Sermon 16th February 2025 – 6th Sunday after Epiphany Text 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 – The dead will rise

 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.

Sermon 9th February 2025 – 5th Sunday after Epiphany Text 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

 Sermon 9th February 2025 – 5th Sunday after Epiphany

Text 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Today we reflect on some interesting choices by God for whom he believed would be good missionaries to take his Word into the world. Would we have chosen them? Let’s begin with one of the most influential missionaries in Christianity:  He wrote most of the New Testament with his letters of teaching and encouragement to the new and emerging churches. The Apostle Paul.  Known as the "chief of sinners," Paul did not consider himself either worthy or comparable to the disciples chosen by Jesus in his 3 year ministry on earth. He called himself  “untimely born (some versions “abnormally born”) because he was not chosen by Jesus during his earthly ministry but appeared to him from Heaven to call him. He continues: “For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God”. So Paul's life is a profound testament to the transformative power of God's grace and also comfort to ourselves as we sometimes consider ourselves “unworthy” of eternal life because of our sin and lack of faith. 

So who was Paul? He was known to the Jewish community as Saul of Tarsus. A man who was zealous in his dedication to God.  He was a Pharisee, zealous for the law, fervently persecuting the early Christians because he saw them as blasphemers.  He was present at the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, standing by approving as a faithful witness to the cruel act. Encouraged by the pleasure this brought to the Jews he decided to extend the persecution and obtained letters to go through the countryside and arrest followers of this sect known as “The Way” – Christians. And yet, despite this rejection of Jesus Christ, by his conversion he is able to proclaim to one of his young Pastors Timothy: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.”  Paul did not deny his past but openly acknowledged the depth of his sinfulness. And so it is a reminder to us to recognize and acknowledge our sins as the path to God’s grace.

His divine encounter would change everything.  On the road to Damascus, a blinding light surrounded him, and he heard the voice of Jesus asking, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”  In this moment, everything he thought he knew came crashing down.  Saul’s world was turned upside down, and he became Paul—a man called not just to cease his persecution but to be persecuted as God’s missionary especially to the Gentiles. God said - this man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” So not only must Paul testify to the one he rejected but he must proclaim him to a people he once shunned as unclean - Gentiles.

This powerful encounter reveals a fundamental truth that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace.  Neither Paul nor Gentiles. When we think of Paul, we see the depths of depravity met with the extremes of God mercy.  Our past does not define us – our future defines us – our future being eternal life in heaven.  

So what of the others in our readings? Well let’s look at Isaiah. Isaiah saw something that humanity was not permitted to see: I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. By God’s own declaration to Moses in Exodus he says: “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.” So Isaiah panics not just at this prohibition but because of his own unworthiness:

Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. But, again, God steps in: One of the seraphs – the angel of God - flew to Isaiah, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched his mouth with it and said: "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out." And with this act of grace Isaiah is now ready for mission: "Here am I; send me!" This act reminds us of the body and blood of Christ that touches our lips from the altar to pardon our guilt. Again, like Paul, an act of God’s grace to choose someone who had deemed themselves unfit for mission to be God’s ambassador

And finally, in our Gospel reading, we have one of the most unlikely candidates to become one of the chief pillars of God’s missionaries in his letter to the Galatians: Paul himself said: God was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised … Peter, James and John, those esteemed as pillars. Jesus saw a lot of potential in Peter which we might not have. And indeed Peter didn’t either. When Jesus acts in grace Peter fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!: When Peter had had a bad night of fishing, feeling dejected – Jesus tells him to put out into the deep.

We might have scoffed. But Peter doesn’t: Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets. Peter ignored the physical evidence and trusted in Jesus – If you say so. And that’s what we need to do when what God asks of us just seems impossible. If you say so.

But just look at Peter’s track record. Sinking in the water when he loses faith. He is called Satan by Jesus – get behind me Satan. Misunderstands the transfiguration wanting to stay on the mountain top. Cutting of a soldier’s ear when Jesus told them not to fight back. And when an opportunity to defend Jesus comes he denies knowing him 3 times. 

These stories are all very encouraging in reminding us: First, that God’s grace trumps everything including the worst of sin and sinners. And secondly, that each of us if fit for the mission work God has called us to do even if we don’t think so as Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2: For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Paul’s story is a typical story: One of incredible grace.  From a persecutor to a preacher of the faith; from lost to found; from death to life. Their lives challenge us to contemplate our own journeys. Are we willing to acknowledge our flaws and failures? Are we ready to receive the grace that is freely offered? Are we ready to respond as Peter did – if you say so. Are we ready to respond like Isaiah – here I am Lord, send me.

As we reflect on Paul as the chief of sinners, let us remember that grace is not for the deserving, but for each one of us. It is a gift—the unmerited favor of God that can transform lives. May we embrace this grace, share it with others, and boldly proclaim the message of hope that Paul, Isaiah, Peter and many other witnesses - more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, all who dedicated their lives to spreading the Gospel so that we today could receive it and spread it to future generations..