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The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 31 March 2023 – Living In Hope For Resurrection
TOPIC: Living In Hope For Resurrection
READ: 1 Corinthians 15: 1-34(KJV)
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.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
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20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?
30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?
31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
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The MESSAGE:
The gospel does not end with His death of Jesus on the cross to pay the price of sin and make us God’s children. It includes the resurrection, ascension, second coming of the Lord Jesus and eternity in heaven. Resurrection is a very important Christian belief . It is of two types namely resurrection unto death and to life(John 5:29). Jesus came to save us from sin so that we can worship God in holiness and partake of the resurrection unto life (Luke 1:74-75). If resurrection is a fallacy, then Christ is not risen; our preaching will be in vain and we would be the most miserable of all men. We would then be permitted to live anyhow for there will be no judgment after death. But this is not so! Born again Christians should live as pilgrims on earth(1Pet. 2:11); to show the value we attach to the resurrection.
Remember that life on earth is short compared to eternity, and is the only opportunity to prepare for life after death. Make the decision to live and if need be, suffer here on earth, faithfully running the race set before you to secure your resurrection unto life Decide to live for Jesus and be ready to be a candidate for the first resurrection unto life when the trumpet shall sound.
PRAYER: O Lord, deliver me from the fear of death, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
