When was the last time you celebrated something? Maybe you celebrated a loved one’s birthday, the birth of a new family member, a successful career advancement, a close friend’s engagement, or something else. Celebrations have a way of pausing time and encouraging us to focus on the gifts God has given our loved ones and us. There are so many things here on this earth that we have to celebrate, but the greatest thing of all is the life that Jesus offers as a result of His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave.
In our Bible study yesterday, we read a portion of Paul’s words found in 1st Corinthians 15. In this passage of Scripture, he repeated the phrase, “If Christ has not been raised…” Paul explained to readers that if Christ had not been raised, our faith would be useless and we would have no forgiveness of sins (verse 17). In other words, the resurrection makes all the difference in our faith. Our study today picks up where we left off. After repeating the phrase, “If Christ has not been raised…”, Paul finally wrote, “But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead” (verse 20). What wonderful words! Christ has been raised! Because He has been raised, everything changed. Most notably, through His resurrection, Jesus has brought life to all who place their faith in Him. You see, just as Jesus rose from the grave, all who place their faith in Him will also experience a resurrection one day when He returns. Paul continued writing, “Just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man” (verse 21). Adam, the first man, introduced sin and, as a result, death, into the world. Jesus, on the other hand, brings resurrection life. Paul wrote, “Everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life” (verse 22). In other words, we, too, will experience a resurrection if we have placed our faith in Christ. “But there is an order to this resurrection”, Paul wrote, “Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when He comes back” (verse 23). There is no greater news than this!
How, then, should we respond to this remarkable truth? This truth compels us to celebrate. Paul broke out into praise as He focused on the life available to all who place their faith in Him in 1st Corinthians 14, quoting Isaiah 5:28, saying, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (verses 54-55). Indeed, the life Jesus brings through His resurrection from the dead is something we should celebrate every single day.
Commit to celebrating the life that can be found in Jesus this weekend. Make plans to join us at one of our weekend services to worship alongside us and praise God for everything Christ has done for us. Bring a friend who is in need of His hope, too. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Prayer Prompt: Use this prompt to guide you as you pray.
“God, I am grateful for the life found in You. I celebrate all you have done because…”
20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
Effects of Denying the Resurrection
29 Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead? 30 And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? 31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” 34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.
A Glorious Body
35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” 36 Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37 And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.
39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.
40 There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.
Our Final Victory
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
