1 Corinthians 15:32
Christianity stands or falls on this one single fundamental claim; Jesus Christ rose from the dead. An empty tomb stands at the heart and centre of the greatest proclamation ever made, separating Christianity from bearing the same worn label of being just another mere religion. We preach first "...how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried..." (1 Cor. 15:3-4); but we don't stop there...we add also "...that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." Christ’s resurrection forms the very bedrock of the hope of all believers indeed as Paul wrote “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept” (vs. 20) Under the Law, the Israelites had to offer to God the “firstfruits” i.e. the first of all the harvest as a thanks giving offering to the LORD. Just as the firstfruits was the sure guarantee of a harvest to follow, so Christ has become the firstfruits of the resurrection harvest, the sure guarantee that we shall follow. Yet, his resurrection is fundamentally unique to any other being raised before Him. Paul writes…“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Phil. 3:20-21).
In this sermon we take a closer look at the nature of the future resurrection of the believer in Christ and in so doing set firmly in view the blessed hope of all who trust in Christ from whom death shall never sever!