April 25, 2021
Greetings and blessings to all of you. Paul states in I Cor. 15:29-32 “Now if there is no resurrection what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? And as for us why do we endanger ourselves every hour? I die every day- I meant that brothers- just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beast in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised ‘Let us eat and drink for tomorrow, we die.’ Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character. Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning for there are some who are ignorant of God- I say this to your shame.” Paul is talking to these people who were misled in various thoughts. First, they are baptizing on behalf of the dead; at the same time, they are not believing Jesus has risen from the dead. Paul told them that they are not making any sense. He told them to quit listening to people who do not walk in the truth so they will not be deceived. Saints, people have always been haunted by the thought of death. But now that Christ has been resurrected, there’s no need to fear death anymore. Death has lost its sting; we can escape everlasting punishment for sin and with-it eternal separation from God. Physical death is now but a transition into our new and glorious existence in God’s presence; it’s the shedding of our weak and frail bodies and the receiving of new resurrection bodies. That is, if we choose to accept the gift of salvation, to repent of our sin, and to make Christ the Lord of our lives. Peter (one of Jesus disciples) explained to the Jewish audience in Acts 2:24 “I know God raised Him up because it was impossible for Him to be held in death’s grip”. Why did Peter say this? Because Peter knew what was prophesied in the OT. David in Psalm 16 said, “You will not leave my soul in Hades nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.” The Jews knew in the OT and in the NT that once God spoke through a prophet it was as good as done. Jesus as well foretold His resurrection. In Matt. 16:21 “I will be killed and be raised the third day.” Divine prophecy is a guarantee that death could not hold Jesus in the grave. The apostle Paul tells us, “if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection” (Romans 6:5) Jesus is Life…let’s join Him.
With the Love of Christ
First Lady Vivian C. Currie
Pastor ALC