2026 Easter (1), I Die Every Day. Is It Worth It?
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2026-03-29 16:32
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I Die Every Day. Is It Worth It?
1 Cor 15:1-34
In the ancient world, Corinth was a well-protected seaport located in southern Greece, infamous for its immorality and paganism.
Paul worked in Corinth for 18 months. To everyone’s surprise, many Corinthians accepted Jesus with repentance and joy. However, several years later, their faith became weak because of false ideas (Dualism and Seduces’ teachings) and secular life style. They became confused and doubtful over resurrection of Jesus. They argued, “How are the dead raised? Did Jesus really rise again?”
Paul said, “Now brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you. By this gospel you were saved. So hold the gospel of Jesus firmly, otherwise you have believed in vain.”
These days, according to a survey, the primary concern to young people in their twenties and thirties is first, stable income and promotion, then dating and marriage and the third is investment on stocks or real estate and trip. Money is needed to man’s life but if money or romance or security is the thing they are holding firmly, their life will end up sad disaster. Paul said, “You are saved by the gospel of Jesus. Hold it firmly.” What is the gospel?
First, Christ died for our sins.
It shows that man’s fundamental problem is sin. Sin means to ‘miss the target or goal.’ Men’s life goal is to worship and love God. (Dt 6:5). But since Adam’s failure, man loves himself, money and pleasures. (2 Timothy 3:1-5) Romans 3:23 says, "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..."
Why is sin problem most serious? It is because there are consequences. First, it leads to fear, guilt, shame and powerlessness, second, death and the third eternal judgment.
One day in my twenties, as I was reading the Bible there was a moment I could not breathe. Jesus said to the Jews, “If you do not believe in me, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24) This came to me as the most shocking and dreadful reality. And I began to see all the people of the world according to this view of Jesus. “Have you solved your sin problem? Have you repented your sins? Have you been forgiven?” Otherwise, you will be judged by God and be thrown into the eternal hell.
‘Christ died for our sins…” This is the gospel, good news. Jesus shed his sinless blood on the cross for us. It was you and I who should have been crucified on the cross and been forsaken by God because of our sins, but Jesus died on the cross for our sins. He prayed on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” There on the cross, God dealt with our rebellion, greed, lust, ignorance and all our sinful minds and acts. There on the cross, God cured our shame, guilt, sorrow, loneliness, failure and sickness. Paul says to Corinthian Christians, “You are saved by Jesus’ cross. Hold it firmly to the end.”
Second, Christ was raised on the third day.
Verse 4 says, “…that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…” Jesus died and rose again. Why is good news to you and me? It is because we will rise again. This is eternal victory for us.
A 69 year old widow lost her dear daughter who was just in the middle of thirties due to cancer. Who could comfort her? What an unfair and sad to the young lady! But the widow has been comforted by Jesus who died and rose again from the dead.
If Jesus were not raised, life is absolutely meaningless and joke. We all like condemned prisoners in a well decorated hotel, eating, drinking but one day being led by the executioner named death. But Jesus rose again from the dead and entered eternity. Eternity is not bound by time and space. Therefore, he is here now giving us a victory over death and a living hope of the resurrection. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies. Do you believe this?”
Second, the resurrection witnesses (5-11)
In a court of law, more than two witnesses’ same statement is accepted as credible evidence. Peter, the Twelve, more than 500 believers, James, all the apostles saw the Risen Jesus. And last of all, Paul also met the Risen Christ. This is Paul’s testimony. “They saw and I saw!” What could be more convincing than this? You and your friends saw a car accident. Do you need to logically persuade people to believe that? No. You just say, “I saw it.”
Paul was educated at the best school at that time. He was an excellent scholar in the west philosophies and in the Jewish Law. With his human careers and achievements he was very proud.
However, he wrote in Romans 8:20, “For the creation was subjected to frustration.” In spite of successful career, he was empty. He wrote in Romans 8:21, “I am a slave to decay.” This was his life before believing Jesus’ resurrection. The fundamental problems of life are emptiness and death.
Paul was blinded and was going to eternal destruction. But the risen Christ visited him and said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Paul met the Risen Christ. The light of resurrection shone on him that his spiritual eyes were opened. Then Paul realized that he was an absolutely hopeless and helpless sinner. He trembled but the risen Christ forgave him, saved him and raised him as an apostle. He changed his name from Saul, ‘a king’ to Paul, ‘a small one.’ He was actually very intelligent with many degrees and political and social position. But He knew that all of them were nothing like garbage. He only held Jesus’ cross and resurrection. And he began to live a different life. He was not the master of his life anymore. He accepted the Lord, Jesus as his Master. Then he became liberated from futility.
Look at verse 10. “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.”
Paul worked harder than anyone else. He sacrificed for Christ and the church of Christ more than anyone else. He was persecuted more than anyone else. He traveled to preach the gospel more than anyone else.
Why? It was because the gospel of Jesus was most precious and valuable. But now the gospel of Jesus is treated as one of those things. Many regard it as a chief toy or story or the third option. Instead, they pour their whole interest and heart on fleeting things such as career, cars, houses, sports, tour and romance and so on. These things are parts of man’s life but all fading away. King Solomon came to know this simple truth when he was old, “Everything is utterly meaningless, like chasing after wind.” Knowing that, Paul lived for the gospel of Jesus from his youth. The grace of Jesus made Paul such dedicated, powerful, wise, pure and great.
Look at verse 12. “But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?” Someone says, “I believe everything except the Resurrection.” (Seven doctrines; Jesus’ divinity, humanity, Trinity, virgin birth, death on the cross, resurrection, and Second Coming) Then he believes nothing.
This is a theologian, Albert Schweitzer’s view. People did not live according to Jesus’ teachings. Finally, Jesus put his body into the wheel of history. His body turned to powder and his blood spattered. Whenever the wheel of history turns, his spirit and flesh emerge that purification and revival appear in history. This is his view over Jesus’ resurrection. This is not the resurrection of body. He denied Jesus’ resurrection. Then Christianity is just ethics. However, Christianity is not ethics. If there is no resurrection of body, what we believe and do is absolute waste and insanity. Paul explains that if the dead are not raised, then there are 7 consequences.
First, Christ has not been raised. (V 13) Second, our preaching is useless. (14). I deliver Sunday sermons. If Christ has not been raised, what I do is useless. You and I must stop preaching and listening.
Third, we are found to be false witnesses. If Jesus were not resurrected, I am an international liar. I encourage you to become liars.
Fourth, your faith is useless and futile. (17a) If Jesus did not rise, he was just another human being. Our faith in him is in vain.
Fifth, we are still in our sins. (17c). The Bible teaches us that the wage for sin is death. If Jesus was not raised, he just died because of his sin. There is no forgiveness of sin. We are still in our sins and we cannot escape God’s final judgment.
Sixth, those who have died are lost. (18) During the last two millenniums, numerous believers kept their faith in Jesus and martyred for the hope of resurrection. But if Jesus was not raised, they lost their lives for nothing and a false hope.
Seventh, we are the most pitiful people. Verse 19 says, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.” You came to church today before the finals. You struggle to live a holy life. But if Jesus was not raised, we are most pitiful because we're putting our hope in a lie.
But the fact and truth is in verse 20. “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” Christ has risen! Therefore, everything is in reverse. Gospel preaching is so precious and valuable. Our faith is worthy. We are found to be witnesses of the truth. Our sins are forgiven. And Christians are the most glorious people in the world. Now, how should we live?
Look at verse 30. “Now if there is no resurrection, why do we endanger ourselves every hour?” Man’s nature is to seek a secure place. But Paul said he and his coworkers endangered themselves to live as the witnesses of the Risen Jesus. He continued to move here and there to pioneer all places of Asia and Europe to preach the gospel of Jesus. He endangered himself not hesitantly but willingly. It was because he had a resurrection faith. To him, any danger or challenge was not fear but opportunity to create a new history. (Bible study, worship and studying and career, marriage) With resurrection faith, he could live like a phoenix and an active volcano.
Look at verse 31. “I die every day, just as surely as I boast (glory) about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.” People boast of their titles, educational degrees, cars and outer appearance. But Paul boasted that he died every day. Did he try to suicide every day? No, it was determination to die to his human ego, human desires and human ambition so that he might experience the power of resurrection in Jesus. He did not want to pour out his precious time and energy on things to decay. No, he wanted to live for eternal value and reward. He knew that the enemy and hindrance is ‘he’. So, he decided to die every day.
One young man decided to die to his desire to watch baseball games. Then he tasted peace, freedom and power. Another young man had a noble and great vision but he was consumed by romantic feelings that he could do nothing. With many days’ struggles, he decided to die to such romantic feelings and finally became free. Several years later, he married a godly woman and lived for God’s glory like Paul.
Paul had no fear of aging and death. To live is to preach the gospel of Jesus and to die is resurrection. Then he lived a historical and great life. Young men, live like that. “I die every day to my fear of death, worldly desires, laziness and selfishness.” Then you will be free and live with resurrection power.
When the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco was built, not a few workers fell and lost their lives. The government installed a safe net underneath. Then nobody fell because they thought, "It is okay to fall."
It is the same for us. Why is the faith in resurrection important? Jesus died on the cross at 33 but he rose again with eternal glory. In Jesus, you can die. You can fail. You can be nobody. You can suffer. Then, you will be free from the fear of death and failure. Then you can bear abundant fruits. Jesus says, “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” (John 12:24)
So, we are scared to death and failure, suffering and poorness. So this world is full of either go-getters or men of loser’s mentality. While everyone is scared to death and failure, sometimes, men and women of faith emerges and change the history or their generations.
King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold and commanded, “You must fall down and worship the image of gold. Or, you will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” While all other bowed and worshiped the golden image, Daniel’s three friends rejected saying, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it. But even if he does not, we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Did these three young die for nothing? No, not only were they rescued by God but also they were promoted in that secular kingdom. This is the power of resurrection.
Generally, we struggle to survive. We struggle not to die. We struggle to gain profit without suffering loss. We struggle not to be looked down upon. We struggle to live comfortably without suffering or hardship. We want to live a fun life. That is why we become narrow-minded, self-seeking and selfish only seeing our security and family. If you have resurrection faith in Jesus, you can cultivate both your garden and the world. You can build up your career and the kingdom of God on earth.
Paul continues: If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." If there is no resurrection, do whatever you want. But because there is resurrection, Paul gave up his human desires and hedonistic life for eternal reward. He is truly wise man.
Verses 33-34 says, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’ Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.” Here bad company are not gangsters or drug dealers or gamblers. They are those who say there is no resurrection, pleasure-seeking, earthly-bound and adulterous.
Dear brothers, if there is no resurrection, we have to live for only ourselves selfish and calculative and pleasure seeking. This is sin. There is punishment for sin while living on earth and eternally. Paul said, “Stop sinning.” May God bless you to live with resurrection faith in Jesus.
1 Cor 15:1-34
In the ancient world, Corinth was a well-protected seaport located in southern Greece, infamous for its immorality and paganism.
Paul worked in Corinth for 18 months. To everyone’s surprise, many Corinthians accepted Jesus with repentance and joy. However, several years later, their faith became weak because of false ideas (Dualism and Seduces’ teachings) and secular life style. They became confused and doubtful over resurrection of Jesus. They argued, “How are the dead raised? Did Jesus really rise again?”
Paul said, “Now brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you. By this gospel you were saved. So hold the gospel of Jesus firmly, otherwise you have believed in vain.”
These days, according to a survey, the primary concern to young people in their twenties and thirties is first, stable income and promotion, then dating and marriage and the third is investment on stocks or real estate and trip. Money is needed to man’s life but if money or romance or security is the thing they are holding firmly, their life will end up sad disaster. Paul said, “You are saved by the gospel of Jesus. Hold it firmly.” What is the gospel?
First, Christ died for our sins.
It shows that man’s fundamental problem is sin. Sin means to ‘miss the target or goal.’ Men’s life goal is to worship and love God. (Dt 6:5). But since Adam’s failure, man loves himself, money and pleasures. (2 Timothy 3:1-5) Romans 3:23 says, "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..."
Why is sin problem most serious? It is because there are consequences. First, it leads to fear, guilt, shame and powerlessness, second, death and the third eternal judgment.
One day in my twenties, as I was reading the Bible there was a moment I could not breathe. Jesus said to the Jews, “If you do not believe in me, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24) This came to me as the most shocking and dreadful reality. And I began to see all the people of the world according to this view of Jesus. “Have you solved your sin problem? Have you repented your sins? Have you been forgiven?” Otherwise, you will be judged by God and be thrown into the eternal hell.
‘Christ died for our sins…” This is the gospel, good news. Jesus shed his sinless blood on the cross for us. It was you and I who should have been crucified on the cross and been forsaken by God because of our sins, but Jesus died on the cross for our sins. He prayed on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” There on the cross, God dealt with our rebellion, greed, lust, ignorance and all our sinful minds and acts. There on the cross, God cured our shame, guilt, sorrow, loneliness, failure and sickness. Paul says to Corinthian Christians, “You are saved by Jesus’ cross. Hold it firmly to the end.”
Second, Christ was raised on the third day.
Verse 4 says, “…that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…” Jesus died and rose again. Why is good news to you and me? It is because we will rise again. This is eternal victory for us.
A 69 year old widow lost her dear daughter who was just in the middle of thirties due to cancer. Who could comfort her? What an unfair and sad to the young lady! But the widow has been comforted by Jesus who died and rose again from the dead.
If Jesus were not raised, life is absolutely meaningless and joke. We all like condemned prisoners in a well decorated hotel, eating, drinking but one day being led by the executioner named death. But Jesus rose again from the dead and entered eternity. Eternity is not bound by time and space. Therefore, he is here now giving us a victory over death and a living hope of the resurrection. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies. Do you believe this?”
Second, the resurrection witnesses (5-11)
In a court of law, more than two witnesses’ same statement is accepted as credible evidence. Peter, the Twelve, more than 500 believers, James, all the apostles saw the Risen Jesus. And last of all, Paul also met the Risen Christ. This is Paul’s testimony. “They saw and I saw!” What could be more convincing than this? You and your friends saw a car accident. Do you need to logically persuade people to believe that? No. You just say, “I saw it.”
Paul was educated at the best school at that time. He was an excellent scholar in the west philosophies and in the Jewish Law. With his human careers and achievements he was very proud.
However, he wrote in Romans 8:20, “For the creation was subjected to frustration.” In spite of successful career, he was empty. He wrote in Romans 8:21, “I am a slave to decay.” This was his life before believing Jesus’ resurrection. The fundamental problems of life are emptiness and death.
Paul was blinded and was going to eternal destruction. But the risen Christ visited him and said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Paul met the Risen Christ. The light of resurrection shone on him that his spiritual eyes were opened. Then Paul realized that he was an absolutely hopeless and helpless sinner. He trembled but the risen Christ forgave him, saved him and raised him as an apostle. He changed his name from Saul, ‘a king’ to Paul, ‘a small one.’ He was actually very intelligent with many degrees and political and social position. But He knew that all of them were nothing like garbage. He only held Jesus’ cross and resurrection. And he began to live a different life. He was not the master of his life anymore. He accepted the Lord, Jesus as his Master. Then he became liberated from futility.
Look at verse 10. “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.”
Paul worked harder than anyone else. He sacrificed for Christ and the church of Christ more than anyone else. He was persecuted more than anyone else. He traveled to preach the gospel more than anyone else.
Why? It was because the gospel of Jesus was most precious and valuable. But now the gospel of Jesus is treated as one of those things. Many regard it as a chief toy or story or the third option. Instead, they pour their whole interest and heart on fleeting things such as career, cars, houses, sports, tour and romance and so on. These things are parts of man’s life but all fading away. King Solomon came to know this simple truth when he was old, “Everything is utterly meaningless, like chasing after wind.” Knowing that, Paul lived for the gospel of Jesus from his youth. The grace of Jesus made Paul such dedicated, powerful, wise, pure and great.
Look at verse 12. “But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?” Someone says, “I believe everything except the Resurrection.” (Seven doctrines; Jesus’ divinity, humanity, Trinity, virgin birth, death on the cross, resurrection, and Second Coming) Then he believes nothing.
This is a theologian, Albert Schweitzer’s view. People did not live according to Jesus’ teachings. Finally, Jesus put his body into the wheel of history. His body turned to powder and his blood spattered. Whenever the wheel of history turns, his spirit and flesh emerge that purification and revival appear in history. This is his view over Jesus’ resurrection. This is not the resurrection of body. He denied Jesus’ resurrection. Then Christianity is just ethics. However, Christianity is not ethics. If there is no resurrection of body, what we believe and do is absolute waste and insanity. Paul explains that if the dead are not raised, then there are 7 consequences.
First, Christ has not been raised. (V 13) Second, our preaching is useless. (14). I deliver Sunday sermons. If Christ has not been raised, what I do is useless. You and I must stop preaching and listening.
Third, we are found to be false witnesses. If Jesus were not resurrected, I am an international liar. I encourage you to become liars.
Fourth, your faith is useless and futile. (17a) If Jesus did not rise, he was just another human being. Our faith in him is in vain.
Fifth, we are still in our sins. (17c). The Bible teaches us that the wage for sin is death. If Jesus was not raised, he just died because of his sin. There is no forgiveness of sin. We are still in our sins and we cannot escape God’s final judgment.
Sixth, those who have died are lost. (18) During the last two millenniums, numerous believers kept their faith in Jesus and martyred for the hope of resurrection. But if Jesus was not raised, they lost their lives for nothing and a false hope.
Seventh, we are the most pitiful people. Verse 19 says, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.” You came to church today before the finals. You struggle to live a holy life. But if Jesus was not raised, we are most pitiful because we're putting our hope in a lie.
But the fact and truth is in verse 20. “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” Christ has risen! Therefore, everything is in reverse. Gospel preaching is so precious and valuable. Our faith is worthy. We are found to be witnesses of the truth. Our sins are forgiven. And Christians are the most glorious people in the world. Now, how should we live?
Look at verse 30. “Now if there is no resurrection, why do we endanger ourselves every hour?” Man’s nature is to seek a secure place. But Paul said he and his coworkers endangered themselves to live as the witnesses of the Risen Jesus. He continued to move here and there to pioneer all places of Asia and Europe to preach the gospel of Jesus. He endangered himself not hesitantly but willingly. It was because he had a resurrection faith. To him, any danger or challenge was not fear but opportunity to create a new history. (Bible study, worship and studying and career, marriage) With resurrection faith, he could live like a phoenix and an active volcano.
Look at verse 31. “I die every day, just as surely as I boast (glory) about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.” People boast of their titles, educational degrees, cars and outer appearance. But Paul boasted that he died every day. Did he try to suicide every day? No, it was determination to die to his human ego, human desires and human ambition so that he might experience the power of resurrection in Jesus. He did not want to pour out his precious time and energy on things to decay. No, he wanted to live for eternal value and reward. He knew that the enemy and hindrance is ‘he’. So, he decided to die every day.
One young man decided to die to his desire to watch baseball games. Then he tasted peace, freedom and power. Another young man had a noble and great vision but he was consumed by romantic feelings that he could do nothing. With many days’ struggles, he decided to die to such romantic feelings and finally became free. Several years later, he married a godly woman and lived for God’s glory like Paul.
Paul had no fear of aging and death. To live is to preach the gospel of Jesus and to die is resurrection. Then he lived a historical and great life. Young men, live like that. “I die every day to my fear of death, worldly desires, laziness and selfishness.” Then you will be free and live with resurrection power.
When the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco was built, not a few workers fell and lost their lives. The government installed a safe net underneath. Then nobody fell because they thought, "It is okay to fall."
It is the same for us. Why is the faith in resurrection important? Jesus died on the cross at 33 but he rose again with eternal glory. In Jesus, you can die. You can fail. You can be nobody. You can suffer. Then, you will be free from the fear of death and failure. Then you can bear abundant fruits. Jesus says, “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” (John 12:24)
So, we are scared to death and failure, suffering and poorness. So this world is full of either go-getters or men of loser’s mentality. While everyone is scared to death and failure, sometimes, men and women of faith emerges and change the history or their generations.
King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold and commanded, “You must fall down and worship the image of gold. Or, you will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” While all other bowed and worshiped the golden image, Daniel’s three friends rejected saying, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it. But even if he does not, we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Did these three young die for nothing? No, not only were they rescued by God but also they were promoted in that secular kingdom. This is the power of resurrection.
Generally, we struggle to survive. We struggle not to die. We struggle to gain profit without suffering loss. We struggle not to be looked down upon. We struggle to live comfortably without suffering or hardship. We want to live a fun life. That is why we become narrow-minded, self-seeking and selfish only seeing our security and family. If you have resurrection faith in Jesus, you can cultivate both your garden and the world. You can build up your career and the kingdom of God on earth.
Paul continues: If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." If there is no resurrection, do whatever you want. But because there is resurrection, Paul gave up his human desires and hedonistic life for eternal reward. He is truly wise man.
Verses 33-34 says, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’ Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.” Here bad company are not gangsters or drug dealers or gamblers. They are those who say there is no resurrection, pleasure-seeking, earthly-bound and adulterous.
Dear brothers, if there is no resurrection, we have to live for only ourselves selfish and calculative and pleasure seeking. This is sin. There is punishment for sin while living on earth and eternally. Paul said, “Stop sinning.” May God bless you to live with resurrection faith in Jesus.