Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.

In yesterday’s devotion, we explored the prosperity(false) gospel and biblical(true) gospel. Prosperity theology is a religious belief that financial blessing and physical well-being are always the will of God for His people and that faith, positive speech, and donations to religious causes will increase one's material wealth and physical health.

The Corinthian congregation was in danger of splitting into two sects because of false ideologies like the prosperity doctrine. There were pockets of believers entertaining three false teachings. The first false teaching was that those who spoke in tongues enjoyed spiritual affluence. The next, Jesus had not been resurrected. This notion was influenced by Roman citizens who claimed Jesus had not been raised from the dead but rather that His disciples stole and hid his body to propagate a lie that Jesus was God and had been raised from death. Finally, and sadly, leaders were telling believers there is no resurrection after death, and they would not join Jesus in heaven.

Paul immediately gives an outline with indisputable evidence of The Gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8. Re-read that passage now.

If we wanted to break this passage down in clear terms, then we could say, everyone is separated from God by sin. We are unable, powerless to save ourselves. Yet, Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, rose on the third day, and appeared to His disciples. It is by trusting in His finished work that we find forgiveness and are given everlasting life. In short, the biblical Gospel is the Good News of Jesus Christ. Anything outside of this biblical Gospel is divisive and destructive.

The Corinthians could not argue with Paul about the resurrected Jesus. How quickly they had forgotten Jesus made eight appearances over 40 days to 500 people at once. In fact, some of those eyewitnesses were still alive (1 Corinthians 15:1-11). Once Paul re-establishes the basic truth of The Gospel, he reasons with them that it was senseless not to have a resurrection hope (1 Corinthians 15:12-28). All our hardships and suffering, even at great cost to life would be for nothing if it ends in death with no hope of resurrection. Paul was blunt by saying he would not continue to lead a dangerous and costly life if in the end there was only death (1 Corinthians 15:29-34).

Paul is saying that our physical bodies will undergo a spiritual transformation. Though it is hard to comprehend, when Christ returns, both the dead in Christ and those who still live will be transformed in an instant into these new and glorified heavenly bodies that will never die. Death will be swallowed up in victory, never to hurt anyone again (1 Corinthians 15:50–58).

You may say, “Well, I believe Jesus was resurrected. I believe that those who are saved will be resurrected. This doesn’t really apply to me. I’m not like the Corinthians. I believe the Gospel.”

Let me challenge you by saying all of us are not far from our Corinthian brothers of the first church. They were not bad people. They were not deliberately spreading false teachings for selfish gain. They were, like us, imperfect people struggling to resist an ungodly, demoralized culture around them and grappling, even more, to understand a radical new truth under the New Covenant, a New Testament.

How can we best help those in our disciple-making to comprehend the Good News of Christ? By clearly articulating the Gospel. If your listener contradicts truth, correct them in love and with The Word using specific Scripture as your evidence. The Good News of the Biblical Gospel promises forgiveness of our sins and a transformed spiritual body with eternal life, no matter the wealth or health of this life.

Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence

Reflection:

• To learn what Venture’s core beliefs are that are rooted in gospel teachings, go to: www.venturechurch.org/beliefs.
• Prayer: I choose to believe in You, The Father, Creator of all life. I choose to believe in Your Son, Jesus Christ, who gave His life on the cross. By His wounds, I was made white as snow, and on the third day, He rose and later returned to a glorious throne seat as King of Your Kingdom. I believe that when my time is complete, I too will return to You, in my heavenly home. This is the Gospel that I stand by. Give me the opportunity to share this truth with others. In my Savior’s name, amen.
  
  
  

Family Devo: 1 Corinthians 15 

   When partnering with your family to know, love, and follow Jesus, we strive to create and share content filtered by the Head-Heart-Hands model. 

Head: the knowledge of God and His Word | Heart: the personal connection from scripture | Hands: a missional mindset 

Head  

Throughout 1 Corinthians 15, we are reminded that Jesus died for our sins, except He didn’t stay in the grave. How long did He stay in the grave? Three days and then He rose again! This chapter holds a lot of IFs. Verse 13-14 says, “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And IF Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” Are you stuck on the IFs, or are you believing the truth? The truth takes faith, and when we have faith then we can believe in the truth. Christ rose again on the third day securing our faith and love in Christ.   

Heart  

Search within your heart and see if you have faith or if you’re still stuck on the IFs. We can read this chapter and see all the reasons why we believe in Christ. Why do you believe in Jesus?

Hands  

Take a moment to think about this chapter and find the truth for yourself.   

Prayer: Lord, I love You, and I’m so thankful for You. Thank You for dying for our sins but ultimately rising three days later. I pray that I always remember You already paid the ultimate price for our sins. Jesus’s name I pray, Amen.