Die daily!?

In the early 80s, I was confronted by a Liberal(an Anglican Chaplain from Cambridge University at the Chaplaincy in Cardiff, Wales) with 1Corinthians15v31.

Does this verse suggest to you that we are gradually improving(as taught by Liberalism) or does it tell you that we are Christian by one confession, being accepted by God and transformed into a royal priesthood at the time of repentance(once and for all)?

Does this verse tell you that we are gradually improving(as taught by Liberalism) or does it tell you that we are Christian by one confession, being accepted by God and transformed into a royal priesthood at the time of repentance(once and for all)?

I would like to mention Romans 8v36 for edifying the church and the brethren and the enquirers and the contenders.

Romans羅馬書

8:36 如經上所記, [我們為你的緣故, 終日被殺. 人看我們如將宰的羊]

As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. �KJV

8v36As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." �NIV

D.Lim: The sheep to be slaughtered are sheep alright. They do not become sheep only at the time of being slaughtered. There is no daily transformation.

To be a Christian minister, you either are or you are not. You do not try to become a Christian minister daily.

D.Lim: Ministers and Paul are killed all the day long for those they serve(為你的緣故). Primarily not for their own perfection. They obeyed God, and are counted as righteous.

　

Psalms詩篇44v22:

44:22 我們為你的緣故終日被殺, 人看我們如將宰的羊.

Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. -KJV

Psalms詩篇44v26:

44:26 求你起來幫助我們, 憑你的慈愛救贖我們.

Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake.

D.Lim: Ps44v26 is not about repentance or daily perfection of any self. It is a plead to God for the race of believers.

Ps44vv20,21 tells us that these people are righteous, keeping the law and being faithful to God. Liberals who believe they fail somewhat daily and need to rededicate themselves daily exhibit unfaithfullness and tell us of their unrighteousness. They, therefore, do not follow the pattern here expressed in Ps44v22, even the whole Psalm, nor do they fit in the picture of Rm8v36.

1Corinthians哥林多前書

15:31 弟兄們, 我在主基督耶穌裡, 指著你們所誇的口, 極力的說, 我是天天冒死.

I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. -KJV

15:32 我若當日像尋常人, 在以弗所同野獸戰鬥, 那於我有甚麼益處呢. 若死人不復活, 我們就吃吃喝喝罷. 因為明天要死了.

If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

15:33 你們不要自欺. 濫交是敗壞善行.

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

15:34 你們要醒悟為善, 不要犯罪. 因為有人不認識神. 我說這話, 是要叫你們羞愧.

Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. -KJV

　

1Cor15vv29-34:

29 Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?

30 And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour?

31 I die every day�I mean that, brothers�just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord.

32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, -NIV

for tomorrow we die."[d]

33 Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." 34 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. -NIV

D.Lim: Paul is using a figurative language, as we see him say/wrote/dictated that he has fought with beasts at Ephesus.

D.Lim: Paul tells us in 1Cor15v32 that he was not acting after the manner of men. V33 warns us not to be deceived. We are to avoid corruption, evil communications and nurture good manners. We are to be in righteousness and not dwell in sin. So, this dying daily is a conduct within righteousness. And if righteous, a born again Christian manner indeed. Not a progressive graduation to righteousness or perfection, to be acceptable to the Father.

D.Lim: Awake to righteousness, and sin not. Do not give yourselves and to others the excuses that you just try to leave sin and get into a righteous relationship with Christ.

Preach the truth, the Gospel, teach all so that everyone would have knowledge of God, His plan, His kingdom and His Way.

D.Lim: Look at the modern expression of NIV: Paul affirms in 1Cor15vv29-32 that there is resurrection. It is not a matter that we all die tomorrow. It is a matter of our faith and glorious hope in God that the Father will raise us up from the dead. v32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, -NIV

D.Lim: We fought beasts/monsters/demons to maintain the truth, to preach and teach the truth, the Gospel.

v31 I die every day is in relationship with v30 And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? � endangering ourselves every hour. This is not about seeking gradual improvement to become more Christian or more Christ like. This is about our ministry in Christ, serving the church by representing the Truth once delivered to the saints, the uncorruptable Gospel.

v33 Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."

D.Lim: Stay away from bad company/influence. Stay away from Liberalism. Stay away from hypocrism. Stay away from tradition(extra-Biblical) of men.

This is not being factious, or heretical. This is to keep ourselves testimonies pure and true to what God has delivered to us through His Holy Scriptures(not that via colleges, secular institutes).

For those brethren born into corrupt organizations, the saints together with Christ are praying for you.

We do not just condemn and isolate/boycott. We actively seek to edify the saints and bring the light of the truth to this world.

The love of God constrains us.

1Cor15vv29-34:

29Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?

30Why am I in danger every hour?

31I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day!

32What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."

33Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals."[c]

34Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. -ESV

D.Lim: v29 tells us physical death is not final. Human limitation is not all limiting, not final, not all so constraining.

D.Lim: Protest means presentingwitness. Roman Catholics have tried to present Christians in bad light by teaching "protest" as rebellion against "The Truth". "Protest" in truth is representation of "the Truth". So, Paul protest, as an example to the saints.

In pride of the saints, Paul can witness/protest that he die every day.

We do not boast in empty words. The dead have been raised as a pledge to our promises. And the saints will be raised. The whole passage is about ressurection, and not about gradual progression in perfection. Let us rebuke Liberals, Liberalism, and heresies.

Let us hold to good morals, and not just clink to some morals. Let us walk the narrow way to Heaven and forsake the wide paths to Hell.

Leave "shame". Get back onto our job of teaching the saints and sinners. Let us keep preaching all the truth Christ has entrusted us.