“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” 1 Corinthians 15:20 (Read v. 1-20)
The apostle Paul wrote (v. 14-19): “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”
Did you get that? If Jesus did not rise bodily from the grave on the third day, the following is true:
1. Our preaching and faith is vain and useless.
2. We are false witnesses of God for preaching that Christ was raised from the dead if He was not.
3. Your faith is worthless and you are still dead in your sins.
4. Those who have died trusting in Christ are perished forever – they will not be raised up, nor will we.
5. If our hope and faith is only for this life, we are of all men most miserable.
“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”
As we have heard, Christ Jesus died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, He was buried, He rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
And Jesus was seen alive by Cephas (Peter), the twelve, more than 500 brethren at once (many still alive when Paul wrote), James, the apostle Paul (v. 5-8). And we can add to that the two on the road to Emmaus, Mary Magdalene and the other women (Mark 16; John 20-21; Matthew 28; Luke 24; Acts 1; Acts 9).
As the angels said, Jesus is alive. He has risen as He said. But what does this mean for you and for me?
Because He lives:
1. Our preaching and faith is true and should be heeded (Mark 16:15-16).
2. We tell the truth when we claim that Jesus rose from the dead and will return to judge the world (Acts 10:39-43).
3. Atonement has been made for all our sins and we have full pardon and forgiveness through faith in Christ Jesus (v.3-4; Romans 3:23-26; 4:25; Colossians 1:19-23; Ephesians 1:6-7; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21; 1 John 1:7 – 2:2).
4. Those who died trusting in Jesus are safe in His arms and He will bring them with Him when He returns on the last day (Luke 16:19-31; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Psalm 16:8-11; Revelation 7:9-17).
5. We have the certain hope of life everlasting (cf. John 3:16; 5:24; 11:25-26; 14:1-6; Philippians 1:21-23; 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 ; 1 Corinthians 15:20, 35-58; 1 Peter 1:3-9).
O dearest Jesus, we thank You for bearing upon the cross the full punishment for our sins and for rising again in victory that we, too, might have forgiveness of sins and life everlasting through faith in Your name. Amen.
[Scripture quotations from the King James Version of the Bible]