Of First Importance

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

OF FIRST IMPORTANCE

1 Cor 15:3-8

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

NIV

There is some discussion surrounding the use of the phrase, “of first importance”. Some want to interpret this Greek as if it meant that Paul passed on what he received regarding Christ before anything else he said to them. But that is not the truest meaning of the Greek word, prootos, as it is best seen as the order of importance. This translation does fit that meaning as this project’s the truth of the most important aspect of Christianity is Jesus Christ crucified, buried, and resurrected. Everything else is secondary, and some things are even tertiary to that fact. It seems strange at times that so many spend so much time debating the secondary and tertiary points of Christianity and rarely mention that which is of first importance. Where would we be if we were never able to quote and believe John 3:16, yet it seems some would say that is overused and that we have to move on to the finer points of theology. But, just to think that God loves us all so much that He sent His Son to die on the cross for us, to be that sacrifice for sin, once and for all, so that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. Is there anything more important than that? It seems we what to spent so much time on how we have to live this perfect life, that we cannot ever make a mistake, or at least admit that we sin because that would make us look like we were not a “Good Christian”. It seems many people place more importance on how we live, rather than the reason we live. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, as our substitute for the penalty of sin, then we will not perish, but we will live and we should be living with thankfulness, gratitude, and glorifying Him with all our being. That is of the first importance. There is some discussion regarding what it means, “to perish”. We know that the general concept is that if we are not saved, and have eternal life, then we go to hell and are tormented for all eternity. But if we are tormented for all eternity then we still have eternal life, just not such a nice one. But the trouble is the Greek word translated perish means to be fully destroyed, and if we go back and look at the Hebrew word translated as perish, such as when the psalmist says the wicked will perish, it means the same thing, to be destroyed. It seems most take that metaphorically to mean, go to hell, rather than be destroyed. That is the denominational position and if we are members of such denominations that take that position, it would seem we should be in agreement with that position. However, we still have a problem with the word perish as well as the fact that hell is not an eternal place. We know, because of the revelation given to John that hell is thrown into the lake of burning sulfur and thus fully destroyed, no longer in existence. We know that devil, the beast, and the false prophet will be thrown into the lake of burner sulfur and will be tormented day and night for ever and ever, but they are eternal beings, we are not. Although it is also true that early in this revelation it says that anyone who worships the beast and his image will suffer in the lake of fire and the smoke of their torment with rises for ever and ever. But that may well be only those in those last days who worship the beast and take his mark. The rest of mankind may well be spoken of as experiencing the second death.

Rev 21:6-8

6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars — their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

NIV

So, it can appear that there is life in Christ, and death outside of Christ. That is eternal life, or eternal death, perish, to cease to exist, of course after many years of suffering and torment in hell, but nevertheless, to die first in the body, then second in the spirit. At least that is one way to see it, which may not agree with most denominational positions. However, we are confident of that which is of first importance, Jesus Christ died for us so that we can live forever and ever in the presence of God. Praise Him forever and ever. It does not depend on how good we are, or how perfect we can be. It does not depend on how obedient we think we can be, but rather we are saved through faith and faith alone in Jesus Christ, and not by ours works, so we cannot boast. No, we will live because of Jesus. That is of the first importance.