Posted on 04/22/2016 8:47:44 AM PDT by metmom
“Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand” (1 Corinthians 15:1).
The true church has consistently testified to the power of the Resurrection.
Kenneth Scott Latourette observed in his History of the Expansion of Christianity: “It was the conviction of the resurrection of Jesus which lifted his followers out of the despair into which his death had cast them and which led to the perpetuation of a movement begun by him.” This statement was true for the church at Corinth, even with its many problems.
The apostle Paul opens his well-known chapter on the Resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15 by implicitly affirming the Corinthians’ testimony to that doctrine. Simply by receiving the gospel and having their lives transformed, the believers at Corinth demonstrated the reality of Jesus’ resurrection. And that resurrection is what empowered the gospel. Paul did not need to explicitly remind the Corinthians of Christ’s rising to life until verse 4, “He was raised on the third day.” The apostle was confident at the outset that the Corinthians had already believed in the truth of the Lord’s resurrection.
The fact that the Corinthian church continued to exist, though beset with problems of immaturity and other weaknesses, was a solid witness to the power of the gospel of the risen Christ. Only a living Savior could have converted some of the hardened sinners of Corinth—extortioners, idolaters, the sexually immoral—into a community of the redeemed. Paul was concerned and distressed about many of the things that did and did not happen in the church at Corinth, but he did not hesitate to call the core group of members there “brethren.”
In spite of many challenges from skepticism, persecution, heresy, and unfaithfulness, the church through the centuries has continued to testify to the reality of Christ’s resurrection. The true church celebrates that truth often, not just on Easter Sunday. Actually, because the church gathers on Sunday, the Lord’s Day, the first day of the week (when Jesus rose), we remember the Resurrection every week. Praise the Lord for that reminder the next time you worship on the Lord’s Day.
Suggestions for Prayer
Thank God that His church was faithful in the past to testify to the truth of the Resurrection.
For Further Study
Read Acts 4, and list some things that suggest a testimony to the power of the Resurrection.
Absolutely!!!!
Glory to God, and which is simply contextual exegesis, and which focus on the church as the body of Christ proceeds into the next chapter. And which is characteristic of Paul ever since he was charged with persecuting Christ by persecuting His church then Paul. Moreover, considering the centrality and fundamental critical importance of the Cath Eucharist, then surely the practice and doctrine of the Catholic Eucharist with its NT priests would be clearly and often described in the life of the NT church, from Acts to Revelation, especially in the light of the many descriptions, teachings and exhortations and commendations and criticisms and solutions for problems which are given it. And with its descriptions of pastoral work.
But in the entire record of acts and life of the NT church, which are interpretive of the gospels, we have no manifest description of the Catholic Eucharist, the sober formal ritual administered by a sacerdotal class of clergy distinctively titled "priests." Breaking of bread is only mentioned 4 times in Acts, but as a communal meal eaten with gladness and singleness of heart, not a somber sacrifice for sins offered at the hands of priest. Likewise in the only other books in which it is described, which is only 1 Cor. and Jude, the latter simply calling it a "feast of charity."
But like the distinctive sacerdotal priesthood and so many other Cath beliefs, the Cath Eucharist is unseen in the life of the very church which she audaciously claims to be!
Meanwhile, I think even most evangelical churches, who contritely, somberly think of the Lord's death in taking part in the Lord's supper with a piece of bread and bit of grape juice, largely miss the depth of meaning in remembering the Lord's death by being manifestly treating the other faithful blood-bought saints as members of that body, which the communal breaking of bread signifies (not that I always treat the faithful as members for whom Christ died). And by likewise excluding those who by behavior "separate themselves [from the body], sensual, having not the Spirit," (Jude 19) or believers who will-fully walk in impenitent manifest sin, as described:
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth... But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. (1 Corinthians 5:8,11) Though not being clearly manifest, by inference this commemorative feast may refer to the Lord's supper, though again, the body is the church: "purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover sacrificed for us."(v. 7)
Actually, Elsie is not a Catholic, but was posting in parody as a "Catholic_Wannabe_Dude," arguing as they do. It is the latter who continue to post provocative distinctive Cath teachings, including arguing that since Rome gave us the Bible, which she is did not, then she is the authorative infallible interpreter of it, which logic invalidates the very NT church she presumes to represent, since it began in dissent from the historical magisterial stewards of Scripture.
However, it is the one true church, the corporate body of Christ, that testifies to the resurrection and thus to the living God, as it alone 100% always consists of born again believers, which is a result of the resurrection of Christ by faith in the resurrected Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God, and to which Scripture testifies.
quote-Though not being clearly manifest, by inference this commemorative feast may refer to the Lord’s supper, though again, the body is the church: “purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover sacrificed for us.”(v. 7)
The feast Paul is speaking about to the Corinthians is a couple- The Feast of Passover(14th Day) the Feast of Unleavened Bread (15th-21st Days)
The Feast of Unleavened Bread begins on the 15th Day of the Father’s 1st month. It is a Sabbath.
It is the day before the Lamb was slain for the Sins of the World, which according to Scripture, is the 14th Day of the 1st month. The Lamb was to be slain at sunset/twilight (Exodus
12:6)
But to confirm not one jot or tittle would be broken from the Law, the Father sent the supernatural darkness that Passover almost 2,000 years ago, so the Lamb of God would be slain in the dark, to fulfill prophecy.
That is why Paul called Him our Passover Lamb (1 Cor 5:7), and spoke of unleavened bread (1 Cor 5:8) and First Fruits (1 Cor 20:15) to those who have fallen asleep.
The gospel Paul taught to those Corinthians in 1 Cor 15-
He died for our sins, according to Scipture, on Passover, the 14th Day (Leviticus 23:5)
He was buried that day and laid in the tomb all day on the 1st Day of Unleavened Bread, the 15th Day (Leviticus 23:6)
And He rose from the grave the 3rd Day, According to Scripture. That 3rd Day is the 16th Day, the Feast of First Fruits. The day after the Sabbath (Leviticus 23:10-11)
The Word made flesh. According to Scripture. The Old Testament Scriptures.
By the way, Today is the 16th Day. The Day after the Sabbath. The Feast of First Fruits/Wave Sheaf (Leviticus 23:10-11), according to Scripture. The commemoration of His Resurrection. He is risen!
That was Paul’s gospel. which gospel is taught today?
Rome’s with Good Friday or Paul’s with Passover (14th)?
Rome’s with Holy Saturday or Paul’s Unleavened Bread (15th)?
Rome’s with Easter Sunday or Paul’s First Fruits (16th)?
The difference is stark when they land on different days. Even more stark when they land in different months.
2 Cor 11:3
But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 4For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.
;-] We’re good. I get it. Sorry...
To relegate those who disagree on which specific day the Lord was crucified on -which specificity Peter or Paul did not even mention when preaching the gospel in such narratives as Acts 10 or 13 - into believing in a different Jesus, is, in a word, cultic. I leave you your minute elitist sect, even if you are correct on the day.
Amen! He is Risen!
I was just jerkin’ yur chain; awaiting the OH NO! moment...
When preaching to Jews it was not necessary to define an exact day since it was common knowledge that it was the 14 of Nisan in the Passover. When preaching to Gentiles it was not a necessary item for their salvation and could be learned later to increase their Joy. Throughout the Asia Minor gatherings of believers the Lord's Table was celebrated on Nisan 14, as attested by Polycarp, a student of John the Revelator.
An exact day is not essential for our Salvation, but to follow our Lord's Way it brings greater joy. Since Jesus attached His Remembrance to that of the Passover, Jewish Remembrance it is a natural for Jewish converts to place The Lord's Table at Passover. But we need not do this Remembrance only once each year. We can do it anytime believers gather, and especially whenever we gather in His name, for there is He int he midst of us.
Nor does it mean one is preaching "another Jesus" if they hold to a wrong specific day of crucifixion, which was the point being refuted.
Joh 6:31 After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
Joh 6:32 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn't give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now He offers you the true bread from heaven.
quote-To relegate those who disagree on which specific day the Lord was crucified on -which specificity Peter or Paul did not even mention when preaching the gospel in such narratives as Acts 10 or 13 - into believing in a different Jesus, is, in a word, cultic. I leave you your minute elitist sect, even if you are correct on the day.
If any of Rome’s days had Truth in it, it wouldn’t be a big deal.
But with study and noncomformity to the world, one can see how the Word made Flesh literally happened.
From His Birth to the giving of the Holy Spirit occurred on Appointed New Moons, Sabbaths and Feasts He taught Israel. Scripture and Creation hint and sometimes overtly state it.
They point to Him and the Kingdom.
Those shadows are missed with Rome’s versions. Purposely.
May we all get eyes to see how Satan deceives the whole world and what vessels he has used to steal worship and glory to the Word Made Flesh!
Israel would be blessed to know it. The whole world would be.
As long as the world runs on an antichrist calendar that points to Roman truth and versions of events, people of faith are not having their minds transformed into what He was teaching Israel. Conformity to the world, even a ‘judeo-christian’ world is deceptive.
That is why scripture says Satan deceives the whole world.
Subtle.
:] Yeah. Good job, too! A couple others clued me in to get the “OH NO!” ball rolling.
May the Lord bless us all.
As long as the world runs on an antichrist calendar that points to Roman truth and versions of events, people of faith are not having their minds transformed into what He was teaching Israel. Conformity to the world, even a ‘judeo-christian’ world is deceptive. That is why scripture says Satan deceives the whole world.
I agree we should get the day of Passover correct if we are going to celebrate the resurrection (though Christmass is basically out for me), but if the specific day was so important that those who get the day wrong are believing a false gospel then that is akin to elitist Catholicism and cults. That itself is deception.
Salvation is by faith in Jesus, not adherence to a specific calendar.
Nor does keeping track of days indicate any level of spiritual maturity or superior-to-thouness, nor anyone’s openness to receiving other spiritual truths.
It’s just an elitist mindset that leads to spiritual pride.
For me, I’ve got much bigger issues to deal with that what day of the week it is on whose calendar.
And I’m sure that if God thought it was so all fired important, He’d have been much more specific about it and teaching on it that He was in Scripture.
As it is, the focus on days is addressed by God in Romans 14 where He addresses *disputable matters*. So clearly it’s a non-issue with God.
It’s just trying to put us back under the Law disguised as spiritual maturity.
Galatians 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
Agree, squared.
Precisely.
It’s interesting that the things that many people consider signs of spiritual arrived-ness, Paul condemns as being in bondage or leaving the freedom of Christ.
Ah, I don't think I'd lean on this assumption any too hard. In fact, the breaking of bread is to be an occasion of remembrance, one of removing it from the ordinary meal of replenishing one's body of nutrients. Jesus exemplified setting it apart from the meal:
"Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you" (Lk. 22:20 AV).
This is the first, and greatest ordinance delivered to the gathered assembly of disciples, and is in my opinion the signal observance by which they are identified as the Gospel-bearers:
"For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come" (1 Co 11:26 AV).
It is the first and most important way of proclaiming the Gospel, and it therefore is to be done often. It is the privilege for which they were slaughtered, and were eaten by wild beasts, and yielded up their lives reaching out to the aborigines of far lands, that they might receive eternal rewards, glorifying the Lord of their sure hope.
Since there is no worship without an integral sacrifice, the weekly honoring of the day of His resurrection and of the outpouring of the Holy Ghost needs to be recognized by the Bride for which He poured out His life, His Spirit, His Blood, and His Love. And that often.
"And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight" (Act 20:7 AV).
Now, what do you make of that, dear FRiend and Brother in the Lord?
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