week of 11-10-10 5th recorded Bible study

The passage I read was 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
You can find it here:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+15%3A1-11&version=NIV

My summary of the passage is this:
Paul reminds the believers in Corinth of the gospel he preached to them previously, emphasizing that this gospel is how they are saved and otherwise they are not. He reiterates that Christ died for our sins and was buried and raised again appearing to Peter and the disciples and then 500 others (even though some no longer live changed by that experience). Jesus then appeared to James and the apostles and lastly to Paul. Paul then speaks quite humbly of himself as he explains that he is undeserving because he persecuted the church. He goes further to explain that he has come to be who he is by grace alone. He explains that it wasn’t him that did all that he did for God, but rather grace through him.

As I reflect:
I first think of Paul reiterating the gospel to a saved people and then I compare it to my life. While I am around my Christian brothers and sisters or while I write to them through the many forums made available to me, do I speak of and joyfully continue to share the gospel that we saved have all come to agree and stand on? Perhaps a gentle reminder there that even among saved, it is good not to forget why. We should remind each other of this more often. It would be near impossible to do so without also expanding upon the fact that it is by grace that we are saved and it is by grace that we are capable of any good thing. Not to lessen any portion of the Bible, for it is all God-breathed and is all useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, however I must say that often I am deeper impacted by the letters written by Paul. Perhaps we share a common sarcasm to the method by which we answer people’s questions at times, or maybe it is a deeper sense of relation because like Paul, I once persecuted the church and attacked believers. Regardless of the reason, I (like Paul) realize how very unworthy I am of grace. We both acknowledge that the only good done through us is due to Christ alone. We have both at times felt the least of our brethren. I love that here he comes back to the very basic truth by which we are saved, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The fact that He died, rose again, and completely showed His grace, love, and omnipotence in sacrificing himself for our debts and resurrecting himself for our new life is the very basis of our belief system and without that, we are just another blind people aimlessly chasing after a god we cannot grasp.

My response to the Lord:
Lord, there is no greater love; no greater grace than that which you have given us on the cross. But not in that alone, Jesus also rose again to show his grace on us that we may live as new creation in Christ. Thank you Father for adopting us; for allowing us to drink from the living water; to partake in the body and blood; for your grace. For you saw the punishment that we required for our sins against you, and you graciously paid our debt that we may know you through Christ. Lord, my life is yours. Every bit of me is yours. This is all I have to give in thanks. So with this life will I sing your praise and worship your holy name, and with this life will I seek to do your will. In Jesus name.