Useful Bible Studies > 1 Corinthians Commentary > chapter 15
The church in Corinth had many problems, but all these problems had the same basic cause. The Christians there were thinking too much about themselves. Each person cared too much about his own importance, his own freedom, or his own gifts (that is, the gifts that he himself had received from the Holy Spirit).
In Paul’s opinion, the best solution to this problem was to remind them about God’s good news. This was the message that Paul had declared among them (2:1-2). By means of that message, God had saved them. (In other words, he had given them a right relationship with himself.) However, that message was not just important on the occasion when God saved them. It is both necessary and essential through their entire lives as Christians.
(1) Paul wanted Christians to remember how God saved them. That is, by the death of Christ. Christ suffered the punishment for their evil deeds so that God could forgive them. Christians must constantly remember that fact (11:26). Then they will not become proud. They will remember that they could do nothing to save themselves. It was entirely God’s work that gave them a right relationship with him.
(2) Paul also wanted Christians to remember why God saved them. That is, to remember the purpose for which God saved them. They learn this from the resurrection of Christ. In other words, Christ became alive after his death - and God will do the same thing for them, too. God is giving them a wonderful life with him, which will never end. When Christians realise that, they will not care too much about their present lives in this world. They will not constantly try to please themselves. Instead, they must prepare for their future with God. So their only desire will be to please him.
Next part: The importance of Christ’s death (1 Corinthians 15:3)
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© 2014, Keith Simons.