CHRIST’S RESURRECTION GUARANTEES OURS

Anita Clark, Pastor

Carbondale, Kansas

Everyone is concerned about the future. We might think, “How long will I live?” “Will I grow old and be dependent upon others, or will I go to be with Jesus at a younger age?” Praise be to our Savior Jesus Christ! He died to create forgiveness for our sins, but He arose from the grave on the third day to guarantee that all who believe will experience resurrection. When that takes place we will be given a new body, one that can live in the heavens with God the Father and the precious Lord Jesus and the great Holy Spirit.

I Corinthians 15 is a chapter that dwells on the resurrection of Jesus Christ and what transpired when He arose as Victor over all “principalities and power and rulers of darkness in high places.” Verses 3 & 4 says, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; And that He was buried and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures;” Romans 4:25 tells us, “Who (Jesus) was delivered for our offenses (sins) and was raised again for our justification.”

Paul says, “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. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept…For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (I Cor. 15:17-20,22). Paul also emphasized in Romans 10:9 & 10, that to become a believer in Christ for salvation, we also must believe that Christ is raised from the dead. Truly, any human can die, perhaps a great martyr’s death, and be remembered for his good deeds for others, but our Lord Jesus not only died as the supreme sacrifice, but rose again as the Victor over death.

Every Christian should come to the place of victory over death. One glorious benefit of the natural death of a believer is that according to the Word of God, he lives on in the presence of God in Heaven. Paul said, “To depart and be with the Lord is far better.” Eternal life is just that, Eternal! One day soon the Lord will appear in the heavens and call us to be with Him. Believers who have died will be raised in a glorious new form, a new body like unto His glorious body. Then, those alive who are watching and waiting for the Lord to come will be caught up together with them in the clouds. Read this in I Thess. 4:12-18. Verse 17 says, “And so shall we ever be with the Lord.” This is possible because of Christ’s resurrection from the dead guaranteeing our resurrection. Praise to the risen Lord!