First streamed on 5.24.23. First posted on 5.29.23
Brothers and sisters, we know that walking the righteous road of the Redeemer is rough.
It’s hard to persevere on the paths of the Prince of Peace.
It’s easy to get turned off from following firmly and faithfully.1
All your test and trials… may seem to get you down. And some of your friends and loved ones… may be nowhere to be found.
But the word encourages us to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for our labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Cor 15:58). Victory, not vanity!
Many of us may have some seats at the table that are empty. When people pass, many toss around empty platitudes that can do more harm than good.2
But Paul doesn’t offer the Corinthians religious clichés; he wants to instill in them righteous confidence.
Many of our loved ones have fallen asleep. But, my beloved brothers and sisters, we know that Death does not have the final say.
And, in fact, we can say: “Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?” (1 Cor 15:55).
And we should say, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1 Cor 15:57).
For, thanks be to God, through Christ, our Savior and Deliverer,
we’ve been given the victory over sin and death.
For when the Resurrected Christ comes back to consummate the eternal, imperishable Kingdom, all His faithful followers who have died will be resurrected with eternal, imperishable bodies (1 Cor 15:51-54).
And, also, all who are still living – in Christ – will be transformed – like Christ (1 Cor 15:51).
Therefore, let’s not just give thanks; let’s live thanks!
Let’s express our great gratitude to our great God
with loyal labor to our Lord and Savior.
The faithful who are grateful should have their plates full with hard work for the Holy One.
Jesus gave up His life; let’s not just give Him our leftovers.
He gives us the abundant life; let’s give Him our abundant labor.
Our Lord is excellent (Ps 8:1); may our labor in the Lord always excel.
Let our ministry for the Most High abound; For He’ll place our feet on higher ground.
Let’s live thanks! Victory, not vanity!
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5-24-23 Bible Study Slides 1 Corinthians 15_50-58
Bibliography
- Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, Walter Bauer, and F. Wilbur Gingrich. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000. [BDAG]
- Balz, Horst Robert, and Gerhard Schneider. Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1990–. [EDNT]
- Davis, James A. “1-2 Corinthians”. In The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary. Edited by Gary M. Burge, and Andrew E. Hill. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2012.
- Ellingworth, Paul, Howard Hatton, and Paul Ellingworth. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. UBS Handbook Series. New York: United Bible Societies, 1995. [UBS]
- Gill, David W. J. “1 Corinthians”. In Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Romans to Philemon. Vol. 3. Edited by Clinton E. Arnold. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002.
- Johnson, Alan F. 1 Corinthians. Vol. 7. The IVP New Testament Commentary Series. Westmont, IL: IVP Academic, 2004.
- Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Second Edition. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2014.
- Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996. [LN]
- McDonald, Lee Martin. “1 Corinthians.” In The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary: Acts–Philemon, edited by Craig A. Evans and Craig A. Bubeck, First Edition., 255–366. Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2004.
- Merriam-Webster, Inc. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003. [MW]
- Porter, Stanley E. Idioms of the Greek New Testament. Sheffield: JSOT, 1999.
- Prior, David. The Message of 1 Corinthians: Life in the Local Church. The Bible Speaks Today. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985.
- Robertson, A. T. A Grammar of the Greek New Testament in the Light of Historical Research. Logos Bible Software, 2006.
- Schmidt, Alvin J. How Christianity Changed the World. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2004.
- Silva, MoisÈs, ed. New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Vol. 1–5. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014. [NIDNTTE]
- Wallace, Daniel B. Greek Grammar beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1996.
- Winter, Bruce. “1 Corinthians.” In New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, edited by D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, and G. J. Wenham, 4th ed., 1161–87. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994.