Paradoxes of the Bible # 15

The Paradox of Striving and Resting

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

1. Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions.
2. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace.
3. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer.
4. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself.
5. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.
6. Reread it. From memory, determine the central points.
7. Chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians is focused on the resurrection. Paul reminds the Church at Corinth about the gospel he preached to them, which is says is saving them but warns them to “hold fast.”
8. Here is the paradox then, we are fully and completely safe in Christ yet we are to hold fast, strive and rest at the same time.
9. Paul then goes on to remind the Corinthian brothers and sisters of what he proclaimed to them. First that Jesus died for our sin, was buried, was raised from the dead, then appeared to them, and even to Paul himself.
10. Though “least” among Jesus’ followers, he received a complete welcome into the Church of God.
11. It was all of grace, complete salvation; Paul did not save himself.
12. The result of Paul’s salvation was that he “worked harder than any of them.” He did not work in order to achieve salvation, that was a done deal. No, the grace he experienced spurred him on to be the evangelical missionary he was.
13. Even the hard work that characterized Paul’s life, this too was all due to the grace of God, a gift given.
14. There is no greater gift, after salvation, than to be able to strive for all we are for the cause of Jesus.
15. By this time Paul had experienced much opposition from those who hated Jesus. Paul, undeterred, pushes on despite it all.
16. Every Christian can have this testimony to leave behind.

Paradoxes of the Bible # 15

The Paradox of Striving and Resting

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

1. Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions.
2. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace.
3. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer.
4. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself.
5. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.
6. Reread it. From memory, determine the central points.
7. Chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians is focused on the resurrection. Paul reminds the Church at Corinth about the gospel he preached to them, which is says is saving them but warns them to “hold fast.”
8. Here is the paradox then, we are fully and completely safe in Christ yet we are to hold fast, strive and rest at the same time.
9. Paul then goes on to remind the Corinthian brothers and sisters of what he proclaimed to them. First that Jesus died for our sin, was buried, was raised from the dead, then appeared to them, and even to Paul himself.
10. Though “least” among Jesus’ followers, he received a complete welcome into the Church of God.
11. It was all of grace, complete salvation; Paul did not save himself.
12. The result of Paul’s salvation was that he “worked harder than any of them.” He did not work in order to achieve salvation, that was a done deal. No, the grace he experienced spurred him on to be the evangelical missionary he was.
13. Even the hard work that characterized Paul’s life, this too was all due to the grace of God, a gift given.
14. There is no greater gift, after salvation, than to be able to strive for all we are for the cause of Jesus.
15. By this time Paul had experienced much opposition from those who hated Jesus. Paul, undeterred, pushes on despite it all.
16. Every Christian can have this testimony to leave behind.