DEVOTIONAL
The believers who lived in Corinth during this time were surrounded by utter darkness. The old serpent, who tempted Eve in the garden, was constantly shooting his darts of immorality, impurity, passions, and greed seeking to afflict their minds. They we’re under attack, and because of their lack of obedience and understanding they were being enticed by their own sinful passions, being led away by the deceitfulness of their desires, engaging in sexual misconduct that even the pagan culture wouldn’t do. The angel of darkness disguised as an angel of light reeked havoc upon this small church tearing it apart with factions, quarrels, and arguments-- destroying the very bond of unity produced in them by the Holy Spirit.
So the Apostle challenges their lifestyle by calling them to an account of the open rebellion that has broken out amongst them. The apostle would not let sin infiltrate the entire ranks of the church without a fight. He knew that sin is like a cancer that spreads rapidly and causes the body of Christ to be weakened, destroying the very fabric of purity that is to be held by those who have been called to such a great salvation. So after Paul confronts the issues the church is facing, calling them to repentance, he then reminds them of the very foundational teaching that separates Christ from all of the other so called god’s and their temples that surrounded them. He said, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” The apostle reminded them that the tomb that Jesus was buried in was empty, confirmed by many eye witnesses such as Peter who had seen Him after His resurrection. He further adds that if Christ hasn’t been raised from the dead then all of the preaching of the Apostles has been done in vain. So he encourages this struggling church to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, fixing their hope solely upon the grace to be brought to them at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, may we never forget the cost of salvation that was freely given to us by the grace of our Heavenly Father, through the death of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved son, making us adopted heirs of everything in His vast creation. Such love the Father has bestowed upon us that we can be called his children, and it is for this reason that the world does not know us, because it did not know him. Therefore, as the scriptures tell us, “Let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing a our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NASBS