Made Rich To Be Generous

Daily Scripture Readings

Monday          I Corinthians 16:1-4

Tuesday         II Corinthians 8:1-7

Wednesday   II Corinthians 8:8-15

Thursday        II Corinthians 8:16-21

Friday              II Corinthians 8:22-24

Saturday         II Corinthians 9:11-12

Opening Prayer

Gracious God, Your word says I have been made rich.   Help me to live out of the riches that come from you.     In Jesus’ name, AMEN

DEVOTION:

Paul declares here the core of the gospel—that Jesus is the Christ, that he died on the cross for our sins, and that he was raised on the third day.

Much has been written about the theological importance and historical significance of this passage (more than we will unpack here). We find it hard to underscore just how important it is, especially as it relates to the gospel. Yet Paul’s words here are critical for a proper understanding of the gospel and vital evidence for Jesus’ resurrection—the linchpin of the gospel.2 This passage has the marks of being an early creed of the church, which means it functioned as a sort of mnemonic device to help people recall the gospel.3

In the first verse, the Apostle Paul expressly states he is writing about “the gospel”—just as Jesus did in Mark 1. He reminds the Corinthians of the gospel he had preached to them, which they had received, and by which they were being saved. He states quite emphatically that the gospel is of “first importance.” Significantly, just as Jesus does in Mark 1, Paul not only explicitly states that he’s talking about the gospel, but also explains what it is—the actual message of the gospel.

1 Corinthians 15:1-5 is a passage of profound significance as it relates to the gospel. The Apostle Paul states the core of the gospel message, which confirms that the three elements Jesus revealed in Mark 8:27-31 are, indeed, elements of Jesus’ gospel. This also means that each of the seven elements we’ve explored has strong exegetical support, each finds its origin in Jesus himself, and each is revealed in a passage that expressly states that it is about the gospel.      Bill Hull and Ben Sobels