Universal Utterings®
for September 20, 2024

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09-20-2024 1 Corinthians 15 V-1217 Vain faith believes not in the Resurrection

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The 1st Letter to the Corinthians Chapter 15 v- 12 thru 17

12 But if Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then neither has Christ been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then empty [too] is our preaching; empty, too, your faith. 15 Then we are also false witnesses to God, because we testified against God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised, 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.

Today the Apostle Paul addresses a critical aspect of Christian doctrine: the resurrection of Jesus Christ and its implications for believers. In this passage, he confronts a troubling issue within the Corinthian church—some members were questioning the reality of the resurrection of the dead. Paul emphasizes that if Christ has not been raised, then the foundation of Christian faith is fundamentally flawed.

In verses 12-13, Paul poses a rhetorical question, asking how some can claim there is no resurrection of the dead if Christ Himself has been raised. This statement underlines the interconnectedness of Christ's resurrection and the hope of resurrection for all believers. If there is no resurrection, then, as Paul states, not even Christ has been raised, leading to dire consequences for the faith.

Verses 14-17 delve deeper into the implications of a nonexistent resurrection. Paul asserts that if Christ has not been raised, then preaching is in vain, and faith is futile. This assertion highlights the centrality of the resurrection to the gospel message; without it, the preaching of the apostles loses its power and relevance. Furthermore, Paul states that believers are still in their sins, implying that the resurrection is essential for the forgiveness and redemption that we Christians claim.

This passage serves as a profound reminder of the importance of the resurrection in Christian theology. It underscores that the resurrection is not merely an event in history but the cornerstone of Christian hope and assurance. For Paul, the resurrection of Christ is the guarantee that believers will also experience resurrection, transforming their faith from a mere belief system into a dynamic promise of eternal life. If only we’d believe. Amen.

Join me as we pray our daily prayer of forgiveness. The Lord’s Prayer.

At the Savior's command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

I am sorry Lord. I believe You died and rose for me. Please forgive me as I forgive others. I share You as my Lord and Savior seeking to live your Will in all things. Prayers for wife Toni and my mother Betty pray for our children especially our two oldest Alexandra & Allen Son in Law Mark Stern; Julian, Gabriel and Jeffrey and our grandchildren Oliver, Julian and Elliott. We pray for those we’ve said we’d pray for and those who’ve asked us to pray for them. We pray for the dying as we do each day Lord give them peace in their last breath. We pray for Holy Mother Church. Our prayers for our niece Brittany. In Jesus Precious Blood by His Name we pray. Amen.

I am a poet obedient to Christ,
Catholic Evangelist Thomas Cruz†Wiggins

Practice. Pray. Proclaim. ®
†Spirit led God inspired Christ fed†®
Ephesians 6:17-20

09-20-2024 1 Corinthians 15 V-1217

**Vain faith believes not in the Resurrection**

In Corinth's halls, a whisper swayed,

Of doubts and fears that truth betrayed,

“Is there no rise from death’s cold grasp?

If hope is lost, how can we clasp?”

Paul stood to speak, with fervent heart,

“To question Christ—oh, where to start?

If dead are not raised, then He’s not too,

Our Savior’s defeat, our faith askew.”

For if He lay in the tomb, so still,

Our preaching vain, a hollow thrill,

The good news dimmed, no light to share,

In shadows deep, we’d live in despair.

Yet if He triumphed, death laid bare,

A promise bright beyond compare,

Our sins forgiven, chains undone,

In Him, our victory has eternally begun.

So gather, friends, let hearts rejoice,

In Christ’s own rise, we find our voice,

For resurrection’s power we forever claim,

In life and death, we praise His name.

With every breath, our faith we weave,

For in His life, we too believe,

If Christ be raised, our hope holds fast,

In Him, our future, free at last. Amen.

© Thomas Joe Cruz†Wiggins

September 20, 2024 @ 05:39 AM EST

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