Articles
Wake Up!
“Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame” (1 Corinthians 15:34).
Apparently, in the setting of a discussion concerning the resurrection, some were struggling to awake to righteousness, struggling with sin and missing the knowledge of God. It is amazing that they could miss such a message of hope.
Paul clearly connects the final resurrection of man with the resurrection of Christ. He pointedly speaks of the utter hopelessness and futility of life without the gospel without. Couched in these thoughts are admonitions to faithfulness, “Awake to righteousness, do not sin…!”
“Awake” means to awake from a drunken sleep. Paul also uses similar language in connection to Christ’s return. “Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:6). The surprise return of Jesus should arouse us to a constant vigilance.
Here, Paul is calling the Corinthians from a moral slumber. “Awake to righteousness” is awaken to all that is right and good. “Do not sin,” is a reference to all that is evil and contrary to God. Without the resurrection there is no accountability or reason for a moral compass. Man is free to eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow he dies.
Those who continue in unrighteousness will easily believe just about anything. They become blind, even denying the great message of hope. The world is full of those who do not have the knowledge of God. They readily peddle their biases against God, do not have knowledge of His word nor the power of God.
Paul says, “Wake up”! Knowledge of God will strengthen our faith and help us to rest in all of the marvelous possibilities of a resurrected Savior.
