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LIVING IN HOPE FOR RESURRECTION

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)

DATE: FRIDAY, 31ST MARCH, 2023 

TOPIC: LIVING IN HOPE FOR RESURRECTION

TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 15: 1-34

1. Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand,
2. by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you -- unless you believed in vain.
3. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4. and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
5.  and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.
6.  After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.
7.  After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.
8.  Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
9.  For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10.  But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God [which was] with me.
11.  Therefore, whether [it was] I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
12.  Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13.  But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.
14.  And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching [is] empty and your faith [is] also empty.
15.  Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up -- if in fact the dead do not rise.
16.  For if [the] dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.
17.  And if Christ is not risen, your faith [is] futile; you are still in your sins!
18.  Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
19.  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
20.  But now Christ is risen from the dead, [and] has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
22.  For since by man [came] death, by Man also [came] the resurrection of the dead.
22.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
23.  But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those [who are] Christ's at His coming.
24.  Then [comes] the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.
25.  For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.
26.  The last enemy [that] will be destroyed [is] death.
27.  For "He has put all things under His feet." But when He says "all things are put under [Him," it is] evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted.
28.  Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
29.  Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?
30.  And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour?
31.  I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
32.  If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage [is it] to me? If [the] dead do not rise, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!"
33.  Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."
34.  Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak [this] to your shame.

MESSAGE: 
The gospel does not end with His death of Jesus on the cross to pay the price of sin and make us God’s children. It includes the resurrection, ascension, second coming of the Lord Jesus and eternity in heaven. Resurrection is a very important Christian belief . It is of two types namely resurrection unto death and to life(John 5:29). Jesus came to save us from sin so that we can worship God in holiness and partake of the resurrection unto life (Luke 1:74-75). If resurrection is a fallacy, then Christ is not risen; our preaching will be in vain and we would be the most miserable of all men. We would then be permitted to live anyhow for there will be no judgment after death. But this is not so! Born again Christians should live as pilgrims on earth (1Pet. 2:11); to show the value we attach to the resurrection.
Remember that life on earth is short compared to eternity, and is the only opportunity to prepare for life after death. Make the decision to live and if need be, suffer here on earth, faithfully running the race set before you to secure your resurrection unto life Decide to live for Jesus and be ready to be a candidate for the first resurrection unto life when the trumpet shall sound.


PRAYER: 
O Lord, deliver me from the fear of death, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
 

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