Scripture for Today | 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 (with Pastor Tom)

About this Episode

Opening Song: 

O Lord, open our lips and our mouths will declare Your praise. 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, 

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, 

Amen. 

 

The Scripture for today is 1 Corinthians 15:12-20. 

 

Let’s prepare our hearts to hear from God’s word as we listen to  Christ Our Hope in Life and Death by Jordan Kauflin, Keith Getty, Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, and Matthew Merker (sung by Shane and Shane). This arrangement stretches the march-like contemporary hymn into a more drawn-out, emotional reflection. Each chorus explodes with triumph in a welcome of voices, percussion, and harmony, a representation of Christ’s victory over death. 

Lyrics:

 

What is our hope in life and death

Christ alone Christ alone

What is our only confidence

That our souls to Him belong

Who holds our days within His hand

What comes apart from His command

And what will keep us to the end

The love of Christ in which we stand

 

O sing hallelujah

Our hope springs eternal

O sing hallelujah

Now and ever we confess

Christ our hope in life and death

 

What truth can calm the troubled soul

God is good God is good

Where is His grace and goodness known

In our great Redeemer's blood

Who holds our faith when fears arise

Who stands above the stormy trial

Who sends the waves that bring us nigh

Unto the shore the rock of Christ

 

Unto the grave what will we sing

Christ He lives Christ He lives

And what reward will heaven bring

Everlasting life with Him

There we will rise to meet the Lord

Then sin and death will be destroyed

And we will feast in endless joy

When Christ is ours forevermore

Passage: 

12   Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

 

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:12–20 ESV)

Musical Reflection: 

O Sacred Head Now Wounded by Hans Leo Hassler 

Reflection Notes: 

This tune by Hassler is most famously set with the text “O Sacred, Now Wounded;” the most common harmonization was popularized by J.S. Bach in his St. Matthew Passion. It conveys the pathos of Christ’s death with deep sincerity. 

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.