Steadfast Day 4 Not In Vain: Digging Deeper
March 30, 2023
Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
1 Corinthians 15:8-11
The Original Intent
1) What does Paul mean in reflecting that he was spiritually “born at the wrong time”? (verse 8)
Paul did not become an apostle while Jesus ministered on the earth like the other 12 apostles. (Matthew 10:1-4) Paul answered the call of Christ after Jesus’ death, when the resurrected, ascended Lord appeared to him on the road to Damascus and chose him to take the Gospel to the Gentiles. (Acts 9:15)
Describing his place as the last apostle called, Paul wrote “Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, He also appeared to me” (verse 8) David Guzik explains how the phrase “born at the wrong time” comes from “the ancient Greek term ektroma meaning, ‘abortion, stillbirth, miscarriage’ – it speaks of an untimely birth with ‘freakish’ associations.”
Paul’s salvation was atypical in comparison to the other leaders who had been hand-picked by Jesus. He did not live and work with Jesus on a daily basis in the same way as the other apostles who learned from Him and had grown in faith while ministering together. (Mark 4:34) Instead, Paul was on a mission to shut down Christianity after the death and resurrection of Jesus before God captivated his attention and changed the direction of his life. (1 Timothy 1:12-14)
Because of this early persecution and late calling, Paul considered his birth as an apostle to have come at the “wrong time.” David Lowery suggests “Paul considered himself abnormally born because he lacked the ‘gestation’ period of having been with Christ during His earthly ministry.” Though Paul didn’t spend three years walking with Jesus physically, he spent three years in Arabia before entering full time ministry to personally learn from the Lord and grow in his newfound faith. (Galatians 1:16-17)
No matter how or when we come to Christ, God has plans for us to know Him and to make Him known to those around us. (Acts 20:24)
The Everyday Application
1) What does Paul mean in reflecting that he was spiritually “born at the wrong time”? (verse 8)
Having come to Jesus late in life, Paul may have felt he missed out on being trained in the same way as the other apostles. I felt something similar as an older first time Mom. I was nearly 30 when my first child was born. I didn’t think my age was that uncommon until the labor room nurse asked why I’d waited so long to have a baby. I noticed the age difference throughout those early years whether on field trips, at ball games, or during dance lessons. Mommies my age were in the minority. I was tempted to feel bad about being a little older, but the joys and demands of motherhood left little time for regret. I had baths to run, lullabies to sing, and stories to read! There was no time for looking back when there was so much living to be done.
The apostle Paul realized this as well. He may have missed out on learning at the feet of Jesus, but he was dramatically chosen to share the story of Jesus with those who would listen. (Acts 22:14-15) Once he knew the truth, he began to learn, grow in his faith, and “immediately” shared the Gospel. (Acts 9:20)
I encourage each of us today to focus on the plans God has laid out for us (Psalm 32:8) without wasting time wishfully comparing our storyline with someone else’s. If the Lord has saved you, He’s not wasting time; He is intentionally using your surrender to point others to Himself and strengthen you in your faith if you continue your willful surrender!
Resist the temptation to linger on regrets over what lies behind (Romans 8:1); press onward to all you have been given in Christ! (Philippians 3:13-14)
The Original Intent
2) Why was God’s grace toward Paul shown to not be in vain? (verse 10)
The Apostle Paul wrote, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of [the other apostles], yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10) Paul was saved by God’s grace in an intense fashion, literally apprehended by the power of God on the road to Damascus en route to persecute Christ’s followers. (Acts 9:1-4)
By God’s grace he was shown the redemptive power of Jesus’ sacrifice, and from that moment forward he made it his highest purpose to share the Good News of Jesus and His saving grace. (Galatians 1:23) Still, all of this was not accomplished by Paul’s ability or strength, and he calls our attention directly to his power Source: God’s lavish grace. Paul needed to continually surrender his way to the Lord’s, but he also needed to rely on Christ’s work in and through him instead of his own grit and determination.
God’s grace toward Paul was not in vain because Paul shared God’s love with everyone he came in contact with while fueled by God’s loving grace, even though it often landed him in prison or resulted in persecution. (Acts 16:16-24, Acts 14:19) John Stevenson asserts that Paul “pictures the grace of God as a motivation for service. As he comes to see the wondrous and undeserving goodness that God has bestowed upon him, he is moved to labor even more greatly.”
Paul did not experience God’s grace and keep the Good News to himself; he was inspired to share the freedom and joy he found in Christ that God would be glorified through his willful surrender.
The Everyday Application
2) Why was God’s grace toward Paul shown to not be in vain? (verse 10)
One frustrating thing about teaching is that no matter how much help you provide, you can’t guarantee a child’s success. You can give everything necessary for high achievement, but you cannot force students to accept the help given. A teacher can offer after-school study sessions, provide notes and study aids, give practice tests and identify study partners, but these efforts are all in vain if the student decides to ignore the assistance. It is exasperating as a teacher to expend so much energy and get so little in return.
The Apostle Paul assured the Corinthians that the grace extended to him by His Savior was not given in vain. He wrote, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of [the other apostles], yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” (verse 10). God extended incredible grace to Paul, a self-proclaimed “worst sinner” (1 Timothy 1:15), so His redemptive power would be beautifully displayed in Paul’s transformed life; Paul allowed Christ’s lavish grace to radically change everything. He became one of the most faithful Christians of all time, dedicating his life to sharing the Gospel.
Paul allowed God’s grace to empower his life, ensuring His grace was not given in vain. Author Tony Evans asserts, “Without the power of God’s grace working in us, our labor for Him would produce nothing of eternal value. Once you get your eyes on Christ alone for your assurance, your Christian life will soar, not crash.” This was the case for Paul, and so it is for any Christ follower who allows God to work through them to spread the Good News of Jesus’ offer of total forgiveness and new life.
The Original Intent
3) Why doesn’t it matter how the Corinthians came to believe on Jesus? (verse 11)
In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he emphasized that the Gospel preached by the other apostles and by himself was one and the same. He wrote, “Whether, then, it is I or they, so we proclaim and so you have believed.” (verse 11) Paul pointed out that no matter how the Corinthians came to the saving knowledge of Christ, whether through Paul’s own preaching or through the message of another apostle or follower of Jesus, the important thing was that they heard the Truth and believed in Jesus.
Dr. Thomas Constable explains, “Even though Paul had a different background from the other apostles, he heralded the same message they did. Consequently, his original readers did not need to fear that what they had heard from him was some cultic perversion of the truth. It was the true gospel, and they should continue to believe it.” What mattered to Paul, and what should matter to us, is that the Gospel be shared with everyone, regardless of who shares it. (Matthew 28:19-20)
The importance should be placed on whether it’s the True Gospel and whether we are believing the True Jesus as recorded in Scripture rather than a “Jesus” of our own desires or imaginations. Paul’s goal was that the truth of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection be shared by everyone who hears and accepts the message of Jesus. (Colossians 1:25-29)
May we each fulfill our mission from the Lord with the same focus on Jesus and the same dedication to sharing God’s love as Paul had.
The Everyday Application
3) Why doesn’t it matter how the Corinthians came to believe on Jesus? (verse 11)
Most students have strong feelings about getting a group assignment where everyone does part of the work and gets the same grade as everyone else. Some students want to coast by on the work of their classmates, and those classmates dread doing extra work to make up for the group’s slackers.
One group project I had in high school was to research, write, and perform a historical play that included a dinner scene where we served dishes made from vintage recipes we had compiled. My approach was a factual, academic treatment of the subject matter, but my partners wanted to add some fun, whimsical details. Eventually I agreed, against my better judgment. I was shocked to discover that our teacher loved the facts and recipes I had voted to keep out of the presentation. I learned to be more open to other people’s ideas and that a strong team working together can accomplish much.
The apostle Paul addressed the team effort of evangelism in 1 Corinthians 15:11 when he wrote, “Whether, then, it is I or they, so we proclaim and so you have believed.” Paul wanted to assure his readers that the Gospel he preached was the same Gospel preached by the other apostles and had the same effect on those who heard and believed.
It did not matter to Paul who did the work or who got the credit, so long as Christ was proclaimed and converts were made. (2 Corinthians 2:14) Each apostle had a different style and manner of presentation, but they all experienced Jesus and shared His love and His truth with others.
It was the same information, shared in different ways, to the same effect: salvation from sin (Romans 3:23) and freedom from chains. (John 8:36)
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