BUT NOW CHRIST IS RISEN

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reater words of triumph than these taken from 1 Corinthians 15:20 have ever been written. The importance of the truth of the bodily, physical resurrection of Jesus Christ is seen by virtue of the fact that the Apostle Paul penned a lengthy chapter (1 Corinthians 15) to defend its reality. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a key element of the gospel that Paul preached as seen in 1 Corinthians 15:4. Paul also writes in verse 19, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

In 1 Corinthians 15:22 Paul wrote, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” By virtue of physical birth every human being is a progeny of Adam. Being a member of Adam’s race destines one to physical death and spiritual death or the second death which is eternal separation from God in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:13-15). But there is good news in verse 22 as well. Those who are in Christ, who have been born again by the work of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5) into a relationship with Christ, are made alive.

Immediately before He raised Lazarus from the dead Jesus spoke these words, ….“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die….” (John 11:25, 26). Jesus promised that the sinner who came to Him by faith, even though he will die physically, he will live on spiritually and eternally.

Because of His bodily resurrection from the dead, the resurrection life that Jesus spoke of in John 11 takes on a greater significance. In 1 Corinthians 15 and verse 23 Paul writes, “But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.” Paul assures all those who are “in Christ” that resurrection life involves more than spiritual and eternal life. It involves being raised from the dead and then given a new immortal, incorruptible human body just as Christ was given at His resurrection. Victory over death is certain for those in Christ because of His physical resurrection from the dead!

Please notice that victory over death comes to the person who is in Christ. Being in Christ is the result of placing one’s faith in Him and being given new life by the Holy Spirit and being baptized into His body (1 Corinthians 12:13) by the Holy Spirit. It is being in Christ, rather than being in a church or a religion or relying on good works, that assures one of resurrection life. Wouldn’t you trust Jesus Christ, Him alone, and what He accomplished for you on Calvary today?