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in
danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger
in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from
false brothers. I
have labored and toiled and have often gone without
sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often
gone without food; I have been cold and naked.” (2
Corinthians 11:24-27)
What
motivates a man to endure such things?
The
Apostle Paul, the one who did endure all these things,
asked the same question:
“Why do we stand in
jeopardy every hour?” (1 Corinthians
15:30).
In
the same chapter that he asked this question, Paul
wrote about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the
dead. He
asserted the truth of Christ’s resurrection
(vs. 1-4). He
noted the witnesses of His resurrection (vs.
5-11). Paul
then discussed the importance of Christ’s
resurrection (vs. 12-28). To those who would deny the fact of the resurrection of Jesus
Christ, Paul asked some questions (vs. 29-34),
including the one mentioned above:
“And why do we stand
in jeopardy every hour?” (v. 30).
The
answer - is found in Paul’s statement:
“IF IN this
life only we have hope in Christ,
we are of all men most to be pitied” (v. 19).
It was the expectation of his OWN resurrection
made possible by the resurrection of Christ from the
dead that motivated Paul to share the good news of
Christ even though it caused him to stand in jeopardy
every hour of his life.
Paul
asserted some truths here that are important for us to
understand.
First,
Christ lived on earth, died, was buried, and rose
again according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians
15:1-4). His
death, burial and resurrection made our salvation from
sin possible (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 4:25).
Second, Because Jesus, by the power of God, was
raised from the dead, ALL will be raised at His
second coming, some to a resurrection of life; others
to the resurrection of condemnation (see John
5:28-29).
Third, Those who obey that form of doctrine which "reenacts"
the death, burial and resurrection of Christ through faith,
repentance and baptism
(Romans 6:1-4, 17) are cleansed from their sins and
have the hope of being raised at His second coming to
be with Christ forever in heaven (1 Corinthians 15:23;
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).
That
which motivated Paul to live FOR Christ was the
resurrection OF Christ and the promise of his OWN
resurrection at the Lord's second coming.
His
motivation should be ours as well !
In
the words of Bill and Gloria Gaither;
"God
sent His Son, they called Him Jesus; He came to love,
heal, and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon, An empty grave is
there to prove my Savior lives.
Because He lives... I can face
tomorrow;
Because He lives... all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because.....
HE LIVES."
God
bless you!
David
A. Sargent,
Minister
Church of Christ at Creekwood
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
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