The essence of christian faith will keep us appreciating our life

Today’s sermon was taken from 1 Corinthians 15: 1-34. The sermon talked about apostle Paul came to the faith in Christ Jesus and salvation of his life radically. He once persecuted the church eagerly and brought the believers to jails and even to death. After his life have been comforted to the new life in Jesus, he began to work out his salvation by preaching, praying and supporting churches in Rome and many other areas. Apostle Paul had set his mind up to the essence of Christian that met drove him serve the Christianity. What was the essence of Christian faith that drove Paul’s life to bring God’s glory for his life and others: that Christ died for our sin and was buried and then was raised on the third day by God himself and Christ appeared to the twelve and more than five hundreds of brothers and sisters at that time (15:3-6). Some of the witnesses were still alive at Paul’s time (15:6).

His personal “meeting” with Christ Himself on the way to Damascus and the witnesses that Christ was raised strengthened him to serve the Lord, even harder than the other apostles (15:10). His past “mistakes” also made him more eagerly serve the Lord and strengthening other believers as he seemly tried to compensate those “mistake”. His experience with God had composed Paul’s faith and the new life that Jesus had offered gave Paul new hope to overcome his painful past “mistakes”. This new life and new hope were very important to Paul as for us today. There is eternal life-phase not in this world but after death and Jesus Christ has brought it into the human life through his resurrection. That was what Paul believed: the new and eternal life in Jesus Christ.

Why is the new and eternal life so important? It becomes important because the new life gives us new hope in our current life. If we know that death is the end of everything (and there is nothing we can do of it), we could be tempted to spent our life irresponsibly and follow our selfishness. That’s human nature and we must acknowledge it. The new life also brings the meaning and spirit to our current life. If we are suddenly ill and judged to have an incurable disease, we still have hope in the One that gives the new and eternal life. In case we (at the end) have to die, we know where we go and with who. If there was no resurrection of Christ, we are the most pitied people in the world that believe in such thing that never exist. But Paul says that there was a resurrection and has composed Christian faith since (15:16-20).

The new life that Paul had received from the Lord made him appreciate his own life. He appreciated his life in this world by serving Him and not by wasting it. This was the only way to give thanks to the Lord for what the Lord did to Paul’s life (giving him new hope and chance through resurrection, salvation, and eternal life). Therefore Paul warned those who did not regard life by saying (15:33-34): “Do not be misled: bad company corrupts good character.” Come back to your senses as you ought and stop sinning.

There are some reasons why we have to regard and appreciate this life:
1. God exists and His creation is wonderful.
2. As to show our gratitude to God.
3. As to show that our life is a meaningful one.

Eventually, Paul rebuked those who did not regard life by saying that they were ignorant of God (15:34). We have seen many people around us who do not regard their life and that means that they at the same time ignore God. We should appreciate our life by doing things that pleased God and not things that displeases Him. That’s the only response to the salvation that He has given to us.

How far have you appreciated your life?? God is ready to give a new life to you if you accept Him personally. Keep appreciating your life and being a God's light with your life^^.