MARCH 12th
PRESSING INTO THE KINGDOM (Continued)
Scripture Reading I Corinthians 15:12-19
15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
15:13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also
vain.
15:15 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.
15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
Here we see how some denied the power by saying there was no resurrection of the dead. Paul used several examples to show how ridiculous their unbelief was. They received the preaching and had faith, but it was all of none effect because they did not accept the power that goes with a new life in the Spirit. Verse 19 contains a powerful truth with an eternal effect. Proverbs 13:12 states, "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life." Our desire is Christ, He abides with us, and He is our Tree of Life!
There is power to be known experientially in this life; however, we must understand what it means to hope in Christ. Christ in us is the hope of glory. Our Hope is our Life and when He is expressed all will see His glory. We have to be certain in our hearts and have it settled in our minds that what is true of Him is true of us as joint heirs and sons. Delaying the power is denying the power! Greater works await us because Jesus went to Father. His atoning Blood fully satisfied Father, and we have a powerful inheritance to enter into which is none other than Jesus Himself. What a glorious Lord we have!
Continued
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