Believed in Vain

BELIEVED IN VAIN

First Corinthians Chapter 16:

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

Again, let me say, get back to teaching the basics! Here in today’s lesson Apostle and Saint Paul presents the basics of Christianity clearly and simply. Incorporated within these few verses we encounter the concept of resurrection from the dead.

The word resurrection, usually points out our existence beyond the grave. Most Christians believe it is into eternal life in New Jerusalem with Our risen Lord and Savior. I am convinced of the certain truth of Paul’s recording and of the Holy Spirit guidance in the delivery of this basics and simple path of gaining life eternal. Only in God’s word do we find Christian based “resurrection” information.

Of this, Apostle's Paul’s doctrine, not the smallest trace can be found in all the teaching of philosophers. Yet, the doctrine of Christ's death. burial and resurrection, is the strong rock foundation of Christianity. Remove this truth, and all our hopes for eternal life sink at once. Our blessing of faith and hope is delivered spiritually as recorded. It is by holding tight to this truth. Filled with this Holy Spirit delivered doctrine, Christians stand faithful and are kept firm in the day of trial.

If we are kept faithful to God, we believe not in vain, unless we loose apparition for the basics of the gospel. Truth of the death, burial and resurrection is confirmed by Old Testament prophecies; also, many saw Christ alive and well after He resurrected.

Apostle Paul was highly favored among presenters of God’s words to sinners. Still, he maintained a low opinion of himself and expressed it. When sinners are, turned into saints by Divine grace, God causes the remembrance of former sins to make them humble, diligent, and faithful. He ascribes to Divine grace all that was valuable in him. True believers, though not ignorant of what the Lord has done for them and by them, Retain the worry that God would forgive and forget their terrible sins. When they look at their whole conduct and their obligations, they are apt to feel that none are so worthless as they. All true Christians believe that Jesus Christ, and him crucified, and then burred, risen from the dead and ascended back into heaven where He sits on the throne with His father guiding and shielding us, 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. May we grasp the fundamentals that preserved faith of our forerunners when persecution and murder approached them. Know God, know peace. Amen 11-24-1920 BLL