resurrection faith in action

Good morning friends,
I hope your weekend is starting out well. A few of us had a wonderful discussion last night about some new possibilities in our church life, spurred by a presentation we went to in January by a pastor in Chicago. We'll be opening up that discussion on Sunday after worship for anyone who is interested; please join the conversation.

Today Paul continues his argument that Christ's resurrection means we will be raised, and he argues this point is essential to our life as Christians. Here he mentions the practice of receiving baptism on behalf of the dead, something we don't do in the Presbyterian Church, but which is important to some of our Mormon brothers and sisters. The idea is that a living person receives baptism in the place of someone who has died without being baptized so that the deceased can be raised as a believer. Paul also talks about fighting with wild animals in Ephesus. I'm pretty sure this is the only mention of this episode in the Bible, but we do know that Christians were put in arenas or other closed spaces with wild animals as a spectacle for others to watch and as a way to discourage Christianity. In both cases, Paul's point is the same: our Christian faith gives us hope beyond our human lives because the dead will be raised.

It's important here that Paul puts proper belief along with doing the right thing. We all know people who live a good life without Christian faith, and we know or see others who profess faith in Christ while living in a moral questionable way. Paul calls us to trust in God's love even beyond death and to show that powerful hope in courageous and righteous living.
Blessings in your walk with God today,
Sam

1 Corinthians 15:29-34

29Otherwise, what will those people do who receive baptism on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? 30And why are we putting ourselves in danger every hour? 31I die every day! That is as certain, brothers and sisters, as my boasting of you—a boast that I make in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32If with merely human hopes I fought with wild animals at Ephesus, what would I have gained by it? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 33Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 34Come to a sober and right mind, and sin no more; for some people have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.