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v05550
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1994-03-02
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05560
#26-33 Religious exercises in public assemblies should have this
view; Let all be done to edifying. As to the speaking in an
unknown tongue, if another were present who could interpret, two
miraculous gifts might be exercised at once, and thereby the
church be edified, and the faith of the hearers confirmed at the
same time. As to prophesying, two or three only should speak at
one meeting, and this one after the other, not all at once. The
man who is inspired by the Spirit of God will observe order and
decency in delivering his revelations. God never teaches men to
neglect their duties, or to act in any way unbecoming their age
or station.
05568
#34-40 When the apostle exhorts Christian women to seek
information on religious subjects from their husbands at home,
it shows that believing families ought to assemble for promoting
spiritual knowledge. The Spirit of Christ can never contradict
itself; and if their revelations are against those of the
apostle, they do not come from the same Spirit. The way to keep
peace, truth, and order in the church, is to seek that which is
good for it, to bear with that which is not hurtful to its
welfare, and to keep up good behaviour, order, and decency.
05575
* The apostle proves the resurrection of Christ from the dead.
(1-11) Those answered who deny the resurrection of the body.
(12-19) The resurrection of believers to eternal life. (20-34)
Objections against it answered. (35-50) The mystery of the
change that will be made on those living at Christ's second
coming. (51-54) The believer's triumph over death and the grave,
An exhortation to diligence. (55-58)
#1-11 The word resurrection, usually points out our existence
beyond the grave. Of the apostle's doctrine not a trace can be
found in all the teaching of philosophers. The doctrine of
Christ's death and resurrection, is the foundation of
Christianity. Remove this, and all our hopes for eternity sink
at once. And it is by holding this truth firm, that Christians
stand in the day of trial, and are kept faithful to God. We
believe in vain, unless we keep in the faith of the gospel. This
truth is confirmed by Old Testament prophecies; and many saw
Christ after he was risen. This apostle was highly favoured, but
he always had a low opinion of himself, and expressed it. When
sinners are, by Divine grace, turned into saints, God causes the
remembrance of former sins to make them humble, diligent, and
faithful. He ascribes to Divine grace all that was valuable in
him. True believers, though not ignorant of what the Lord has
done for, in, and by them, yet when they look at their whole
conduct and their obligations, they are led to feel that none
are so worthless as they are. All true Christians believe that
Jesus Christ, and him crucified, and then risen from the dead,
is the sun and substance of Christianity. All the apostles
agreed in this testimony; by this faith they lived, and in this
faith they died.
05586
#12-19 Having shown that Christ was risen, the apostle answers
those who said there would be no resurrection. There had been no
justification, or salvation, if Christ had not risen. And must
not faith in Christ be vain, and of no use, if he is still among
the dead? The proof of the resurrection of the body is the
resurrection of our Lord. Even those who died in the faith, had
perished in their sins, if Christ had not risen. All who believe
in Christ, have hope in him, as a Redeemer; hope for redemption
and salvation by him; but if there is no resurrection, or future
recompence, their hope in him can only be as to this life. And
they must be in a worse condition than the rest of mankind,
especially at the time, and under the circumstances, in which
the apostles wrote; for then Christians were hated and
persecuted by all men. But it is not so; they, of all men, enjoy
solid comforts amidst all their difficulties and trials, even in
the times of the sharpest persecution.
05594
#20-34 All that are by faith united to Christ, are by his
resurrection assured of their own. As through the sin of the
first Adam, all men became mortal, because all had from him the
same sinful nature, so, through the resurrection of Christ,
shall all who are made to partake of the Spirit, and the
spiritual nature, revive, and live for ever. There will be an
order in the resurrection. Christ himself has been the
first-fruits; at his coming, his redeemed people will be raised
before others; at the last the wicked will rise also. Then will
be the end of this present state of things. Would we triumph in
that solemn and important season, we must now submit to his
rule, accept his salvation, and live to his glory. Then shall we
rejoice in the completion of his undertaking, that God may
receive the whole glory of our salvation, that we may for ever
serve him, and enjoy his favour. What shall those do, who are
baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Perhaps
baptism is used here in a figure, for afflictions, sufferings,
and martyrdom, as #Mt 20:22,23|. What is, or will become of
those who have suffered many and great injuries, and have even
lost their lives, for this doctrine of the resurrection, if the
dead rise not at all? Whatever the meaning may be, doubtless the
apostle's argument was understood by the Corinthians. And it is
as plain to us that Christianity would be a foolish profession,
if it proposed advantage to themselves by their faithfulness to
God; and to have our fruit to holiness, that our end may be
everlasting life. But we must not live like beasts, as we do not
die like them. It must be ignorance of God that leads any to
disbelieve the resurrection and future life. Those who own a God
and a providence, and observe how unequal things are in the
present life, how frequently the best men fare worst, cannot
doubt as to an after-state, where every thing will be set to
rights. Let us not be joined with ungodly men; but warn all
around us, especially children and young persons, to shun them
as a pestilence. Let us awake to righteousness, and not sin.