Sermon 16th February 2025 – 6th Sunday after Epiphany
Text 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 – The dead will rise
In the 1600s there lived a man by the name of Blaise Pascal. Pascal was an interesting person. He was a mathematician – he was a philosopher – he was a physicist – and he was also a theologian. Putting all this together he devised an argument for the belief in God’s existence. He knew that human beings were people that at times like to gamble so he devised an argument for the belief in God that became known as Pascal’s wager. It basically went like this: In life he states that you have 2 choices when it come to believing in God. You can either believe God exists or you can deny God exists. If you choose to believe in God and He exists, you gain everything that goes along with that belief. As Christians we believe in Jesus Christ and eternal life. And, as Jesus says – whoever believes and is baptized WILL be saved. But what if you believe in God and God doesn’t exist? What do you lose? If He does not exist, Pascal says – you lose nothing. Maybe you’ve sacrificed certain pleasures and luxuries – given an offering that you could have spent on yourself – given of your time that you could have spent elsewhere. BUT, if you choose not to believe, and there is a God, Pascal says you risk losing everything. As Jesus says – whoever does not believe will be condemned. That was Pascal’s wager.
Paul seems to be making a similar argument because there were some in the Corinthian church who believed there is no resurrection of the dead – even Christians. The resurrection was for Jesus only. They believed that once you’ve died – that’s it – that’s the end life in its totality. Paul’s thought on this was:
If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. What was the point of believing and witnessing to others if only Jesus is raised from the dead? However, Paul says - And it’s a huge statement- He says - in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, AND that he is the first fruits of those who have died. Christ rose from the dead FOR US. He is the FIRST fruits – we are the harvest.
So what is Paul’s logic in all this? His logic is why would you not want to believe in Jesus Christ who offers us eternal life in heaven. A life that answers all our questions here in this life – especially suffering. Later in the chapter Paul will outline the blessings we receive as Christians where there will be no more suffering or death: So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. What a blessing to look forward to. Which is what Jesus also talks about in our Gospel reading.
But Paul further he says - Where, O death, is your victory? Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. And not only is this our comfort but it is also our motivation for mission. Our motivation for mission is because, as Paul says to Timothy - For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. And what is the truth? Jesus says “I am the way, the truth and the life”? And this truth sets you free for all who call on Jesus Christ as their Lord.
But Paul asks in Romans 10, “How can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? How can someone preach unless they are sent”? And he concludes that statement with: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!
Our motivation for mission is because we want everyone to hear the good news of Jesus Christ and experience the blessings. And those blessings in eternity comfort us now and give us hope. As Jesus says in our gospel reading: Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. And look how Jesus says we should rejoice: Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven;
Jesus and Paul call us to embrace our faith in God. To embrace the hope of eternal life to get us through life. We don’t want people rejecting Jesus’ offer of eternal life. It’s like the parable that Jesus told about Lazarus and the rich man. Having missed out on eternal life in Heaven the rich man begs Abraham, “have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ The rich man begs Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers so they don’t miss out on eternal life and end up in the place of punishment:
But it’s too late for the rich man to do mission work. “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ That is the motivation for mission. To share the Gospel now. To pray for all people that they may come to an understanding of the truth.
We don’t know when Christ will return nor when a person’s life is asked of them. But we do know, as St Peter says in his letter: The Lord isn’t slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish but wants everyone to repent. But Peter warns, the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. It’s not always easy to share your faith with others. But we can be an example of hope and peace as we live out our faith. Which is also what Peter says in his letter: Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. And always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
If we live our faith in the world we can make a difference especially if we become examples of love in this present world. And that was the commandment Jesus left us with before his arrest and death: Love one another as I have loved you and by THIS everyone will know that you are my disciples.