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Through the Bible with Les Feldick
LESSON 3 * PART 4 * BOOK 29
I CORINTHIANS 15:24-34 - PART 2
Then Paul said in verse 29 "What's the use in all these things if there is no resurrection of the dead." Everything centers on the resurrection of the dead. So looking at verse 31 where Paul says:
I Corinthians 15:31
"I protest (or affirm) by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily."
Number one, remember that Paul teaches so strongly the idea of the old and new nature. We are constantly in a warfare, "The old sin nature against the new Divine nature." All of Paul's writings dovetail together so beautifully. So turn to Chapter 6 and let's begin with verse 13, and throughout this whole 6th Chapter of Romans Paul is dealing with, "reckoning that Old Adam as our mortal enemy, and putting him constantly to death." Now that may sound like double talk, but we have to realize that God in His omniscience, and Sovereignty, the moment we believe for salvation, God reckoned our old Adam as crucified with Christ, he's dead. Here Paul says it so clearly:
Romans 6:13a
"Neither yield (or give in) ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin:"
Or unto the old Adam. Also remember that three-letter-word "sin" is the old Adam, the old sin nature. Romans 6:13b
"...but yield yourselves unto God, (in other words be what God wants us to be.) as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God."
Now this is exactly what Paul is talking about here in this verse 31 of I Corinthians. Paul says, "I die daily." Now verse 32.
I Corinthians 15:32a
"If after the manner of men (If so to speak) I have fought with beasts at Ephesus,..."
I think it was this constant opposition from his fellow men, ungodly men.
I Corinthians 15:32
"If after the manner of men (If so to speak) I have fought with beasts at Ephesus (these men who were constantly opposing him) what advantageth it me, (why should I fight against them) if the dead rise not? What's the use, Paul says, in facing all of this opposition to the Gospel if there's no resurrection, and if that be the case) let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die."
Most people are not thinking in terms of eternity, but what's in it for me today. Instant gratification is all people are concerned about. Well Paul says, "If there's no resurrection then have at it." I Corinthians 15:33
Proverbs 13:20
Even in the area of the spiritual you will never rise any higher than the people you fellowship with. It also involves the leadership of lay people, whether you call them elders or deacons or whatever. If we are going to run with people of low integrity, if we are going to run with the people who have no compunction about things right and wrong, we're going to become like them. Come back to Hebrews, Chapter 10 verse 25.
[speaking of the faithfulness of Christ.] Now, never lose sight of the fact that Paul thought The Lord was going to come in his life time. God said, "No, you're not." Now, let's go back to I Corinthians Chapter 15.
I Corinthians 15:33,34a
"Be not deceived: evil communications (that doesn't mean just the words, but it's our concourse with people. And if it's going to be with evil people, it's going to rub off) corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; ..."
We've talked about that in our Tulsa class the last time we were together. Is it possible to live without sin? That old Adam! And that old Adam is working on us constantly to sin. I'm a promoter of the Grace of God, that where sin aboundeth, grace is greater, but for the believer, grace is not license. And this is what Paul is talking about. Now then, remember who he is talking to. "...for some have not the knowledge of God, I speak this to your shame."
Who is he talking about? I think he was talking about the people within his congregation at Corinth. They were carnal. They were believers, but they didn't have that knowledge and wisdom. Let's go to Ephesians Chapter 3 and verse 16. What's the difference between knowledge and comprehending? Let's read on.
Now let's read on:
Ephesians 3:19
"And to know the love of Christ, which passeth (goes beyond) knowledge, that ye (this is for every believer. I'm just not that strong a believer." Listen, if you have Christ in your heart, you have the potential for all this. Now let's read on.
Ephesians 3:20
Now let's return to I Corinthians and look at verse 34 again.
I Corinthians 15:34
"Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame."
What would Paul speak to the average Christian today? Let's look for a moment in Chapter 3, and see the kind of people he's writing this heavy stuff to. For ye are yet carnal:..."
Now that's like too many people today, and God doesn't want people to be fleshly and carnal, but rather to be spiritual, and enjoy this knowledge of God.

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