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Education
Christianity 101
By Paul Tripp
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(First Corinthians 15) is one of the most foundational chapters in all of the New Testament; it could be called a “Christianity 101” passage. (For now, please grab a Bible and read verses 12-19. However, I would encourage you to find a Bible commentary and spend ample time unpacking this chapter later.)
Paul’s argument in the passage is simple and clear: without eternity, Christianity makes no sense.
If all that sin has broken won’t be fixed forever, then there is no hope now and no hope in the hereafter. Without a guaranteed eternity, our faith in Christ is robbed of its meaning and power: “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.”
As Christians, we have staked our entire life on the promise of a radical and complete renewal, accomplished by the resurrection of Jesus. That eternal renewal is coming, and in the meantime, there are some specific ways that the resurrection of Christ and the hope of heaven make a difference in how we live today. 1. The resurrection of Christ and the hope of heaven clarify what is truly important in this life.
Yes, all of our relational, situational, and physical struggles are important in some way, but they must not be viewed as the essence of what life is about. God has not promised to deliver “the good life” of predictable
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The most important thing in life is that we have help with and victory over our biggest and most abiding problem: sin. God promises to work on us; he is with you, in you, and for you. The resurrection guarantees the progressive defeat of sin in the here and now and the final deliverance from it in eternity. 2. The resurrection of Christ and the hope of heaven will radically change the way you approach the responsibilities, difficulties, and opportunities of your daily life.
Eternity takes the vanity out of your living in the here and now. Instead of getting disappointed and discouraged because our efforts aren’t bringing us momentary pleasure or because others are not affirming us, eternity gives us bigpicture motivation.
We have the motivation to stay focused on doing what is good, right, and true because our living in the here and now fits with the big plan of what God is doing and where he is taking us. In the face of hassles, we tell ourselves that this is not our final destination. 3. The resurrection of Christ and the hope of heaven teach you delayed gratification.
Western culture is an instant culture, but the hope of heaven calls us to a different worldview. In God’s plan, waiting is not an interruption or obstruction of the plan; waiting is part of the plan. As we are waiting for the eternity that is the promise of God’s grace, we are not just passing the time: waiting is about becoming. Every moment of waiting is a divine tool for personal restoration and preparation. (Isaiah 61:3) beautifully captures this process, “that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” Oak trees don’t sprout up and mature overnight. It takes scores of years to bring a mighty oak to maturity, but when it is mature, it lives with a strength and splendor that few plants in God’s creation have.
Through His resurrection, Jesus has purchased for us not only the guarantee of life after death but also the reality of life before death.
By grace, may you and I be as strong and as durable through the seasons and storms of life as the mighty oak tree is!
God bless,
Paul David Tripp
REFLECTION QUESTIONS 1. What is the most encouraging part of First Corinthians 15 for you today? Why specifically does it bring comfort? 2. What is the most challenging part of First Corinthians 15 for you today? What specifically does it confront? 3. What situations, locations, or relationships have risen to a level of importance way beyond their actual importance? How has this exercised more control over you than it should? 4. What is threatening to sidetrack or distract you from God’s big-picture vision? Where do you need to focus on the eternal Kingdom of heaven in your daily schedule? Be specific. 5. Is God calling you to wait for something in your life that you want instantly? Why is this frustrating, discouraging, or frightening?>
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Today Is The Day To Trust God
By Dr. David Jeremiah
Do you stockpile food and water? Do you own a solar-powered generator? Do you have a hard copy of your contact list in case your electronic connections fail? What about a first aid kit and toolbox?
Lots of people are thinking about preparing for the “what if” in life. The Atlantic carried an article about a growing number of survivalists and “preppers” who use Internet sites to swap ideas on storing food, stockpiling supplies, cleaning weapons, and providing emergency medical care in the absence of doctors. Some people take it further. The Daily Mail reported on a Colorado family who spent vast amounts of money and time preparing for a day when “suddenly, and completely without warning” the world will experience “a total blackout—no electricity, no mobile phones, no banks, no Internet, no TV, no emergency services. Nothing.” The stockpile included drums of food and gallons of water, a solar oven, a generator, a propane burner, a water filtration device, surgical masks, grills, backpacks, solar panels, and more.
According to the news source, it’s all in preparation for a day when the economy fails, the world loses power and energy, communications go dark, and society collapses in chaos with mass riots and warfare.
Understandable Anxiety
I can understand the alarm. Both Christians and non-Christians are preoccupied with the end of the world today. Our world is shuddering with conflicts in the Middle East, pandemics, cyber warfare, and the proliferation of destructive chemical and biological weapons. The global economy is hanging by a thread, and the foundations of morality are collapsing like a suspension bridge. We are living in the Last Days against the buildup of the Rapture of the Church and the backdrop of the Great Tribulation.
But there’s a balance. It’s easy to look at today’s world and feel troubled. Many Christians are plagued with worry, fear, and doubt. There’s a natural sense of fatalism and defeat as we look at the turbulent times around us. But remember, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). The Bible says, “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25).
Our Lord doesn’t want us to be anxious. Instead, take a moment to remember Who is in charge! Today is the day to trust God.
Undergirding Confidence
This is the central message of (Psalm 11), which begins with King David affirming his confidence in God: “In the Lord I put my trust; how can you say to my soul, ‘Flee as a bird to your mountain?’” Someone in David’s life was telling him to flee. (Psalm 11) was David’s response. Perhaps I can best convey the meaning of (Psalm 11:1-4) by rephrasing it into my own words.
I have put my trust in the Lord, so how can you advise me to flee like a bird to my mountain? How can you tell me the wicked will kill me with their bows and arrows? How can you suggest the foundations are destroyed and there is nothing the righteous can do? Don’t you know who is in charge? The Lord is still in His holy temple. The Lord is on His heavenly throne. His eyes miss nothing.
This is the message we need to embrace today. The foundations may seem to be crumbling, the wicked may be stringing their bows, the times may be chaotic, but if our faith is in the Lord, there is no need to panic. Trust Him who is in His holy temple. He is still on His heavenly throne, and the Lord yet reigns. He surrounds us with His grace; and in His timing He’ll take us to be with Himself. Until then we trust Him and His sovereignty. Otherwise, we’ll live in defeat, worry every morning, fret every night, and be haunted by each headline. How much better it is to remember Who is in control of politics, plagues, and the princes of the earth!
It is good to be prepared. We should take every sensible precaution for unexpected events in our lives. But it is important to remember that God is in control, and nothing will happen without His permission.
Today is the day to trust God.> Turning Point Dr. David Jeremiah
David Jeremiah is the senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California, and the founder and host of Turning Point for God. For more information about David Jeremiah visit www.DavidJeremiah.org.
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