1 CORINTHIANS 15
29 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? 30 Why are we in danger every hour? 31 I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! 32 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.” 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 34 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. – 1 Corinthians 15:29-34
1 CORINTHIANS 15 LET THE RESURRECTION TRANSFORM YOU
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
Jesus Christ died for you so you can be reconciled with God
It was sin that pulled you out of the presence of our Lord
When Jesus became the sacrifice to appease God’s wrath
He allowed us to be renewed and transformed in our hearts
Do not allow the world to overcome you but win over evil
Let the hope of the resurrection make you resist the devil.
In this letter, Paul continues to admonish the Corinthian church. He lays down the foundation for a new life in Christ. Because Christ died for us all sinners, it is only fitting that we embrace that transforming power of the cross.
As Christians, our lives need to be changed and we no longer need to live for ourselves, but for the edification of the church instead. The apostle Paul cautions believers not to be deceived and continue living like they used to before Christ died for them. He advised them to ensure that they are not associating with bad company. The psalmist in Psalm 1 tells us not to walk in their ways in the following words: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the lawof the Lord, and on his law, he meditates day and night.
We Christians ought to keep ourselves pure and holy because Christ paid a high price for us to stay free and in relationship with our Father. We need to live in that new creation.
REFLECTION
- What can you say about Christians whose lives have not been transformed yet?
