Conversing the Kingdom

"Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you... I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, then to the twelve." 1 Cor 15:1-5

Wednesday, 6 October 2010

Conversing the Kingdom: Labor in Vain?

1 Corinthians 15

Paul often refers to believers who have died as those who sleep. It is not a gentle way of saying so and so has died but more a description of their current state. Yes, Paul acknowledges that when a believer dies they are immediately present with the Lord (2 Cor.5:8). But sleep refers more to the state of the body. The period between the body of flesh dying and the occupation of the new resurrected body to come on the last day. Our spirit is eternal but the body is perishable. When we rise again, instead of a body of dust after the image of Adam, we shall inherit a spiritual body after the image of Christ. What an amazing promise, what an amazing hope. No longer will death have a hold over us. And this is for our encouragement that we "be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord we labor not in vain...."

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