A LIFE LIVED WITH PURPOSE

As we wrap up 1 Corinthians 15, Paul reminds us why the Christian life is NOT lived "in vain" (see 1 Cor 15:58). By verse 58, Paul will have used this little phrase 5 times! And if we're honest, this will be a reminder we'll need the rest of our lives. So let's dive into the conclusion of Paul's treatise on the resurrection, as we study 1 Cor 15:50-58. 

1 CORINTHIANS 15:50

50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

• "FLESH & BLOOD" - Verse 50 is a short verse, but an important point. So let's take it in 4 steps (2 Jewish / 2 Greek). The first is "flesh & blood" - what does this Jewish term make you think of?

• "KINGDOM OF GOD" - Paul says that flesh & blood CANNOT inherit "God's Kingdom". Think back to the Sermon on the Mount (or Jesus' parables). What does the New Testament usually mean by the Kingdom of God?

• "PERISHABLE" - Paul's second coupling of phrases has Greek roots - appealing to the Gentile crowd in Corinth. What does it mean to be perishable?

• "IMPERISHABLE" - In light of that, for something to be "imperishable" must be significant. Why can't that which is destined to perish "inherit" the imperishable, do you think?

1 CORINTHIANS 15:51-53

51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

• "MYSTERY" - For Paul, a mystery isn't quite like a riddle or something unsolvable  ,,, it's more of a past secret now revealed in Christ. So, what is the secret of verse 51?

• "TRUMPET" - See if you can do some work on this one, try a concordance, a study Bible, or even just the little letters in verse 52 to help you find the Old Testament references here. What does the reference to a trumpet in the Old Testament seem to signify?

• "MUST PUT ON" - Though we cannot inherit the imperishable (from verse 50), apparently it "must" happen. Since we stopped here at verse 53, what question arises for you that makes you want to keep reading?

1 CORINTHIANS 15:54-55

54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

55 “O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?”

• "WHEN ... THEN" - So, Paul seems to be pointing towards a day - but WHICH day? What are some options of that this coming moment could be? (Try not to limit yourself too quickly?)

• "THE SAYING WRITTEN" -  Paul quotes from Isaiah 25:8 and then Hosea 13:14. In these verses, who is the chief enemy that Paul is identifying? How does this enemy function in the Old Testament texts? How has it been functioning as the enemy of this chapter?

• PAUSE FOR A MOMENT -  We've got one last section to deal with here, but before we do, stop for a minute. How would you summarize what we've just read from verses 50-55? How about from 1 Cor 15:1-55? DO you still have any questions that linger?

1 CORINTHIANS 15:56-58

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers (and sisters), be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

• "THE STING" - We just taunted death asking where its sting went. But here, Paul unpacks what makes death "sting-y" and then what empowers that process. So, using the words "law, sin, and death", how would you describe the relationship between the three?

• "THE VICTORY" - The good news here is that this 3-headed enemy will not win over us. But we often don't feel too "victorious". Why should we (who often feel defeated) be encouraged by verse 57 nonetheless?

• "YOUR LABOR" - Empowered like this by a victory from God, Paul has been trying to tell us over and over that we're not wasting our time (see 15:2, 15:10, and 15:14). And now again, he tells us that if we know our labors aren't "in vain", we can be solid in our fruitful work for God. In what specific area of your "working for God" are you most in need of encouragement to stand firm and labor on?

Fighting for faith with you,

Pastor Darren