True love – it’s a phrase we hear often, but what does it really mean? In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of romantic movies and fairy tales that paint love as a grand gesture or a passionate whirlwind. However, when we dig deeper, we find a timeless definition in one of the most cherished books of wisdom: 1 Corinthians 13.
Love, as described in this passage, is patient. It’s about understanding, empathy, and giving others the time they need to grow and flourish. It’s not about rushing or forcing things but allowing relationships to unfold naturally, respecting each other’s pace.
True love is also kind. It’s about compassion, generosity, and showing genuine care for one another. Small acts of kindness can speak volumes, whether it’s a listening ear, a helping hand, or a simple smile. Kindness nurtures love and fosters a sense of connection.
Love does not envy or boast; it is not proud. In a world often consumed by comparison and ego, true love is humble and selfless. It celebrates the successes of others without feeling threatened and recognizes the inherent worth in every individual.
Love is not self-seeking; it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. It’s about prioritizing the well-being of others above our own desires, learning to let go of resentment, and choosing forgiveness. True love is about building bridges, not walls.
It rejoices with the truth, always protecting, trusting, hoping, and persevering. True love is rooted in honesty, integrity, and unwavering commitment. It’s about standing by each other through thick and thin, facing challenges together with unwavering faith.
In essence, true love, as depicted in 1 Corinthians 13, is a profound and unconditional affection that transcends boundaries and withstands the test of time. It’s not flashy or loud but rather gentle, steadfast, and enduring. It’s the glue that binds relationships, families, and communities together, offering solace, support, and strength in times of need.
So, as we navigate the complexities of love in our lives, let’s remember the timeless wisdom of 1 Corinthians 13 and strive to embody its principles in our relationships, knowing that true love is not just a fleeting emotion but a lifelong journey of growth, understanding, and connection.
With courtroom-like precision, Paul builds the case for Christ’s resurrection. The eyewitness accounts are overwhelming.
1 Corinthians 15:5-8 states, “He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time. Most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later, by all the apostles. Last of all, I also saw him.”
It is easy to dismiss one person’s testimony, and perhaps the 12 disciples could be written off as hallucinating. But it is not as easy to discount 500 people seeing the same event at the same time. Jesus appeared to all these individuals after his resurrection.
He ate with them. He talked with them. He walked with them. They could see and touch his physical body. He was there. Those who saw Jesus could factually say he was no longer in the tomb.
The resurrection was not a myth. It was a historical event which brought value and victory.
The Value of the Resurrection
1 Corinthians 15 goes on to explain there is much value in the resurrection.
Our dying bodies are buried, and a body, which will live forever, is raised up.
Our broken bodies will be exchanged for glorious bodies.
Our weak bodies will be replaced with strong bodies.
Verse 44 says, “They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.”
In other words, we will shed all the struggle and heartache in this life. Our physical and mental difficulties will no longer plague us. The value of the resurrection is a new body granted through Christ’s victory.
The Victory of the Resurrection
“Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But, thank God, he gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ,” says 1 Corinthians 15:54-57.
Death, which is man’s great equalizer, has been beaten by Christ. The day of Christ’s resurrection, he struck a death blow to death and brought victory.
As we search for hope in this life, we can find it in the validity, value, and victory of Christ’s resurrection.
Check out the latest episode of Get Encouraged on Spotify!
All the Gospel writers tell us of a resurrection. They each approach it from a different angle, but come to the same climax: the tomb is empty. Jesus coming out of the tomb and leaving it empty gives us much hope. Our hope rests on the foundation of Jesus being alive. So, how can, we be sure? How can we be sure the tomb is empty and our hope is resting in the right place?
Paul helps shed some light on these questions. In 1 Corinthians 15, as if he were presenting a case in court, Paul lays out 4 reasons our hope is on a firm foundation.
First, the Scriptures said Jesus would rise.
1 Corinthians 15 says Christ’s tomb was emptied just as the Scriptures declared. There are many Old Testament prophecies that point to Jesus coming out of the grave; Psalm 16 among them. Peter eloquently explains this fact. In Acts 2, he says:
“King David said this about him:
‘I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave. You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’
“Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne. David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave.”
The Scriptures pointed to Jesus vacating the tomb.
Second, Jesus made several appearances.
To continue his case, Paul brings eyewitness accounts into the courtroom. In 1 Corinthians 15, he says, “He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.”
Jesus not only appeared to individuals, he appeared to a large group. Over 500 people have the same account: Jesus appeared to them. If this were false, a few individuals’ stories may align, but getting 500 people to tell the same story is virtually impossible. Playing the game Telephone illustrates how difficult it is to keep a story straight in a large group. Each time the story is passed from person to person in the circle, it changes a little. It’s often not even the same story when it makes it around the circle. Keeping stories straight is hard, unless they are true.
500 eyewitnesses taking the stand to declare the same thing is undeniable. The risen Lord appeared to them.
Third, since Christ lives, we live.
Paul’s third point reminds us the way to life is Christ. It was Jesus’ work on the cross and death which paid the penalty for the world’s sins. His corpse was placed in the tomb after his death.
“But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. So, you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.”
We can sum it up this way: Jesus started a long legacy of folks leaving the cemetery. If he lives, we too can live. Jesus declares in John 11:25, “I am the resurrectionand the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.”
Fourth, death has been struck a death blow.
In his fourth point, Paul helps us understand when Jesus walked out of the grave, he destroyed death’s power. It was in this moment Jesus stripped death of its grip. The Psalmist writes, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall not be afraid,” because death does not have the power to hold onto us. Christ took it away.
1 Corinthians 15 proclaims:
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
These 4 points help us see the empty tomb is a solid foundation for our hope. It is because of an empty tomb we have hope, and our hope is more than wishful thinking. Our hope is the truth of knowing victory is ours in Christ. Our hope is knowing, though we may have troubles now, we will overcome them because of an empty tomb.
When you think of the church, Christianity, and followers of Christ, what comes to mind? Depending on your perspective, it could be any number of pictures.
Is one of those pictures’ devotion to one another; do you picture Christians loving the world?
The miracles recorded in the Bible are awesome and truly show us the power of our Lord, but the most attractive characteristic permeating from the Bible’s pages is love. Behind all the miracles and work the Lord does is love. Behind everything the Lord does is love. It is out of his great love for us, we find the ability to have a relationship with him. God is love, and it shows in all he does.
As Christians, the Bible encourages us to imitate this same level of love.
1 Peter 4:8 encourages:
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Our love should be behind everything we do. We can do some great things, but if they are not rooted in love, they really aren’t accomplishing a great deal. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 says:
13 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;[a] but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
1 Corinthians 13 goes on:
13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
Being shining examples of Christ’s love is how Christianity grows. If love is at the very heart of all of our actions, then our impact will be great. Jesus shows us love, so take a moment to reflect on how well you show love to others. What are some ways you could put your love into practice?
With courtroom-like precision, Paul builds the case for Christ’s resurrection. The eyewitness accounts are overwhelming.
1 Corinthians 15:5-8 states, “He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time. Most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later, by all the apostles. Last of all, I also saw him.”
It is easy to dismiss one person’s testimony, and perhaps the 12 disciples could be written off as hallucinating. But it is not as easy to discount 500 people seeing the same event at the same time. Jesus appeared to all these individuals after his resurrection.
He ate with them. He talked with them. He walked with them. They could see and touch his physical body. He was there. Those who saw Jesus could factually say he was no longer in the tomb.
The resurrection was not a myth. It was a historical event which brought value and victory.
The Value of the Resurrection
1 Corinthians 15 goes on to explain there is much value in the resurrection.
Our dying bodies are buried, and a body, which will live forever, is raised up.
Our broken bodies will be exchanged for glorious bodies.
Our weak bodies will be replaced with strong bodies.
Verse 44 says, “They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.”
In other words, we will shed all the struggle and heartache in this life. Our physical and mental difficulties will no longer plague us. The value of the resurrection is a new body granted through Christ’s victory.
The Victory of the Resurrection
“Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But, thank God, he gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ,” says 1 Corinthians 15:54-57.
Death, which is man’s great equalizer, has been beaten by Christ. The day of Christ’s resurrection, he struck a death blow to death and brought victory.
As we search for hope in this life, we can find it in the validity, value, and victory of Christ’s resurrection.
Get Encouraged 