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Things of "First Importance"
Things of “First Importance”
1 Corinthians 15:1-10
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which
you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you
hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I
delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died
for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he
was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he
appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five
hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some
have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last
of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of
the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the
church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace
toward me was not in vain.
Biblical scholars believe that portions of this passage are an oral tradition used by
early Christians to teach and spread the gospel. In a culture where it’s estimated
that only 10-15% of the population was literate it would have been important for
early Christians to use oral traditions in order to keep the spirit of Deuteronomy
6 and “talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way,
and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your
hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on
the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
Think of it as a theological “i before e, except after c.” A simple pneumonic device
to help them remember what Paul and others were teaching about Jesus.
So what was it that Paul said was of “first importance,” that the early Christians
would learn and recite to each other and their children?
That Christ died for our sins
That He was buried
That Jesus was raised from the dead
And that all of this could be confirmed by eyewitnesses who were still alive
There are a few things I think we can take away from this oral tradition of the
early church. 1 Corinthians 15 can give us a clear idea of what our evangelism
should look like. If we are Disciples Making Disciples, let’s make sure that we’re
creating followers of Christ, not of our beliefs, or church, or ideas of what
sanctification look like. God’s church, our beliefs in Christ and his teaching,
sanctification and growing closer to God are all important, but they spring from a
heart that has been changed by the truth that Christ died for our sins, was buried,
and was raised from the dead. These things are of “first importance” and are the
truths that will create disciples.
This can also increase our confidence in our evangelism. If my responsibility to
the lost is to be able to perfectly teach them all of the nuance of biblical authority
or textual criticism or be able to explain concepts like the trinity and indwelling of
the Holy Spirit - I might as well not even try. But do you know what I can teach
my neighbor? That Jesus Christ died for them, that He was buried, and that He
is risen. And that through that resurrection we can have faith in the Bible’s
promises of our resurrection as well, just like the Christians in the first century.
Paul goes on to include himself in his list of those who had witnessed the risen
Jesus and in verse 10 attributes the change in his life to the grace of God. Paul
says that even though he had persecuted the church, “But by the grace of God I
am what I am.”
Paul directly connects the grace of God, the resurrection of Jesus, and his
changed life. What’s the connection? Why is Paul talking about his new life in
the same conversation with the resurrection? Because if God can raise Jesus
from the dead, there’s nothing He can’t do.
Can God change Paul? Of course. Can God change the Corinthians? Of course.
Can God change me? Of course he can. If He has power over death and the
grave, he has the power to change you too. And it’s God’s grace that makes those
things happen. God’s grace sent Jesus to die on the cross. God’s power raised
him from the dead. And God’s grace and power can do the same for you and me.
That’s the good news. That’s the thing of “first importance.” And that’s the
evangelism that will change lives and make disciples.
- Eric Wise
Reflections of a Parent
I gave you life, but cannot live it for you. I can . . .
teach you things, but I cannot make you learn,
give you directions, but I cannot always be there to lead you,
teach you right from wrong, but I cannot make the choice for you,
buy you beautiful clothes, but I cannot make you beautiful inside,
offer you advice, but I cannot make you accept it,
teach you to share, but I cannot make you unselfish,
advise you about sex, but I cannot keep you pure,
tell you about lofty goals, but I cannot achieve them for you,
warn you about sins, but I cannot make you moral,
love you as a child, but I cannot place you in God’s family,
pray for you, but I cannot force you to walk with God,
Author unknown
