November 13th, 20

Where Do You Stand?

Today’s readings are Psalm 149 and I Corinthians 15-16.  We are reading from the New Living Translation.

Paul wants to know where you stand.  Do you stand for something that is true or not true?  This goes way beyond pragmatism for Paul.  Paul’s not primarily concerned with how pragmatic you think the Gospel is.  He’s concerned that you are standing in the truth of the Gospel.  

The fault lines of our pragmatism will someday be found out. It’s important that we stand in the truth of the Resurrection.  It is this good and truthful news that will save us.  Paul says,

It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place.   I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. (I Cor 15:2-3)

This is the truth that we must be rooted in.  

Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. (I Cor 15:3 NLT)

There you have it.  Is this where you are standing?  Are you standing in the Gospel, the truth that Christ died and was buried and was raised from the dead on the 3rd day?  This is the heart of the matter.  If we aren’t standing here than we aren’t standing anywhere. Paul says,

And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. (I Cor 15:14-15 NLT)

Without the Resurrection our faith is useless and we descend into nihilism and hedonism. That would be the only reasonable response to a life without the hope of the Resurrection.  But with the Resurrection everything changes.  Life is no longer a descent into senseless hedonism.  Instead it is a revelation of life and hope and joy and strength.  It’s a life of purpose and destiny.  This all comes with the resurrection, but without the resurrection, there is nothing.

So Paul wants to ask – Where do you stand?  Let me encourage you today to stand in the Truth.  This is no fairytale.  This is reality. Let’s plant both of our feet firmly in reality – in the promise and the truth of the Resurrection of Christ.Paul leaves us with these words:

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love. (I Cor 16:13-14 NLT)

Because of the Resurrection we can stand firm, be courageous, strong, and do all things in love.

You are loved!