1 Corinthians 15 (7)

Pray Psalm 71.14-16.
But I will hope continually,
And will praise You yet more and more.
My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness
And Your salvation all the day,
For I do not know their limits.
I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD;
I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.

Sing Psalm 71.14-16, 3.
(Solid Rock: My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less)
But as for me my voice I raise to sing in hope and constant praise!
With saving grace my voice will swell Your never-ending grace to tell.
Refrain v. 3
A Rock of habitation be; command Your Word to rescue me;
my Rock and Fortress ever be!

Review 1 Corinthians 15.1-58; meditate on verses 1-4, 50-58.

Preparation
1. What is the Good News Paul received and delivered?

2. To what should receiving the Good News lead us?

Meditation
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not something merely to receive. “Have you received Jesus?” we may sometimes ask. And well we should, as often as we can. Because the Gospel must be received—believed, welcomed, embraced, and committed to with all our soul and strength. That was certainly how Paul received Jesus and the Good News of forgiveness and everlasting life.

Jesus lived, died, and rose again. Thus, He accomplished the righteousness we need to dwell forever with God, took away the debt of sin that we owed, and opened the way to new Kingdom life in the Holy Spirit. This is the Good News we have received.

But there’s more to this Good News. Jesus is coming again. And when He does, we will be changed—forever! No more sin or sorrow. No more frailties or debilitating sicknesses. We will receive a glorified body and will be like Jesus. We will behold Him forever and rejoice in the victory over death and the grave He has accomplished. What a great and glorious future awaits all who receive Jesus and the Good News of the Kingdom.

But there is still more. The Gospel fits us now to live for Jesus and to spread His grace by abounding in good works and being ready with true words (Acts 1.8; 2 Cor. 4.15; Eph. 2.8-10; 1 Pet. 3.15). What we have freely received, we freely deliver to others by every means available to us (Matt. 10.8; 1 Cor. 9.19-23).

Have you received the Good News? To whom will you deliver it today?

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever” (Ps. 73.25, 26).

By many people, both past and present, the Gospel has been declared.
And when we heard the Gospel, like the Corinthian people, we:
1. Received it.
2. Stand faithfully in it.
3. And are saved by it.
IF
4. We hold fast to it. (1 Cor. 15.1, 2)

But truly, what could possibly be more important to us than the Gospel?
Who would we ever choose besides God, His Son Jesus, and His Holy Spirit?
What else is there to hold fast to?
What other Person or belief could be so worthy of our trust and love?
Where else would we go?
As Peter asked, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (Jn. 6.68).

“Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever” (Ps. 125.1).

Jesus, as He prayed for His disciples, prayed also for us in this way:
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (Jn. 17.20, 21).

This Gospel is better than Good News; it is the Best News ever delivered to humankind.

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10.10).
Delivered. Received. Deliver.

No one ever cared for me like Jesus;
There’s no other friend so kind as He.
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me;
O how much He cared for me.
(Charles Weigle, 1932)

We dare not keep it to ourselves.

For reflection
1. How did you receive the Good News about Jesus? Who delivered it to you?

2. What does it mean for you to hold fast to this faith?

3. To whom will you deliver this Good News today?

All true Christians believe that Jesus Christ, and him crucified, and then risen from the dead, is the sum and substance of Christianity. All the apostles agreed in this testimony; by this faith they lived, and in this faith they died. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on 1 Corinthians 15.1-11

Pray Psalm 71.21-24.
Pray that God will enlarge your Personal Mission Field and that He will strengthen and equip you every day to serve Him for His Kingdom and glory.

Sing Psalm 71.21-24, 3.
(Solid Rock: My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less)
Increase my greatness, comfort me, and unto You shall praises be.
Your truth I will exalt full well, O Holy One of Israel!
Refrain v. 3
A Rock of habitation be; command Your Word to rescue me;
my Rock and Fortress ever be!

My lips with joy and praises ring; to You, Redeemer, praise I bring!
I praise Your goodness all day long; LORD, humble all who do me wrong.
Refrain

T. M. and Susie Moore 

The Church in Corinth was in need of revival. But there was much to be done before that would happen. The Church today is in need of revival, and the same is true for us. Our book, Revived!, can help us to discern our need for revival and lead us in getting there. Order your copy by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available by clicking here.