The other reason I asked Lori to stop is, and it bears so much repeating, Lori, I'm going to ask you to read again verses 1 through 4.
Okay.
Now I would remind you, brothers of the gospel, I preach to you which you receive, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved.
If you hold fast to the word I preach to you, unless you believe in vain.
So, it's important.
You know, he's letting them know.
It's important.
And then, in the last statement there, verse 11, he's making, he's repeating for them again, and this isn't just my version of the gospel.
This is what we all preach.
This is the gospel.
And, of course, they're saying, oh, yes, yes, this is important.
Yes, yeah.
And as he goes through it, they hear it.
And both in the ancient world in general and in the biblical world in particular, this was a common approach.
You start off your presentation with something that the audience is going to agree with.
They don't know where you're taking them.
They think it's familiar ground.
They think they understand it.
They think they're in agreement with it.
And then, all of a sudden, bam.
Yeah, this is what I believe.
But I didn't realize this.
A classic example is King David.
When Nathan the prophet comes to him and says, let me tell you a story about a horrible man.
And David says, yes, he's a horrible man.
And Nathan then says, it's you.
So, for some of the Corinthians, he's springing this trap.
Not because he hates them.
But he wants to make an impression on them.
He wants them to see the stark reality of the mistake that they are holding on to.
Now, everybody's in agreement, right, with what we've read so far in Corinth, Paul, us.
But we're going to keep reading and look for what the mistake in belief and practice was.
Lori, do you want to continue reading?
Sure.
That's great.
Thank you.
Now, if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.
We are even found to be misrepresenting God because we testified about God that he raised Christ,
whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.
For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.
Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
But each in his own order, Christ the firstfruits, then in his coming those who belong to Christ.
Then comes the end when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
For God has put all things in subjection under his feet.
But when it says all things are put in subjection, it is plain that he is accepted who put all things in subjection under him.
When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead?
If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?
Why are we in danger every hour?
I protest, brothers, by my pride in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day.
What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus?
If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.
Do not be deceived.
Bad company ruins good morals.
Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning.
For some have no knowledge of God.
I say this to your shame.
Thank you very much.
What was the theological problem, mistake, heresy, if it rises to that level, that some of the Corinthians were guilty of, in trouble with?
They don't eat in the resurrection again.
All right.
Thank you.
I think we'll probably agree on that.
Now, are there any other things or any more specific things that you think you see here in addition to that?
They don't believe in the resurrection of the dead.
Yes.
Any sub-points that you detect in their doctrinal error?
That Jesus didn't rise from the dead?
That Jesus didn't rise from the dead.
Gee.
That's part of the gospel, isn't it?
Uh, yeah.
Yeah.
And you might wonder, how is it that a group of people who are part of the church at Corinth, they see themselves as part of the church.
You know, this letter is addressed to the church at Corinth, to believers.
How is it that you have Corinthian Christians who don't believe that Jesus was raised from the dead?
That, well, there's a real tension there.
Is that really what he's saying, though?
Because he seems to be, I've always had to struggle with this practice.
Because if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
And then he goes on to draw the linkage.
If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
Personally, I think that's a huge leap in logic.
And so, yes, I can see where, I don't know that he's saying, forgive me for being contrarian, but.
Let me tell you a secret.
I told Bob to say this ahead of clock.
No, no, I didn't.
I didn't.
But he is pointing out a problem I've had with this passage.
This and a few other things, you know, I just couldn't wrap my head around it and see it as self-consistent.
You know, what am I missing?
So, Bob, this is wonderful.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Please continue if you weren't done.
So, you know, I think in their minds, they believed that Christ was raised from the dead.
But they didn't believe, apparently, in the resurrection of the bodily resurrection of the others.
He is drawing the connection between the two, which I think is logically weak.
And then, so they didn't not believe in the resurrection of Christ.
In their minds, they believed in the resurrection of Christ and did not believe in the resurrection of anyone else.
Well said.
Yes.
Bob may not be too smart, but he's at least as smart as I am.
Because we are like this on that in the past, you know.
So, hey, so we conclude.
Paul isn't always the best theologian.
But that's all right.
We'll overlook it.
The Holy Spirit inspired him.
Oh, no.
No.
Let's move on.
He might be a good theologian and a bad logician.
Could be.
If we can make a distinction.
The inspiring Holy Spirit.
Couldn't he have corrected that?
Don't we think that the Holy Spirit, you know, corrected other errors?
Couldn't he have done this?
Now, let me tell you my own answer to that conundrum at this point in my life.
There are many things about the Bible I don't understand.
And there are times when I've heard other people say, and I've thought to myself,
Paul's logic doesn't hold together here.
So what do I conclude?
Maybe I don't know the whole story.
You know, maybe I don't understand quite what he's saying.
Maybe part of it's because I don't understand the historical context.
And maybe if I did, you know, then it would be clear to me.
Maybe.
But in any case,
when,
as Romans 12
tells us all to have,
when I have sober judgment
about my own abilities
in logic or theology
or Bible interpretation,
I realize
I have a lot to be humble about.
You know,
I don't see everything clearly now.
Literally
or figuratively.
And so
I should not
assume I do.
Now,
who knows?
Maybe God inspired the way,
the Bible,
in a way
where,
you know,
not every argument
holds together
according to human logic.
Maybe because there's something wrong with human logic.
I don't know.
But I
am going to
try,
as a habit,
to be humble
and say,
well,
I don't get this,
but that doesn't mean it's wrong.
Or that,
you know,
maybe someday
I'll say,
aha!
Now,
maybe
this will be one of those occasions
where you'll say,
aha!
Because I think this is such a
powerful story,
I'm going to share it
even though it's a general point,
not a specific point to this text.
Some of you have heard of
Trinity Evangelical Divinity.
Trinity School.
Kenneth Concer
used to be
one of the top officials
of that.
And so,
one day,
he got a call
that a woman,
a good friend of his,
had
been involved
in a car accident
and she was killed instantly.
And
he was grieving
when he got another phone call
saying that
that woman
had not been
riding in a car,
but had been
riding in a bus
and that there was
an accident
and that she was injured
and she was taken
to the hospital.
And he thought,
what would you think
if you got two reports
like that?
Well,
what I would think is
one of them is wrong.
Now,
as it turns out,
in a kind of black humor way,
dark humor way,
the woman had had
a very bad day.
She had been riding in a bus.
The bus had an accident.
Many people
were injured.
Ambulances came,
but there wasn't enough room
in the ambulances.
So,
passerbys
were taking
injured people
to the hospital.
And unfortunately
for this woman,
the driver
taking her to the hospital
got in a car accident
and she was killed instantly.
Now,
and
Kenneth Concer's point
was this.
There are many things
about historical accounts
in the Bible
or other places
where we just
can't harmonize them
and we tend to conclude
one of them is wrong.
That may not be the case.
And in fact,
lawyers say,
hey,
you know,
if you hear two stories
that hang together
on every point,
it's been contrived.
Because
almost always
in human experience,
eyewitnesses
don't agree
on everything.
and sometimes
they can both be right
that once you really
know the details.
So,
there's this possibility.
But tell me,
here we are,
we're struggling
with the theology.
What did these people believe?
What's the application
for them?
And here's
one of my points.
that we would become
more confident
that
we don't have to know
everything about
the historical,
linguistic,
you know,
social context
in order to
have God speak to you
through the Bible.
What's the application
for first the Corinthians?
What were they supposed to do?
Believe in the resurrection.
They were supposed to believe
in the resurrection.
Both resurrections.
And what else?
They were supposed
to believe something
and then what were
they supposed to do?
This comes near
the end of the passage.
To act.
And take action.
Take action.
What action?
To obey.
To obey what?
Okay,
they were to obey Paul
saying this is the truth,
believe it.
But then,
on a day-to-day basis,
what were they supposed
to do?
Not go on sinning?
Not go on sinning.
And,
in particular,
living for pleasure,
it would seem.
What's the quote?
Hey,
if there's no resurrection,
let's eat and drink
because tomorrow we die.
Might as well,
you know,
this is all the life there is.
Let's enjoy it.
And,
if you're,
for whatever reason,
tempted in that direction,
you know,
we should apply this
to our lives too.
And so now we can go home.
After,
by the way,
there's a mistake here.
There is not supposed
to be an eight here.
But,
once we've heard
that we're not to live
for pleasure anymore,
you know,
if that's really
God's word to us,
it's probably because
we have been living
for pleasure
rather than God's kingdom
in some area
of our life.
And so,
we need to say,
I don't want to give this up,
Lord,
but,
I will.
And again,
that's often
where we end,
like I did,
you know,
with,
yes,
learn more about leadership
in the church,
man.
Yes,
I will.
But no,
I didn't.
So,
number six,
how and when.
Don't let your obedience
slip away
due to forgetfulness
or distraction.
It's important.
All right,
now,
unless
Pastor Matt
or somebody else
feels that I am
really getting heretical here,
what I want to do
is spell out for you
what I
think
the more complete problem
in the Corinthian church
might have been.
And then,
we have time
to read through
the passage again
and see how it does
or doesn't match
more consistently
the text.
And if we get
through all that,
then,
we might say,
ah,
you know what?
There may be even
a tighter application
for us today.
And we may see
some things
in our own lives
that are
pretty similar
to the problems
that the Corinthians
had.
So,
let's talk about
what do we mean
by the resurrection?
So,
four options
about the afterlife.
One,
no afterlife
for either body
or spirit.
Typical materialistic
view today,
atheistic worldview.
Even some religious people
have that worldview.
Number two,
afterlife for the spirit
but not the body.
Number three,
afterlife for spirit
together with the body.
That's the biblical position.
Number four,
afterlife for the body
but not the spirit.
Now,
I haven't watched
enough zombie movies
to know for sure
but is that kind of,
you know,
yeah,
they don't seem to have
much spirit or soul
at that point,
but their body lives on.
Well,
number four
is not a common
theological position
taken,
especially in the
evangelical church.
So,
so I don't think
we have to worry
about that one.
Now,
again,
I'd assumed
like Elizabeth,
like what I understood
Elizabeth to say.
They were rejecting
the resurrection,
kind of like
a position one.
But,
some things
about the passage
just didn't hang
together consistently
that way
in my mind.
So,
here's
an attempt
at giving
some historical
background
that may help us.
one,
most pagans
in the first century
Roman world
believed in an afterlife.
It was a rare exception
that they didn't believe
in an afterlife.
But the kind
they believed in
was an afterlife
for the soul,
not for the body.
So,
that is
most likely
part of the belief
of this group.
You know,
your spirit
will live on,
the body
stays in the grave,
decays,
is gone.
End of that,
the body story.
Now,
so that's one
of the two things.
Oh,
and the two
applications,
I think this is
generally agreed on.
A lot of pagans
in the first century
made these two
applications.
So,
we're not going
to have a body
later that we'll
be able to enjoy
things like food,
sex,
okay,
some of us
just think of
those things,
or other pleasures
that come from
the body.
So,
you better get it
now.
And secondly,
seeing as you're
not going to have
a body later on,
what you do
with your body
now really
doesn't have
an impact
on the soul.
The body's
temporary,
the soul
is eternal,
the eternal
immutable soul
really doesn't
get changed
much by what
you do
in the body,
so it won't
make any
difference
in the afterlife.
So,
do as you
please.
Now,
let me go on
a little bit,
and this is the
back side,
for whatever
reason it
says number
one.
Oh yeah,
that's right,
that's the first
thing we're
trying to figure
out.
What problem
or sin
did the
Corinthians
have?
Well,
this is what
I think.
The afterlife
involved a
continuation of
our spirit,
but not our
body.
There was no
resurrection of
the body.
This could
slip into
the position
that what was
done in the
body in this
life was of
little or no
consequence for
the afterlife.
number two,
our relationship
with one's
God didn't
depend so much
on morality,
but on
loyalty.
Kind of like
some political
leaders.
Once they get
in power,
they want
their staff
or whatever
not to tell
them that what
they're doing
is morally
wrong.
They want
them to say,
okay,
you tell me
to do it,
I'll do it.
Even if I
take one for
the team,
it's politics.
It's politics.
It's power.
After all,
what were the
Roman gods
like morally?
They were an
immoral bunch.
So they don't
care about
morality,
and in my
relationship with
them, they
don't care about
my morality.
They just want
me to sacrifice
lots of
sacrifices,
be loyal to
them,
and whatever
influence they
may have in
the afterlife,
as long as
I'm loyal to
them,
hopefully that
will be good.
I'm not
sure what
they can do
for me then,
but right
now, I
want them to
do a lot
of things
for me.
I'm going
to pray,
Apollo,
heal me of
my sickness,
you know,
Mercury,
please make
me a faster
runner so I
can win at
the Olympics,
you know,
give me a
better job.
God help me
help me now.
The afterlife
was very
vague for
most of
them, and
again, how
their God
was going to
help them
then, I
don't know,
but I'll
sacrifice to
you now,
you solve
my problems
now.
So, going
on, where
it says,
these two
points combined,
as I'm
repeating myself
here, to
result in a
position that
bodily sins,
like sexual
immorality,
gluttony,
and, what's
the last one?
Drunkenness.
Okay, drugs,
I forgot
drugs, had no
consequences on
the next life.
Further,
since the
effectiveness of
one's God to
really make a
difference in
the next life,
after all,
once you cross
the Styx River,
is that right?
Is there a
Styx River?
Who is the
God of the
underworld?
Hades.
Hades, maybe.
And he's going
to trump things
there.
So, I'm not
sure what my
God can do
for me in the
next life,
but, maybe
something, I
hope so.
But, the
focus tends
to be what
your God
could do for
you here
and now.
Last point.
Now, what
if a person
hears about
Jesus?
Wow.
He's a
God of
some kind,
who healed
the sick
big time,
who could
calm the
storm,
who could
take five
loaves and
two fishes
and feed
5,000 men
plus women
and children.
Hey, that's
the kind of
God I
want.
Sign me
up.
Baptize me
for Jesus.
We're going
to get
together,
share stories
about how
Jesus has
changed our
life here
and now.
Almost
sounds like a
health and
wealth gospel
church.
And in
fact, I
think there's
a close
relationship
between the
worst health
and wealth
gospel people
and these
guys in
Corinth.
people.
Because their
focus wasn't
on living a
holy life,
living for
the kingdom
of God.
It was on
what Jesus
wants to do
for you now.
Jesus is your
genie.
You know,
you're loyal to
him.
You offer
prayers.
You praise
him.
He feels
happy with
you.
Gives you
lots of
goodies now.
But of
course,
Jesus is
just one
of many
gods.
So all
the shortcomings
that all
the other
gods have,
Jesus has
those too.
But boy,
he heals
the sick.
He feeds
the hungry.
He protects
those who
are in the
midst of the
storm.
Sign me
up.
So my
guess is
that there
were some
people in
Corinth who
had a
very pagan
understanding
of the
divineness
of Jesus.
And were
treating him
just like
they would
treat,
you know,
a typical
Roman god.
With the
focus being
on this
life.
Of course,
my soul
is going
to live
on.
But I
will still
cross the
Sticks
River and
I'll still
have to
deal with
Hades.
But for
right now,
I'm going
to put
my trust
in Jesus.
And part
of that
is being
baptized.
And so
when we're
baptized,
we can
trust Jesus
to fix
my earthly,
bodily
problems
here and
now.
Now,
let's
read
1 Corinthians
15,
1-34
again.
With
that,
re-
what do
you call
this?
With
that
scenario,
re-
creation.
Reorientation.
Yeah,
that kind
of view
of what
the doctrinal
problem in
Corinth may
have been.
And if you
want to,
you can ask
whoever will
read for us
to stop.
And when I
get to a
point where
I want to
stop and
make a
point,
I'll feel
free to do
that too,
so whoever
is reading,
don't take
offense at
our
interruptions.
Who would
be willing
to read,
or at least
start reading?
1 Corinthians
15,
1-34.
Lydia,
thank you.
Now I
would remind
you,
brothers,
of the
gospel I
preached to
you,
which you
received,
in which you
stand,
and by which
you are
being saved,
if you
hold fast
to the
word I
preached to
you,
unless you
believed in
vain.
For I
delivered to
you as of
first importance
what I also
received,
that Christ
died for
our sins
in accordance
with the
scriptures,
that he
was buried,
that he
was raised
on the
third day
in accordance
with the
scriptures.
Okay,
okay,
yes,
Jesus was
raised from
the dead,
and the
importance of
that is,
of course,
that it
gives some
real,
I mean,
in addition to
all the
miracles,
and the
feeding of
the hungry,
and the
stilling of
the storm,
man,
he even
raised people
from the
dead,
and he
even raised
himself from
the dead,
I don't know
for how long,
you know,
the people
got raised
from the
dead
temporarily,
but hey,
I'll take
that,
I'll take
a temporary
get out of
death free
card for a
little while,
if he chooses
to raise me
from the
dead,
and,
but of
course,
the afterlife
is spiritual.
And that
he appeared
to Cephas,
then to the
twelve,
then he
appeared to
more than
five hundred
brothers at
one time,
most of whom
are still alive,
but some have
fallen asleep,
then he
appeared to
James,
then to all
the apostles,
last of all,
as to one
untimely born,
he appeared
also to me,
for I am the
least of the
apostles,
unworthy to be
called an
apostle,
because I
persecuted the
church for
God.
But by the
grace of
God,
I am what
I am,
and his
grace toward
me was
not in
they.
On the
contrary,
I worked
harder than
any of
them,
though it
was not
I,
but the
grace of
God that
is with
me.
Whether
then it
was I
or they,
so he
preached,
and so
you
believed.
Now if
Christ is
proclaimed as
raised from
the dead,
how can
some of
you say
that there
is no
resurrection
of the
dead?
Well,
why would
they want
to say
that anyway?
Well,
because all
their life
in their
pagan culture,
the belief
of everybody
around them,
and their
belief was,
right,
our body
dies,
end of the
body,
but our
spirit is
going to
live on
somehow,
somewhere.
Now of
course,
Jesus was
resurrected,
but that
was special,
but of
course,
you know,
not only do
we believe
that there's
no bodily
resurrection of
the dead,
because everybody
else believes
it,
but come
on,
it's
impossible.
We're
pretty good
scientists here
in Rome,
you know,
we know
what happens
to a body,
there's no
way that
that's going
to be put
back together,
well,
maybe one
time,
but we
don't believe
in the
resurrection
because it's
ridiculous,
it's totally
untenable,
and if you
have one
exception to
the rule,
okay,
fine,
but,
you know,
for us,
no,
no resurrection
of the
body.
But,
wait a second,
if we really
believe a
resurrection is
impossible,
but if there
is no
resurrection of
the dead,
then not even
Christ has been
raised,
and if Christ
has not been
raised,
then our
preaching is in
vain,
and your faith
isn't.
Wait a second,
come on,
you know,
we have this
one time
resurrection,
and plus we're,
you know,
like everybody
else,
we're going to
live on afterwards,
but,
the whole
presentation of
the gospel
was based,
as far as
apologetics goes,
on Jesus
being raised
from the
dead.
Physically,
the tomb
was empty,
it wasn't just
that his spirit
went around
appearing to
people,
you know,
and the dead
body was still
rotting in the
tomb.
No,
the body
wasn't there,
it was a
physical
resurrection.
resurrection,
he had a
body that
ate food.
Okay,
okay,
Jesus was
resurrected from
the dead,
now I totally
forgot why I'm
saying this,
what did you
just read?
Then our
preaching is
in vain,
because if
the resurrection
is really
impossible,
our story
is rubbish,
and the
whole gospel
collapses like
a house of
cards once
you pull the
resurrection out.
we are even
found to be
misrepresenting
God,
because we
testified about
God that he
raised Christ,
whom he did
not raise,
if it is true
that the dead
are not raised.
For if the
dead are not
raised,
not even Christ
has been
raised,
and if Christ
has not been
raised,
your faith is
futile,
and you are
still in your
sins.
Then those
also who have
fallen asleep
in Christ
have perished.
If in this
life only we
have hoped in
Christ,
we are of all
people most to
be pitied.
Now,
for the
most part,
I am
suggesting that
that is what
people did with
the Roman
gods.
The ones that
they were
loyal to,
the benefits
they were
hoping to
get,
were primarily
here and
now in
this life.
And if you
think Jesus
is in the
same category,
and you are
praying for
him to help
you in this
life now,
whatever those
people who
believed in
Christ before,
who have now
died,
that is the
end of it.
You know,
they are not
going to get
any more
benefit from
Jesus now.
It is over.
Get what you
can now.
Now, at this
point you may
say, Matt is
getting a little
shaky in his
logic here,
you are
probably right.
But, maybe
it is a little
helpful.
Please continue.
But as in
fact Christ has
been raised
from the dead,
the first
fruits of those
who have
fallen asleep.
But in
fact Christ
has been
raised from
the dead,
the first
fruits of
those who
have fallen
asleep.
For as by
a man came
death, by
a man has
come also
the resurrection
of the dead.
For as in
Adam all
die, so also
in Christ
shall all
be made
alive.
But each
in his
own order.
Christ's the
first fruits,
then at his
coming those
who belong to
Christ.
Now let me
just interrupt
and say,
look,
Paul is
saying,
hey,
for your
theology,
don't go
back to
Roman paganism.
Most of
it is
false.
There may
be some
true aspects
to it,
like there
is in
almost any
belief system,
but most
of it is
false.
If you
want to
know about
the
afterlife,
go back
to the
scriptures.
and so Adam
you know that was the problem
and the problem was physical death
and Jesus solves it with physical resurrection
get your theology right
then comes the end
when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father
after destroying every rule
and every authority and power
for he must reign until he has put all his enemies
under his feet
the last enemy to be destroyed is death
okay now let's stop right there
I want you to
as Lydia reads this next section
think
could it be that Paul
inspired by the Holy Spirit
is giving a
counter doctrine
to the mistaken
doctrine that Jesus was just like
one of many gods
in the Roman pantheon
for God has put all things in subjection
under his feet
but when it says all things are put in subjection
it is plain that he is
accepted to put all things in subjection
under him
when all things are subjected
to him
then the son himself
will also be subjected to him
but put all things in subjection
under him
that God may be all in all
no
Jesus is not just another
Roman type God
he is the
son of God
everybody
every God
every authority
is going to be subjected
to him
you've been thinking
about him
and in a big
some of you
know of the book
your God is too small
well
their God
was really
too small
their picture of Jesus
otherwise
what do people mean
by being baptized
on behalf of the dead
if the dead are not
raised at all
why are people baptized
on their behalf
I have no idea
because I really don't know
what they're talking about
so
I admit it
let's just move on
I mean
they knew what he was
talking about
and I believe
they got the logic
very clearly
and we can speculate
but I think for the most part
it's speculation
why am I in danger
every hour
I protest brothers
by my pride in you
which I have in Christ
Jesus our Lord
I die every day
what do I gain
if humanly speaking
I fought with beasts
at Ephesus
if the dead are not raised
let us eat and drink
for tomorrow we die
so
here was Paul
the apostle
he
was living
his present life
with a total focus
on the life to come
on Jesus' return
the resurrection
and what would happen then
he was not focusing
on the pleasures
of this life
now he would say
God
gives us all these
good things
for our enjoyment
you know
he doesn't have anything
against physical pleasure
but
we're in the midst
of a spiritual war
you know
our focus should not
be on having a jolly time
right now
on the battlefield
but the Corinthians
were living
like health and wealth
gospel people
while Paul
the person they were
supposedly following
was out
fighting wild beasts
in Ephesus
whatever that means
I tend to think
it means something
literal
even though there's
no other account
of it in the New Testament
or any place else
but I think he ended up
in some really bad
place where it looked like
he was going to die
but by God's grace
he didn't
but he was willing
to die
and let it all in there
because he was living
today
with the return of Christ
and the resurrection
in the mind
while the Corinthians
were living
today
praying
to Jesus
you know
to give them
what they wanted
and had no concern
about looking at
to the return
of Christ
and what that would mean
do not be deceived
bad company
ruins good morals
who are you hanging out
with
who are you listening
to
you know
if you're hanging out
every day
with people who say
oh you can't believe
what the Bible says
you know
it's full of fairy tales
if you hear that
over and over
and over again
without the fullness
of the Holy Spirit
and the help
of the church
and other people
God provides
it has an impact
on most of us
so
who are you hanging out
with
who are you listening
to
where are you getting
your theology from
wake up from your
drunken stupor
as is right
and do not go on
sinning
for some have
no knowledge of God
I say this to your shame
if I'm right
in part
they thought of Jesus
like a typical
Roman God
they had no knowledge
of God
they hadn't gotten
their theology right
and
they were having
a good time
I think
at the worship services
and they were praying
for God
to give them
what they wanted
they were fairly happy
but they were very
wrong headed
and some really bad
they were doing
you know
they were getting
into some really bad
things
or staying in
some really bad
things
you know
Corinth being
the Las Vegas
or Bangkok
of the day
and
they just
didn't get it
at all
something
so
here we are
to deal with
the most important
thing of this
Bible study
in the last
two minutes
so I'll just
share this
when I spoke
last time
about the
resurrection
my focus
was typically
on
when bad
things happen
we need
to look
at them
through the
lens
of the
resurrection
and its
implications
today I might
say
when things
are going
well with
us
when life
is great
we need
to look
at that
through the
lens
of the
resurrection
and see
what it
has to
do
what it
has to
tell us
I grew
up I
think
in a
very
Bible
based
Christ
centered
evangelical
church
but
sinner
that I
was
and am
I
came
out
of
that
with
this
practical
theology
I'm
going to
live for
Jesus
things are
going to
be great
for me
I was a
pastor for
20 years
I'm going
to be a
pastor and
have a
wonderful
successful
ministry
Jesus
is going
to help
me do
that
instead
of
seeing
Jesus
as Lord
and me
working for
his kingdom
I gave
lip service
to that
but what I
really wanted
was Jesus
to work
for my
kingdom
I wanted
him to
help me
be successful
have lots
of good
food and
drink
have a
great
married
life
and so
as you
might guess
those
were a
lot of
the
focuses
of my
prayer
life
I want
to have
a good
time
here
now
because
I
wasn't
living
today
with my
focus
on the
day of
Christ's
return
have
any of
you
heard of
or seen
the classic
movie
the bridge
over the
river
quai
how many
have seen
it
the old
guys
okay
let me
quickly
tell you
the story
because I
find it
powerful
world war
ii
a british
unit of
some size
has been
captured by
the japanese
and they're
being held
in a
japanese
preserve
war camp
now they
have a
an effective
head
officer
senior
officer
he's a
good leader
he's a
tough
guy
he's not
going to
be pushed
around
but the
japanese
try and
squash him
unsuccessfully
and he
takes
what they
dish out
and is
victorious
in a moral
sense of the
word
and he
survives
too
and he
just has
the ultimate
admiration
of all the
men
and the
japanese
enemies
you know
are put
to shame
by his
great
ability
now
you know
that's often
what i want
for my
life
i want
as a
christian
not as a
british
person
but as a
christian
to be
successful
to be
victorious
and i
want
all those
non-believers
out there
to see
how wonderful
christ and
christianity
is
yes
i live
for that
so he
wins
but then
he makes
a critical
mistake
he says
i'm going
to keep
showing you
that the
british way
is the
right way
to do
things
you want
us to
build a
bridge for
your army
across the
river
i'll show
you the
british can
do it
better than
anybody
else
and so
he leads
his men
in this
wonderful
effort
to build
a bridge
for their
enemies
so they
can kill
more british
people
instead of
focusing
on the
fact that
the people
he's doing
this work
for are
at war
with his
kingdom
he says
i've carved
out my own
kingdom here
i have their
respect
i
am
you know
going to
have a
wonderful time
here
i'm going
to be
victorious
by helping
the enemy
but he
doesn't
realize
that
so they
build this
beautiful
bridge
and
and he
is just
he's totally
lost it
as far as
perspective
he doesn't
have his
vision on
that day
the end
of the
war
when the
british
will be
successful
he's looking
at the
here and
now
boy when
they see
how great
the british
can build
a bridge
they will
think i'm
wonderful
and they'll
think we're
wonderful
he wasn't
living today
with the
right day
in mind
he was
living today
with today
in mind
he wasn't
living today
with the
end of the
war in
mind
and all
that that
involved
at the
end of the
movie
it's like
the veil
gets lifted
from his
eyes
and all
of a sudden
he sees
that
his
priorities
had been
upside
down
that's
happened
to me
and i'll
just give
you one
quick example
you know
i started
teaching
15 years
ago
and after
a while
i said
wow
public
education
in the
united
states
is really
messed
up
maybe
god
will use
to help
straighten
out
at least
some
of the
public
education
problems
now why
would i
want to
do that
i put a
lot of
time and
effort into
it but
look
the united
states
in spite of
its
christian
cultural
heritage
which is
wonderful
and maybe
the most
christian
cultural
christian
country
rivaling
israel
maybe for
a while
as a
nation
who had
people in
it who
loved god
of course
that didn't
last very
long with
israel for
a month
of time
and it
hasn't lasted
long in the
united states
either
why
do i
want
to
save
u.s.
public
education
and
as a
first step
i'll just
start there
first i'll
save
you know
u.s.
educational
system
and then
it will
save
western
society
i'll be
teacher of
the year
i'll get
all kinds
of praise
from people
who hate
jesus
um
you know
the united
states is
following the
trajectory
of every
other
great nation
in the history
of the world
i think
because they're
moving away
from god
because they're
moving away
from moral
principles
uh
do i really
think god
wants me to
stop that
or even
slow it
down
at my
better
moments
you know
just like
god said
to the
israelites
in exile
in babylon
work for
the well
being of
your city
i don't
think he
meant
you know
the babylonian
government
he meant
the people
of the city
work
you know
help them
love them
don't love
the babylonian
you know
country
which was
horrible
and sinful
and despicable
no
work
for the
well being
of the
people
who god
loves
and who
you should
love
and
just this
past week
you know
i
the tiniest
tiniest
baby step
i got a
chance to
express
my point
of view
about what
was wrong
with new
haven public
education
to a group
of teachers
in the school
oh yes
finally we're
going to make
some progress
and you know
the presentation
went all right
i said okay
what do i do
next to
politicize
this little
step you know
how do we
convince more
people of the
error of their
ways so that
they'll
you know
so there'll be a
better school
system for the
students in new
haven
okay i want to
do that
but you know
what god is
not going to
use me to
save western
society
but by his
grace i may
have an impact
on some of
those teachers
who listen to
me maybe my
focus should not
be okay how
do we gang
together instead
of a political
caucus you know
in our school
but to go and
use this opportunity
to follow up with
them to listen to
them to build a
relationship with
them you know
to share christ
with them as i
have the
opportunity
so
maybe god is
speaking to
you about
this issue and
i'll express it
once again in
two ways maybe
you live your
life day to
day and you're
focusing on the
things of this
life and your
prayer life may
reflect that you
know what do
you pray for
don't do that
be like paul
live today while
focused on that
day
second way to
express it
are you really
living today for
the kingdom of
god or have
you has your
focus got shifted
so you're really
asking god to
help you build
your kingdom
and maybe it
has a good
purpose you
know i want to
help the
students my
students in
new heathen
but what am i
putting first
my kingdom
or am i really
listening to the
lord so that
i'm doing what
he wants me to
for his kingdom
now if god
convicts you
yes this is a
problem that you
have
i i hope you'll
say lord help
be redeemed
but don't let
it end there
today sometime
today
pray lord
specifically what
do you want me
to do to change
this and when
am i going to
put it into
action and as
pastor nick was
saying maybe
you'll say to
somebody hey
god spoke to me
about this
today will
you pray for
me and
check up with
me about
that
let's pray
lord right
now i am full
of your joy
because i have
a little view
of who you
are and what
you're doing in
the world and
that by your
grace you've
made me part
of it when
you return
lord i will
be one of
your many
many children
who will
rule with
you we
will be
effective
in
establishing
and running
your kingdom
but lord i ask
for myself and
each of us
that while the
war is raging
we don't
try
and
build a
business
or a
kingdom
that we'll
just have fun
with here while
the war is
raging
help me lord
day by day
to live
today
with your
return and
the resurrection
in clear
focus
that i may
continue to be
full of your
joy
and that i
may be
effective
in jesus
name
amen
just in case