The Christian Hope

Easter has passed just a few days ago and many will not think of it for another year. To many it is just another holiday to get together with family, have a big meal and with this one, watch the kids have fun hunting eggs and getting a basket full of goodies.

But to the Christian it is more than that. Even to many Christians when we think of Easter we often think of the descriptions of the resurrection given in the New Testament. Don't get me wrong that is not bad. They give us stirring accounts of what happened on that glorious resurrection morning. However, I have no reason to think it was Easter when the Apostle Paul wrote the first letter to the church at Corinth. Yet in chapter 15 of that letter he deals exclusively with the resurrection and its implications. It is the hope of the Christian.

First of all he tells us that it is the gospel (good news). The gospel is not the birth of Christ (Christmas) that is the gospel. He doesn't mention the gospel as being the wonderful ministry Christ had during the three and a half years of teaching, preaching, and healing the sick. It was the resurrection that was the gospel.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 1 ¶ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel (italics mine) which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Why is that the gospel (good news)? Because it is the Christian's hope. The atheist and evolutionist would have us to believe that we live and die as any other animal. But the Apostle Paul says that all flesh is not the same.

1 Corinthians 15:39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.

Man is different. We have a soul and spirit. and since Christ rose from the dead we will also.

1 Corinthians 15:20-23 20 ¶ But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

That is exciting. I know some that believe that death is the end and the finality of that is very troubling to them. We also live in very disturbing time when it seems that the value of life is diminishing? Abortions are commonplace. You can hardly turn on the TV and not hear of killings and seemingly for almost no reason at all. Many often question why that is. I suggest it is because people believe that the cessation of breathing is the end of life. It is not.

For the Christian it is the beginning of life with Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:51-57 51 ¶ Behold, I shew 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 trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall 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 shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have 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 thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

That is not a passage just to comfort folks at funerals. That is the gospel (good news) of life.