The Impact of the Resurrection PT. 2

Impact on the Future: Surety 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3–5) 

As Christians, we have a future hope that is a sure promise, based upon the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. This “hope” is not wishful thinking, as we consider it in English. The New Testament word for hope has to do with confidence and assurance. The word means, “the confident expectation of something good that is from God and is coming in the future.”iii Although this hope is not yet seen, or realized, it is real and guaranteed nonetheless. It is a sure thing.  

The basis for the hope we have for a heavenly future is the fact Jesus is alive. Even though our hope is still in the future, we have a sound basis on which to expect the fulfillment of what is yet to come for God’s people. The surety of the promises made to us in Scripture about eternal life in heaven is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. We have the hope of an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us. 

The resurrection of Jesus also makes sure our own resurrection in the last day. This promise of resurrection to eternal life comes with a new glorified, redeemed body that will be perfect for the eternal environment of heaven.  

But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at His coming those who belong to Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:20–23) 

In the above passage, Paul identifies the resurrection of Jesus as the firstfruits of those who have already fallen asleep in Him and of those who belong to Him. The concept of firstfruits was well known among the Jews since the firstfruits of each year’s harvest was given to the Lord (Leviticus 23:9-14; Deuteronomy 26:1-11). What makes Paul’s mention of firstfruits significant is the firstfruits were a guarantee of a future harvest.  

Jesus’s resurrection is the firstfruits and it guarantees a future resurrection for those who are in Christ. We can be sure we will be raised up at the second coming and will receive new glorified bodies for eternity. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead makes this future resurrection certain. This is why Paul goes on to say that since death came through one man, Adam, the resurrection from the dead also comes through one man, Christ. As in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive (1 Corinthians 15:21-22).  

Here we have a bad news/good news scenario. The bad news is that Adam sinned against God, and God pronounced the judicial penalty of death on Adam and the whole human race. As in Adam all die. But here is the good news: In Christ all shall be made alive. In Christ, the dark cloud of death that hangs over humanity has been dealt a deathblow (Hebrews 2:14-15). In Christ we have already experienced a spiritual resurrection in conversion (John 5:26-27). In Christ we can also count on a future resurrection to glory (1 Corinthians 15:42-49; Romans 5:2; 8:18; Colossians 3:4). This is all because Jesus lives.  

This future resurrection is received when Jesus comes back. We will be raised up in new glorified bodies of which the glorified resurrection body of Christ is the prototype.  

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself. (Philippians 3:20-21) 

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure. (1 John 1:1-3) 

Talk about good news. What a day that will be. Whether we are in the group of the dead in Christ that accompany His return (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), or in the group of Christians still living at His coming (1 Corinthians 15:50-57), new bodies and eternal life in heaven will be ours. All of this is made possible because of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Right now, we glory in the resurrection of Jesus as the firstfruits. When He returns, we will rejoice even more in the further harvest of the final resurrection to a new body and a new eternal life. It is a promise, a guarantee, something you can stake your life and eternity on, which is exactly what we are doing. The resurrection of Christ impacts our future with surety. The tomb is empty! Praise God, He’s alive! 

It is clear from Scripture the resurrection of Jesus impacts every aspect of our lives from now on through eternity. We serve a risen Savior. Death is defeated and new life belongs to all who come to Christ for salvation. Let the following words of Paul sink in:  

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (2 Timothy 1:8-10, emphasis added) 

Keep pressing on Christian. Do not let the difficulties of this life defeat you. Jesus is alive, and in Him we have victory that is both now and forevermore. 

When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:54–58, emphasis added) 

The tomb is empty! Praise God, Jesus is alive!