eternal life

God’s Guarantee of Our Glorification

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 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. – Romans 8:28-30 ESV

There is a method to God’s seeming madness. Let’s be honest, living the Christian life can sometimes be a maddening and quite frustrating experience. We have been promised an abundant life, but at times it can feel as if that promise applies to everyone except us. We face difficulties, experience trials of all kinds, go through hard times, and find ourselves wondering what has gone wrong or where God has gone. Yet, Paul tells us that “all things work together for good.”

But what is good about the loss of your job, your health, or, worse yet, your child? How are we to find any good in the bad experiences of life? Paul tells us it’s a matter of perspective. If we live our lives as if this world is all there is, then we will see the troubles and trials of life as setbacks to our joy. We will end up expecting all the blessings of God in this life and question His love and goodness when anything that doesn’t measure up to those expectations comes our way.

But Paul viewed life from a different perspective, allowing him to see its difficulties from God’s point of view.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. – Romans 8:18 ESV

He had his sights set on something other than this world and had placed his hope in something far greater and far more reliable than anything this world has to offer. He said, “We wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children” (Romans 8:23 NLT). Then he adds, “We were given this hope when we were saved” (Romans 8:24 NLT).

In other words, it is our future glorification for which we must hope and wait because God is not done yet. He has a purpose in mind for us and is faithfully fulfilling His plan concerning us. Which is exactly why Paul wrote, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 ESV).

God’s purpose for us is multifaceted; it has stages. But it also has a culminating or completion point. In this life, we are being “conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29 ESV). Paul reminded the believers in Corinth of this divinely ordained transformation process. ,

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory. – 2 Corinthians 3:18 NET

God’s plan calls for our ongoing transformation or sanctification, but that is only part of the plan. Paul gives us the outline in its glorious entirety: God called us, He justified us, and one day He will glorify us.

But interestingly enough, Paul uses the past tense when referring to our future glorification.

And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. – Romans 8:30 ESV

He uses the aorist active indicative form of the Greek word doxazō, which denotes a simple, completed action in the past rather than an ongoing process. Paul speaks of our glorification as if it has already happened, because it is as good as done; we can trust God to accomplish what He has promised because He is as good as His word. But if we don’t keep our hope focused on the final phase of God’s plan, our future glorification, we will find ourselves struggling to make sense of all that goes on in this life. We will measure the trials and troubles of this life from our limited, earthly, time-bound perspective. 

In this life, God’s goal is to make us increasingly more like His Son. He is transforming us from our earthly, sinful nature into the likeness of His Son, and He can and does use everything to accomplish that goal. This includes the good, the bad, the painful, and the pleasant aspects of this life.

God called us, justified us, is currently sanctifying us, and has effectively already glorified us because it is the final part of His divine plan for us. And while we will experience difficulties in this life, they in no way change or alter the fact that our future glorification is guaranteed. God’s love for us will culminate in His glorification of us, which Paul says includes “the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:23 ESV). That is why, later on in this same chapter, Paul asks, “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?” (Romans 8:35 NLT).  Then Paul provides the answer to his own question:

I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39 NLT

God’s love for us cannot be stopped, and it will not be complete until His plan for us has been fully fulfilled. His love for us is best illustrated in His Son’s death for us. He loved us enough to send His Son to die in our place. But Christ’s death was intended to provide for not only our justification, our being made right with God, but also our future glorification. It is for that hope we wait, and when we keep our hope placed firmly in that reality, we find the strength to endure the difficulties of this life.

We can trust that God has a purpose behind our pain. He has a reason for allowing us to suffer in this life because He is preparing us for the one to come. He is slowly weaning us off our dependence upon this world and getting us ready for the life He has prepared for us. In his first letter to the church in Corinth, Paul quoted from Isaiah 64:4 to describe God’s mysterious and marvelous plan for His beloved children.

No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
    and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
    for those who love him.” – 1 Corinthians 2:7-9 NLT

Father, to You time is non-existent because You live outside its confining bounds. You are eternal, so You see the beginning and the end as if they are one. You are not bound by minutes, hours, months, or years. As Peter wrote, “A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day” (2 Peter 3:8 NLT). You declared through the prophet Isaiah, “Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens.  Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish” (Isaiah 46:9-10 NLT). So, You see my future glorification as a present reality because it is guaranteed by Your faithfulness. You have promised it, so it is as good as done. That is why I need not fear the suffering I may endure in this life. It is why I can count it all joy when I suffer various trials. My future is secure and my glorification is guaranteed — by You. Help me keep my eyes focused on the joy that awaits me because You are the promise-keeping God. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.22

This World Is Not Our Home

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18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. – Romans 8:18-25 ESV

Paul has just told us that we need to accept the reality that, in this life, we will suffer with Christ “in order that we may also be glorified with him” (Romans 8:17 ESV). All of us would love to avoid suffering; that is only natural. But Paul seems to indicate that suffering is part of the process that leads to our future glorification.

Much of the suffering we experience in this lifetime is related to our sanctification, God’s work of transforming us into the likeness of His Son. He is constantly refining and purifying us, making our behavior comport with our status as His sons and daughters. And Paul confidently tells us, “I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Philippians 1:6 NLT).

We are works in progress, and are not yet what we will be. Part of the problem is the earthly bodies in which we are required to live. Paul compared man’s earthly body to a tent, which emphasizes its temporary nature. It is not meant to be permanent but was designed for this world, not the next.

For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. – 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 NLT

As we experience our time-bound existence in these temporary bodies, it is easy to become one-dimensional and focused on this life, all the while forgetting that there is a life to come. But this life is not all there is, and is not all we should think about. As we endure the suffering and distractions of this world, Paul would have us keep our eyes and our faith firmly focused on what God has in store for us. Which is why he said, “What we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later” (Romans 8:18 NLT).

As followers of Christ, we need to constantly remind ourselves that no matter how bad things may get in this life, something unbelievably better awaits us. And even the good things we may experience during our time on this earth are nothing when compared to the glory that awaits us.

Again, what makes focusing on the future so difficult is our earthly bodies. When we suffer, our bodies convince us that nothing good can come from it. We become incapable and sometimes unwilling to consider that God can and does use suffering to sanctify us. Which is why Paul adds the following word of encouragement later in this same chapter:

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. – Romans 8:28 NLT

Whether we realize it or not, our struggles in this life are proof that there is more to come. We will never be fully satisfied with life in this world, and the pain and suffering we experience cause us to long for relief and rescue. Even blessings that come in the form of material or physical things leave us empty because they are temporal and nothing more than a cheap imitation of what is to come. Everything in this world is prone to destruction and decay and will ultimately leave us disappointed because it cannot deliver what it seems to promise. That is why Jesus warned His disciples against placing too much hope in temporal treasures.

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” – Matthew 6:19-21 NLT

Our hearts will find no lasting satisfaction or fulfillment in the things of this earth. In fact, if we’re not careful, the temporal treasures we think will bring us happiness and contentment will actually produce coveteousness, lust, greed, selfishness, and a host of other far-from-righteous characteristics. It is this reality that led Paul to warn the Galatian believers, “Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another” (Galatians 5:26 NLT). He also admonished them for living like they were citizens of this world rather than the one to come.

You are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world? – Galatians 3:3 NLT

Living one-dimensionally can only lead to one thing: an overemphasis on this world. But we were made for glory.  He reminds the believers in Rome that, as children of God, they have an eternal future awaiting them, including glorified bodies that will allow them to live forever. 

We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it.) – Romans 8:24 NLT

When Jesus rose from the dead, He did so in a glorified body that is no longer susceptible to death, and He remains in that glorified body at this very moment. And it will be in that glorified body that He returns one day. The apostle John reminds us that when Christ returns, we will see Him in His glorified human body and recognize that we, too, have been transformed into His likeness. 

Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. – 1 John 3:2 NLT

Paul provided the believers in Corinth with further details concerning this future glorification of our earthly bodies.

…our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.

But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die this Scripture will be fulfilled:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is your victory?
    O death, where is your sting?” – 1 Corinthians 15:50-55 NLT

We are to live with our hope set on the future, not the here-and-now. We cannot see what God has in store for us, but we can hope in it and for it because He has promised it to us. These bodies will decay and die, but we will receive new bodies, redeemed, resurrected bodies that will no longer experience pain, suffering, the process of aging, or the future prospect of death. Our future glory needs to become a present reality for us as God’s children because, as the old hymn states: 

This world is not my home
I’m just a-passing through
My treasures are laid up
Somewhere beyond the blue.
The angels beckon me
From heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home
In this world anymore.
– Jim Reeves, This World Is Not My Home lyrics © Sony/atv Tree Publishing

Father, what a timely reminder. I woke up this morning to a temporal, time-based world. I didn’t sleep well but the alarm went off and I got up anyway. It didn’t help that my temporal, age-bound body ached and my back kept me awake most of the night. As I read through this passage, my sleep-deprived mind was fuzzy, making it difficult to concentrate. Even as I write this prayer, it’s difficult to put a sentence together. But Paul has reminded me that all of this is temporary. There is a new, glorified body awaiting me in the future. I don’t know exactly what that body will look like, but You have promised that it will be pain-free and death-defying. In it, I will experience the glory of Your Kingdom and without the debilitating effects of sin. Thank You for reminding me that “what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later” (Romans 8:18 NLT). Continue to give me the endurance to wait patiently for what You have in store for me. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.22

The Often Overlooked Gift of Eternal Life

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20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:20-23 ESV

When we choose to live as slaves to sin, obeying the desires of our sinful nature, we are “free’ when it comes to doing righteousness. Giving in to our sin nature can make us feel as if we are getting the sense of satisfaction and self-fulfillment we long for, but the real outcome is far from pleasant.

Paul says, “the end of those things is death” (Romans 6:21 ESV), and the “things” to which he refers are not immoral acts. He is addressing the deeds of men who are living apart from a relationship with Christ and attempting to gain a right standing with God through their own human efforts. Their efforts are fruitless because, as the prophet Isaiah reminds us, “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment” (Isaiah 64:6 NLT).

Without faith in the saving work of Christ, men are incapable of doing anything to gain God’s favor. Even their best efforts on their best day are soaked in sin and ultimately deliver the penalty of death. But even believers in Jesus Christ have the capacity to be enslaved to sin again. We can even find ourselves attempting to earn a right standing with God through our own efforts, which, in God’s eyes, is nothing short of sin because it is an act of self-righteousness. Paul warned the Gentile believers in Galatia about this very thing.

Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist. So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world? You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years. – Galatians 4:8-10 NLT

He was concerned they were going to return to their old way of trying to work their way into God’s good graces. But their good deeds, when done in the flesh and apart from the saving work of Jesus Christ, end up being sinful in God’s eyes.

Paul reminds his readers that they “have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God.” They were not just free from the sins of immorality, but also the more dangerous sin of self-sufficiency and self-righteousness. They were now slaves of God because He had redeemed them out of slavery to sin, and the price He paid was the death of His own Son.

You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. – Colossians 2:13-14 NLT

Paul wanted the Galatians to know that they had been bought out of slavery to sin and death, and now they belonged to God; He was their new Master. They lived to do His will, not their own. They had been freed from having to do the will of Satan and their own sinful natures. They were free to obey God and had been given the power to live obediently by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

Paul tells us that “the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life” (Romans 6:22 ESV). Living as slaves of God results in our progressive transformation into the likeness of Christ. By living in the power of His indwelling Spirit and according to His will, we grow in holiness; we become increasingly more set apart and distinct in our spiritual maturity. And ultimately, we will experience our final glorification when we become like Christ – completely sin-free and no longer encumbered by these natural bodies that are driven by sinful desires and prone to decay, disease, and death.

Living under the control of sin and our sinful nature produces nothing but death. In this life, it results in “sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these” (Galatians 5:19-21 NLT). And for those who have not accepted God’s free gift of grace made available through His Son’s sacrificial death, living enslaved to sin in this life will produce spiritual death in the next one because the wages of sin are always death. And the worst form of death is eternal separation from God.

The real outcome of a life enslaved to sin is eternal, never-ending separation from God and His love, grace, and mercy. But “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23 NLT). When we stop relying on self-salvation and turn to God’s plan for making us right with Him, we gain the ability to walk in newness of life now and the promise of eternal life to come. And it is all provided for free; it costs us nothing. However, it cost God the life of His Son.

…you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.” For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose him as your ransom long before the world began… – 1 Peter 1:17-20 NLT

God offered His Son in our place as the sacrificial payment for our sins, and all we have to do is accept His offer of salvation by faith alone in Christ alone. We no longer have to try to earn our salvation. Instead, we simply accept the salvation provided for us by God through Christ. When we do, we enjoy the fruit of our sanctification now and the guarantee of our ultimate glorification in the future.

Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure. – 1 John 3:2-3 NLT

But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. – Philippians 3:20-21 NLT

Father, we sometimes miss the whole point of our salvation by focusing all our attention on the here and now rather that the hereafter. We make it all about this life instead of the one to come. As temporal creatures, we have a difficult time grasping the reality of eternity, so we obsess over the cares and comforts of this life. As a result, we pursue heaven on earth. We want all our blessings immediately and are surprised when the trouble-free life we long for doesn’t show up. But Your Son died so that we might have eternal life, not our best life now. He was focused on the long-term benefits of our sanctification: our ultimate glorification. Even Paul reminded us, “what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are” (Romans 8:18-19 NLT). Our best days are ahead of us. Your plan for our salvation is not yet complete because there is one last step in the process that needs to happen: Your Son’s return and our final transformation into His likeness. Help us focus on the reality of that promise because the best is yet to come. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.22

Power to Save and Sanctify

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19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. 20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. 21 I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.

1 This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 2 I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them— 3 since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God. – 2 Corinthians 12:19-13:4 ESV

Paul was making plans for a third trip to see the Corinthians, and, given all that had transpired since his last visit, he was somewhat apprehensive. He was concerned that he would find them in a less-than-ideal spiritual state. They had obviously been influenced by those he labeled as the “super apostles,” and the degree of their spiritual maturity was somewhat suspect. In some ways, Paul was afraid that things were not much different from what they had been since he had written his first letter to them.

Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world? – 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 NLT

Paul’s greatest concern was for their spiritual growth and maturity. All the time he spent defending his apostleship was not to make himself look better in their eyes, but to get them to realize that he was God-ordained for his ministry and well worth listening to. Unlike his adversaries, he had their best interests at heart. The last thing Paul wanted to find when he arrived was his spiritual children still struggling with the same unresolved issues. He expected to see true life change and signs of repentance and spiritual reformation. He hated the thought of having to spend his time among them, reprimanding and disciplining all those who remained unrepentant and addicted to their former life in the flesh.

While Paul was not anxious or eager to find the Corinthians dealing with their same old problems, he warned them that he was ready to confront their sin in the power of God. If they required proof that he had been sent by God, they were going to get it, in the form of church discipline. But Paul would do things in a godly fashion. Any accusations anyone had against a brother or sister would have to be based on two or three witnesses, just as Jesus had commanded (Matthew 18:15-20). There would be a fair and equitable process, but in the end, Paul would deal with the situation forcefully and unapologetically.

Earlier in this letter, Paul had appealed to them on the basis of the gentleness and meekness of Christ.

Now I, Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ—though I realize you think I am timid in person and bold only when I write from far away. Well, I am begging you now so that when I come I won’t have to be bold with those who think we act from human motives.– 2 Corinthians 10:1-2 NLT

But it appears that Paul wasn’t overly confident that they would listen to his pleas. He would have to “show boldness,” and they would have to witness the power of Christ exhibited through Paul’s authoritative, disciplinary actions. He was going to get their attention and prove to them once and for all that he was speaking on behalf of Christ.

Paul reminds them that Christ was crucified in weakness. In other words, He was beaten, humiliated, tortured, and nailed to a cross in his human flesh. He slowly bled out. He gradually and painfully asphyxiated as his lungs filled with fluid, and he had to push down with his nail-pierced feet in order to take his next breath. This had gone on for hours, until He had finally breathed his last breath and died. But Paul reminds them that Jesus had not remained dead; He was resurrected by the power of God and “lives by the power of God” (2 Corinthians 13:4 NLT).

Paul warns that they would experience the same power when he came to them. Even in his human weakness, Paul was indwelt by the Holy Spirit, the one who raised Jesus from the dead. Upon his arrival, Paul would use that power to ensure that the Corinthians remained true to their faith in Christ, so that they might one day experience the resurrection of their bodies and enjoy all the joys of eternal life that Jesus promised.

Paul delivered a similar message about the resurrection power of the Spirit to the believers in Rome.

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. – Romans 8:11 NLT

For Paul, the important matter was how you finished the race, not how you started it. Coming to faith in Christ was wonderful, but the Christian life was intended to be a journey with a final destination. The goal was to finish well, and the only way to do it was to rely on the power of God for daily strength and discipline.

For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child. – Hebrews 12:6 NLT

My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline,
    and don’t be upset when he corrects you.
For the Lord corrects those he loves,
    just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. – Proverbs 3:11-12 NLT

The power of God guides and directs, empowers and protects, and disciplines and corrects. The One who called us is powerful enough to keep us and ensure that what He began, He will complete.

Father, than You for this much-needed reminder of Your power to save and transform. You don’t just forgive our sins, but You also provide us with the capacity to live righteous lives. You make our pursuit of holiness possible, even while we live in a fallen world and do daily battle with our sinful flesh. We are no longer slaves to sin because Christ delivered us from its control through His death on the cross. And, as Jesus said, “If the Son sets you free, you are truly free” (John 8:36 NLT). So, through the indwelling presence of Your Spirit, would You continue to provide me with strength and the motivation to live freely, faithfully, and powerfully as Your child, looking eagerly to the day when my salvation will be completed with my glorification. Because You are not only powerful, but You are faithful to finish what You began. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Be of Good Courage

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6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. – 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 ESV

Why do you do the things you do? Most likely, it is either to please yourself or to please someone else. We are either motivated by self-satisfaction or some form of people-pleasing. We are out to make ourselves feel good or to ensure that others feel good about us. But Paul introduces another motivating factor for the believer: pleasing God.

More than anything else, we should desire to do what pleases our Heavenly Father. Paul knew that a life of holiness, living set apart and consecrated to God and His purposes, was what pleased Him. He wrote to the Thessalonians: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification…” (1 Thessalonians 4:3a ESV). God desires His people to be holy and distinctively different in their attitudes and actions. He wants them to live according to His will and in keeping with the godly guidance of His indwelling Holy Spirit.

The apostle Peter described the life of holiness as “doing good.”

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. – 1 Peter 2:15-16 ESV

He went on to say that we must abstain from certain ungodly behaviors such as sexual immorality and lustful passions. But while we “put off” unrighteousness, we must “put on” godliness. Paul echoed this sentiment when he wrote, “For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you” (1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 ESV).

To refuse to live a holy life is to disregard the very will of God for you. It is to willingly disobey and displease Him. But Paul insists that his primary objective in life was to please God. That was how he maintained his motivation even when doing the right thing produced the wrong reaction from others. He found the strength to endure injustice and abuse for doing God’s will because his real goal was to please God, not man.

Peter claimed that suffering was an expected part of living a godly life.

But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you. For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. – 1 Peter 2:20-21 NLT

Just as Christ suffered for doing what was right and godly, so shall we. We should not be surprised when pursuing a life of godliness in an ungodly world brings godless reactions from ungodly people.

But Paul was of good courage. Even though he found life on earth to be difficult at times, he was encouraged by his belief in the afterlife. He was buoyed by God’s promise of a life to come, and his conviction about the eternal state enabled him to live by faith, not by sight. Like the author of Hebrews, Paul knew that faith was “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 ESV). If we live as if this world is all there is, we will lose sight of all that God has promised us for the future. But waiting on what we can’t see requires faith. That is what the 11th chapter of Hebrews is all about. The author chronicles the lives of Old Testament saints such as Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah and declares that their lives demonstrated faith in the promises of God. But he goes on to reveal, “All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth” (Hebrews 11:13 NLT). 

Each of them had received a promise from God, yet they had to operate sight unseen, having no firm assurance that what God had promised would be fulfilled. And in most cases, they never lived to see the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise. Noah lived through the flood that destroyed the world, but did not live to see the world repopulated and restored by God. Abraham had moved to Canaan because God had promised it to him as his inheritance, but he died a landless nomad. Yet, he was “confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God” (Hebrews 11:10 NLT).

Paul was convinced that faith was essential if anyone wanted to live a life that pleased God, because “it is impossible to please God without faith” (Hebrews 11:6a NLT).

Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. – Hebrews 11:6 NLT.

Paul found courage in the fact that God had promised him eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ. He was encouraged by Jesus’ promise to return one day. Paul found hope in the promise of a redeemed and resurrected body, and he longed for the day when he would vacate his earthly “tent” and move into his new body, a “house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (1 Corinthians 5:1b ESV).

But in the meantime, while he waited for the return of Christ or his own death, he made it his aim to live his life to please God. That meant he had to stop trying to please others or himself. He knew that there would come a day when his actions would be judged by God.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. – 1 Corinthians 5:10 ESV

On that day, every believer’s conduct in this life will be judged – every thought, action, attitude, and word will be exposed. Everything we have done since the day we accepted Christ as Savior will be assessed and evaluated as to whether it was good or evil. This has nothing to do with judgment for sin, because all our sins have been paid for by Christ. It is about whether what we have done in this life since coming to faith in Christ was godly or ungodly, righteous or unrighteous, and pleasing or displeasing to God. Did we live our lives in keeping with His will? Since His will for us is our holiness, did we allow that to be our motivating factor? Was pleasing Him our aim?

Our actions and attitudes will reveal whether our lives were pleasing to God. How we lived our lives will expose whether we were trying to please Him or whether we were living to please ourselves or others. Paul’s aim was to please God – even in this life. He made it his life-long objective to do the will of God, to live holy and set apart, and to do good even when it produced less-than-desirable outcomes. He lived by faith, not by sight, trusting in the reality of what he hoped for, yet couldn’t see: heaven and his resurrected body.

Paul actually looked forward to the judgment seat of Christ, because he was confident that his aim in life had been to please God. He was attempting to do the will of God, not men. He was striving to please God, not himself. And while that kind of lifestyle might result in troubles and tribulations in this life, it promised rewards in the life to come. Paul looked forward to hearing the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21 ESV).

Father, I want to live my life to please You, but I don’t want to do it because I think I have to earn Your favor. You have already proven Your love for me by sending Your Son to die in my place on the cross. So my attempts to please You should not be to score brownie points with You. They should be expressions of gratitude for all that You have done for me and all that You have in store for me in the future. When I live with my eyes fixed on the hope of the resurrection and the promise of eternal life, I am pleasing to You. That required faith because I can’t see the future. So, whenever I display “assurance of things hoped for” and “the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 ESV), I am living by faith and that is pleasing to You. Help me to remember to live with the end in mind, to place my faith in Your unwavering promises for my future. I have nothing to fear and everything to look forward to. Thank You! Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Running With Endurance and Expectation

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13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. – 2 Corinthians 4:13-18 ESV

What Paul taught, he fully believed, and his belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ is what fueled his ministry and personal life. It was also his firm, unwavering belief in the reality of our future redemption and glorification that motivated all his efforts. Quoting from Psalm 116:10, Paul says, “I believed, and so I spoke.” To understand why Paul chose this particular verse from this particular psalm, it is essential to recall what Paul has been discussing with the Corinthians.

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. – 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 ESV

In these three verses, Paul describes the nature of his earthly ministry that was difficult and, at times, dangerous. No doubt, Paul chose to quote from Psalm 116 because it had become near and dear to his heart during those many times of trials and troubles. The second part of the verse he quoted reveals that this psalm carried special meaning for Paul.

I believed, even when I spoke:
“I am greatly afflicted” – Psalm 116:10 ESV

Even during his times of difficulty, Paul’s cries of despair were driven by his belief in God. The psalmist shared Paul’s faith in the sovereignty and compassionate mercy of God.

I love the Lord, because he has heard
    my voice and my pleas for mercy.
Because he inclined his ear to me,
    therefore I will call on him as long as I live. – Psalm 116:1-12 ESV

For you have delivered my soul from death,
    my eyes from tears,
    my feet from stumbling;
I will walk before the Lord
    in the land of the living. – Psalm 116:8-9 ESV

What shall I render to the Lord
    for all his benefits to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
    and call on the name of the Lord,
I will pay my vows to the Lord
    in the presence of all his people. – Psalm 116:12-14 ESV

Paul had experienced the mercy of God not only in his conversion but also in the everyday struggles of life. His awareness of the Lord’s constant and compassionate intervention became part of the message he shared with others. He wanted them to know that his efforts on their behalf were motivated by his firm belief in the Lord’s providential involvement in his life.

He assures the Corinthians that his ministry among them was done for their sake.

All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. – 2 Corinthians 4:15 NLT

The greater good of men and the glory of God were what motivated his efforts. And it was these two things that prevented him from losing heart or becoming discouraged, no matter how much difficulty he faced.

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. – 2 Corinthians 4:16 NLT

Paul could relate to the reflections of the psalmist.

How kind the Lord is! How good he is!
    So merciful, this God of ours!
The Lord protects those of childlike faith;
    I was facing death, and he saved me.
Let my soul be at rest again,
    for the Lord has been good to me. – Psalm 116:5-7 NLT

Paul was buoyed by the mercy and grace of God. He believed in God’s presence and trusted in His power. Yes, his body was dying, and he knew what it was like to suffer physically as he performed his ministry, but he found hope in the knowledge that God was with him in this life and would one day reward him with eternal life. From Paul’s perspective, his suffering was nothing more than “light momentary affliction” (2 Corinthians 4:17 ESV). In the grand scheme of things, the trials of this life were small and of limited duration, “Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” (2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT).

He chose to view his earthly struggles from a positive, rather than a negative, perspective. They would be short-lived but have a long-lasting influence on his life. In his letter to the believers in Rome, he reminded them that their temporal suffering was nothing when compared with the future glory God had in store for them.

…if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. – Romans 8:17-19 NLT

Suffering precedes glory. Jesus believed it and demonstrated it in His own life. He endured the cross before He received the crown. That is why He promised that this life would have its difficulties (John 16:33), but He also assured us that this life is not all there is; there is more to come. And it was Paul’s belief in the reality of the resurrection and its guarantee of our future redemption that kept him going.

So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. – 2 Corinthians 4:18 NLT

It is our faith in the future that gives us strength in the present. Having a future-focused faith keeps us from fixating on our troubles and trials, as if they are reality and heaven is nothing more than a fantasy. Paul reminds us, “the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever” (2 Corinthians 4:18 NLT).

Like a runner who keeps his eyes on the finish line, we are to run the race of life with endurance. We must be willing to suffer the pains and difficulties associated with this world because we believe the reward at the end of the race will be well worth the effort.

The writer of Hebrews provides us with some powerful words of motivation:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. – Hebrews 12:1-4 NLT

Father, too oftern I buy into the enemy’s life that this life is all there is. Even though I believe in the promise of the resurrection and the reality of eternal life, I find myself trying to turn this world into my personal “heaven.” I want to experience all the abundant life Your Son promised but I want it now. and on my own terms. Then, when things don’t turn out quite the way I expected, I find myself questioning Your goodness or doubting Your promises. I end up inflating the light momentary afflictions I face and forgetting about the future glory that awaits me. I take my eye off the prize and forget why I was running the race to begin with. Help me to maintain my focus and remember that I am running with a destination in mind. There is an end to this race, and the reward will far outweigh any pain and suffering I may have to endure along the way. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The God of All Comfort

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1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. – 2 Corinthians 1:1-7 ESV

As the title of this letter indicates, this is a second letter that Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth. Some time between the writing of the first letter and the receipt of this second one, Paul had been able to visit Corinth. Evidently, things had not gone well. His visit had been painful for both Paul and the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 2:1). There were still those in Corinth who opposed Paul and questioned his apostleship and, therefore, his authority. Later in this second letter, Paul addresses those who stood against him.

This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them—since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. – 2 Corinthians 13:1-2 ESV

It appears that Paul wrote a third letter, now lost, that he sent to the Corinthians sometime before writing 2 Corinthians. He refers to this lost letter several times.

I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you. – 2 Corinthians 2:3-4 ESV

For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. – 2 Corinthians 7:8-9 ESV

So, Paul wrote 2 Corinthians to encourage the congregation there and to continue his efforts to refute the accusations of an influential minority who questioned his authority and undermined his ministry in Corinth.

But before Paul addresses the issues in Corinth, he spends some time reminding the Corinthians of who he is and what he has endured as an apostle of Jesus Christ. His journey has not been easy. His ministry to them and to the other churches he helped found has not been without its problems. But Paul is not complaining. He is simply stating the facts and letting them know that he is grateful for the opportunity to serve them and for receiving comfort from God Himself. In verses 3-7, Paul will use a variation of the word “comfort” ten times. He will refer to “affliction” or “suffering” seven times. And each time he applies these words to himself and the other men who minister alongside him.

These opening verses offer an autobiographical look at Paul’s life and ministry as he faithfully ministered the gospel, in keeping with the commission he had received from the risen Christ.

Paul refers to God as “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV). First of all, God is compassionate and merciful, but He is also comforting. The Greek word Paul uses is paraklesis, and it means consolation, encouragement, or refreshment. Notice its similarity to the Greek word used for the Holy Spirit: paraklētos.

Before His crucifixion, Jesus told the disciples, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper (paraklētos), to be with you forever” (John 14:16 ESV). He refers to the coming Holy Spirit as an advocate, comforter, and intercessor. The Holy Spirit, as the third member of the Trinity, shares the same nature as God the Father and Christ the Son. And Paul experienced this comforting presence in his life as he faced the trials and afflictions that accompanied his gospel ministry.

Paul had learned to expect opposition and affliction; it came with the territory. But he rejoiced because his affliction was always accompanied by the comfort of God.

…we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. – Romans 5:3-5 ESV

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known… – Colossians 1:24-25 ESV

Paul saw his sufferings as reflective of his relationship with Christ and a tangible expression of the bond he shared with his Savior.

For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. – 2 Corinthians 1:5 NLT

Paul’s sufferings were not caused by sin; they were the result of his obedience to the will of Christ. He was suffering as Christ did, for doing the will of the Father. The affliction he endured was due to obedience, not disobedience. Therefore, he could rely on the comfort and mercy of the Father. This included having his apostleship rejected by those in Corinth. As long as he was doing the will of God, Paul knew he would face opposition and experience difficulties. But he would also receive the comfort and encouragement of God, which he willingly passed on to others.

Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. – 2 Corinthians 1:6 NLT

Paul suffered, and so would they. He was comforted by God, and he passed that encouragement on to the Corinthians.

Jesus told His disciples, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:34 NLT). And just after Paul was converted on the road to Damascus, Jesus told Ananias to go and anoint him, saying, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake” (Acts 9:15-16 NLT). Suffering is an inevitable and unavoidable part of the Christian life, but so is the comfort of God. That thought should bring us courage.

Paul’s strange message of comfort in the face of affliction was not reserved just for the Corinthians. It was something he shared with all believers, including those in Rome, because suffering for Christ isn’t just a possibility, it’s an inevitability. 

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. – Romans 5:3-5 NLT

As Jesus said, “You will have many trials and sorrows,” but we can take heart because He has “overcome the world” (John 16:34 NLT) and we serve God, “the source of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3 NLT).

Father, no one likes trials, difficulties, and sorrow. In fact, we avoid them like the plague. Yet, they are an unavoidable and inevitable part of living in a fallen world that is marred by sin. Yet, Your Son said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10 ESV). I have always struggled with that verse because it seems to promise Christ-followers a trouble-free existence. But 70 years of life have convinced me He must have had something else in mind. Your Son didn’t come to earth and die on the cross so we could have out best life now; He came that we might have a life free from the condemnation of sin and the threat of eternal separation from You, His life, death, burial, and resurrection have given us new life that will one day result in eternal life. That is how we endure the any present pain and suffering we face. We keep our eye on the prize, the promise of a world made new and a sin-free existence in Your presence. And in the meantime, You extend Your mercy and provide us with comfort, and for that I am grateful. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Reality of the Resurrection

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20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 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 excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 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. – 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 ESV

Whether or not some of the Corinthians wanted to believe in the possibility of the resurrection of the dead, Paul was unequivocally certain that Jesus had done just that. As far as he was concerned, it was a non-contestable fact, and he had firsthand knowledge of its reality. Paul had personally encountered the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, and it had radically changed his life (Acts 9:1-7).

As Paul stated earlier, after Jesus was resurrected, He appeared to hundreds of individuals and, “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 of God” (1 Corinthians 15:8-9 ESV. When Mary Magdalene and Mary visited Jesus’ burial site that fateful Sunday morning, they found the stone had been rolled away and the tomb empty. But their shock and dismay was quited by the words of the angel. 

“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.” – Matthew 28:5-7 NLT

As far as Paul was concerned, this was not a point open to discussion or debate; it was a fact, and one for which Paul was willing to give his life.

It was the resurrection of Jesus that made it possible for sinful men and women to be restored to a right relationship with a holy God. His resurrection proved that His sacrifice had been accepted by God, and because God was satisfied with His Son’s payment, He was able to justify sinful men and women, forgive their sins, and declare them righteous in His eyes. The resurrection of Jesus is essential to the gospel message.

The first Adam, through his sin, brought death into the world, but Jesus came to rectify that problem. Paul clarifies the difference between Adam and Jesus in his letter to the Romans.

For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. – Romans 5:17-19 ESV

Adam brought sin and condemnation to humanity; his transgression resulted in death for all. But Jesus, through His death, made possible new life and forgiveness of sins. But had He not risen from the dead, none of that would have been possible. He would have been nothing more than a martyr, not the Messiah and Savior of the world. But Jesus was physically resurrected from the dead. The tomb was empty. He had a physical body and was seen and recognized by many who talked with Him and even shared a meal with Him. He was not a spirit without a body. However, His body, in its resurrected state, was different than before. But He ate with the disciples and could be touched by them. He had a tangible, corporeal body.

Paul’s point is that we will one day experience the very same thing when we receive our new resurrected bodies. Will our bodies appear just as they did at the point of our death? If I die at 80, will I be eternally an octogenarian in heaven? If a child dies at seven, will he or she bear that likeness throughout eternity? The Scriptures don’t answer these questions. But we are told that we will receive new bodies.

Later in the same chapter, Paul elaborates on the idea of our new, resurrected bodies. He wants to address the confusion and concerns the Corinthians have over the whole idea of dead bodies being given new life.

 But someone may ask, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?” What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first. And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting. – 1 Corinthians 15:35-37 NLT

The point is that there is a body made for this earth and a body that God has intended for eternity. Our earthly bodies are designed to wear out, die, and decompose. But our heavenly bodies will be eternal and indestructible. He goes on to explain the difference.

Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies. – 1 Corinthians 15:43-44 NLT

The designated day on which we will receive our heavenly bodies is at the resurrection of the dead, an event that has yet to take place. It is on that occasion that God will consummate His redemptive plan. Paul states that the “last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:26 ESV). With the resurrection of our bodies, we will no longer be susceptible to death. We will experience eternal life, free from all fear of death, physical or spiritual.

In his letter to the Thessalonian believers, Paul offered them hope regarding the reality of the resurrection of the dead.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words. –
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NLT

When Paul refers to the dead believers rising from their graves, he is talking about their newly resurrected bodies, not their souls. Their souls have been with God in heaven since their death. But they, along with all those who are alive when the Lord returns, will be given their newly glorified bodies that are imperishable and incorruptible.

For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. – 1 Corinthians 15:53 NLT

The truth is, there will be a resurrection from the dead, and Jesus was the firstfruits, “the first of a great harvest of all who have died” (1 Corinthians 15:20 NLT). His resurrection gives us confidence and hope that we, too, will share that same fate. We will experience resurrection just as He did, and that will take place when He returns for His church at the rapture. Paul described the scene in his first letter to the Thessalonians.

…we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. – 1 Thessalonians 4:17 NLT

This will be followed by the seven years of the Tribulation, which will culminate with the second coming of Christ. Then the millennial Kingdom of Christ will begin, when He will rule for a thousand years on earth, bringing everyone and everything under His subjection. At the end of that period of time, He will turn over all power and authority to God the Father. Satan will be defeated once and for all, and the reign of sin and death will end.

That is the truth, and it should bring us hope, joy, and confidence in the future. God’s will will be done. Christ’s mission will be completed. And we will be resurrected.

Father, Paul said that “in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling” (2 Corinthians 5:2 BSB). He’s right. The older I get, the more I realize that my earthly body is nothing more than a temporary vessel that houses my eternal soul. It isn’t meant to last and that becomes increasingly clear with each passing birthday. Sickness, injury, disease, and death are constant realities. But You have another reality in store for those of us who have placed our faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Your Son. We will experience the same miraculous resurrection and glorification that He did. He was the first, but we will be part of the countless host of faithful followers who will be as He is. “He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own” (Philippians 3:21 NLT). Thank You for the assurance and hope we have in Jesus because You raised Him from the dead and one day He is coming back. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

He Arose!

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12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 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. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. – 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 ESV

Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is essential to the gospel message. Paul spent the entire opening paragraph of this chapter making that point clear. He claims that the Corinthians had believed the gospel message, including the part concerning Christ’s resurrection. Yet some in the Corinthian church rejected the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead. This may have been due to their dualistic background. In their minds, the body was deemed to be evil and non-spiritual. So the idea of the body someday being resurrected or redeemed made no sense to them. Yet Paul regularly taught the resurrection of the body. In his second letter to the believers in Corinth, he wrote:

For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. – 2 Corinthians 5:1-15 NLT

He assured the believers in Rome:

…we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. – Romans 8:23-24 ESV

As far as Paul was concerned, the resurrection would involve both our body and soul. We will be glorified. We will be resurrected from the dead just as Jesus was. And yet, there were some of the Corinthians who rejected that idea. They had a difficult time believing that God would redeem and glorify their bodies. So Paul attempts to address their concerns and misconceptions in a logical and methodical manner. He delivers his defense of the resurrection in a simple, matter-of-fact way.

For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. – 1 Corinthians 15:13-14 NLT

In other words, if they wanted to reject the idea of the resurrection of the body from the dead, they would be contradicting the firsthand testimony of more than 500 eyewitnesses, including Paul himself. Paul has already reminded them that when stated Jesus walked from the tomb with a resurrected body, He was seen and recognized by hundreds of individuals, including Paul himself. He had seen Jesus in His resurrected body on the road to Damascus (Acts 9).

Earlier in this letter, Paul stated what was of “first importance.” Jesus died, was buried, was raised on the third day, then He appeared to Peter, the disciples, more than 500 believers at one time, to James, and to all the apostles. And He did all this in His resurrected body, which was recognizable to all who saw Him. Even the wounds from the nails and spear were still visible (John 20:27). To deny the doctrine of the resurrection of the body was to reject the resurrection of Jesus. And without the resurrection, there is no gospel. There is no good news. Paul exposed the serious consequences of their logic.

If the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. – 1 Corinthians 15:16 ESV

But it gets even worse than that.

And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. – 1 Corinthians 15:17 NLT 

In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! – 1 Corinthians 15:18 NLT

The resurrection of Jesus proved that His death had satisfied the just demands of God. His substitutionary sacrifice atoned for humanity’s sins, and God affirmed His acceptance of it by raising His Son back to life.

In his letter to the church in Philippi, Paul wrote:

…he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. – Philippians 2:9-11 ESV).

The resurrection of Jesus was essential to His glorification.

Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. – Romans 8:34 ESV

Because Jesus was raised from the dead and sits at the right hand of the Father, we have hope. We have assurance that there is more to life than this temporary earthly existence. Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension demonstrated that our future glorification will not take place in this life, but in the one to come.

In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while [in this life], he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. – 1 Peter 5:10 NLT

But if we reject the reality of the resurrection, we have no hope. Paul puts it in blunt terms: “if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world” (1 Corinthians 15:19 NLT). We are to be pitied because we still face death and the condemnation that comes as a result of our sins. Without the resurrection, our sin debt remains unpaid, and a death sentence still hangs over our heads.

We may not be able to explain the resurrection. We may have difficulty understanding exactly how God will bring it about. But its reality is assured, and our hope in it is essential. That is why the author of Hebrews described faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 ESV). It is the resurrection of Jesus that enables us to have faith in what we hope for—our own future resurrection. It allows us to believe in what we can’t see – the future redemption of our bodies. Because He lives, we can trust that we will one day live with Him.

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone,
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives! –  Bill Gaither, Because He Lives

Father, the concept of the resurrection is difficult for our finite, earthbound minds to grasp. In this life, we watch our bodies decay and we witness the daily reminder that death is inevitable and avoidable. Yet, You have provided a way for us to have victory over death. Through the death, burial, and resurrection of Your Son, You have not only paid the penalty for sins of mankind, but You have proven that the promise of eternal life is real. As the old hymn states, “Up from the grave He arose with a mighty triumph o’er His foes. He arose a Victor from the dark domain and He lives forever with His saints to reign.” That is our hope and we count on it because You are a faithful, covenant-keeping God. With Peter, I say, “All praise to You, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by Your great mercy that we have been born again, because You raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for us, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through our faith, You are protecting us by Your power until we receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see” (1 Peter 1:3-5 NLT). Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Completion, Not Competition Is the Goal

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24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. – 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV

The Christian life is not a competition. It does not pit one believer against another in some kind of race for spiritual supremacy or religious recognition. Christians are not to compare themselves with one another to prove that they are somehow more spiritually superior or further along in their faith. So, Paul’s words in these closing verses of chapter nine are not intended to encourage a spirit of competition between brothers and sisters in Christ. Instead, he is calling believers to strive in the “race” of life. But his emphasis is on completion, not competition.

Paul wants the Corinthians to live their lives with purpose, keeping the ultimate goal of their salvation in mind. It was the way he lived his own life and the reason he told Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8 ESV).

Paul knew there was more to existence than his earthly, temporal life. He had a strong sense of the eternal and lived with the constant awareness that his days on earth were numbered. The older he got, the more he realized the end of his earthly existence was drawing closer. He even told Timothy, “The time of my departure has come” (2 Timothy 4:6 ESV). He knew that he would die one day and be called to stand before God, where his efforts at running the race on this earth would be judged and rewarded. So as long as he drew breath, he ran with purpose, with his eyes on the ultimate goal. He wanted to finish the race well and was unconcerned about whether he came in first or last place. He simply wanted to give his all for the cause of Christ.

When Paul talks about “the prize”, he is referring to the award given to the victor who participated in the Greek games. It was typically a crown of garlands, but Paul is using the word metaphorically to refer to our heavenly prize: eternal life. It is the same word he used when writing to the Philippian believers.

But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. –Philippians 3:13-14 ESV

The goal of our existence is eternal in nature and is not about earthly superiority, comfort, convenience, pleasure, recognition, or temporal rewards. Our reward doesn’t come in this life; it is reserved for the life to come. We may experience God’s blessings here, but the best is yet to come. So, Paul tells us to run with our eyes fixed on the prize, keeping the proper goal in mind.

This requires self-discipline and a determination to not let yourself be distracted or deterred from your goal. It requires training and persistent practice. Again, Paul encouraged his young protégé, Timothy, to remain committed to the cause of Christ.

Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules. – 2 Timothy 2:3-5 NLT

We have to stay focused because distractions are a constant threat to those of us who are running the race of life as believers. The world would have us pursue other goals and tempt us with different finish lines. We could easily make our lives all about success or significance. We could spend all our time pursuing pleasure and prosperity. We could be driven to win the prize of temporal happiness rather than eternal joy. So Paul tells us to run purposefully, not aimlessly. He encourages us to remain committed to crossing the finish line that God has set for us. The author of Hebrews gives us similar words of encouragement.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. – Hebrews 12:1 NLT

Competitive runners have every right to eat what they want. After all, they expend far more calories than the average person. And because they put so much stress and strain on their bodies, they have the right to sleep in and take it easy. But the most dedicated and determined runners don’t do those things. Instead, they discipline their bodies and forego their rights so that they may gain the prize. To achieve victory, they give up their temporal desires, and that is how it should be with us as believers. We should never let our earthly rights and privileges get in the way of the pursuit of our eternal reward. And because our life on this earth is to be done in the context of community, we are to run the race collectively, not independently.

Paul wanted all the Corinthians to finish strong. He was their coach and cheerleader, running alongside them, urging them on, and keeping them focused on the prize. We are to do the same for one another.

This mindset was demonstrated at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Brazil. During one of the longer races in the track and field competition, two young ladies were inadvertently tripped up as all the competitors jockeyed for position. They both fell to the track, ending their hopes of advancing to the next round of competition. But then, in a demonstration of sportsmanship, one of the runners got up and reached down to help her fallen competitor get to her feet. Together, they made their way slowly and painfully around the track until they were able to cross the finish line together.

That is the picture that comes into my mind when I read these words from Paul. At some point, we have to focus our attention on completing rather than competing. We have to make it our aim to finish the race, whatever the cost, because the reward that awaits us is well worth the effort. But along the way, we need to care for those who are running at our side. We should desire to see them make it to the end as well.

Paul would have us run with endurance the race God has set before us, but never to run while ignoring all those who run beside us. Our obsession with crossing the finish line should never be at the expense of other believers who might need our encouragement and assistance along the way.

Father, sometimes we become so focused on the prize that we forget that we need to run the race to receive it. We know that our eternal salvation has been paid for by Christ and is guaranteed by God the Father. But that assurance of salvation can lead to apathy and spiritual laziness in this life. I think that is why Paul stresses the idea of running the race. It is not that I have to earn or win my salvation; that was taken care of by Christ. But I can’t afford to rest on my laurels and live as if there is nothing more for me to do. Paul is calling me to a life marked by determination and a commitment to honor Christ in all that I do. Eternity is the prize and it awaits me at the end of my life. But I want to live like the prize matters. I want it to motivate and determine my actions and attitudes. Help me to run hard and finish well. But never let me ignore all those who are running alongside me in the race of life. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.