1 Corinthians 15:

1Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.

If I were to give you a series on the cross and leave out the tomb, my work would all be invalid. To leave Christ on the cross and forget that He arose would leave us with no hope. But Christ did not remain in the grave and, as Paul wrote, the basis for our Christian belief is found not only in the cross, but also in the resurrection and new life. Jesus Christ became the firstfruit to be raised from the dead into eternal life. Lazarus had been raised from the dead, but had to die again in his flesh.

1 Corinthians 15:

20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.

Paul then tells us of a greater mystery - When Christ returns again, a trumpet will sound and all the dead in Christ will be reunited with resurrected bodies, just as He gained a new body. The mystery revealed is for those who are still alive in the flesh when the trumpet sounds. We will not experience a death of the flesh. No, in the "twinkling of an eye," we who are still alive will be transformed from mortal to immortal. Then, another great victory over Satan will be attained when the saying comes true…

1 Corinthians 15:

51Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- 52in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."

55"Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?"

I encourage you to examine yourself today. Does Christ’s victory over the grave give you encouragement or does it leave you in doubt. If you are encouraged, praise God and stand firm, as Paul wrote. But if you remain in doubt, I encourage you to go to the foot of the cross. Lay your doubts there and pray to the Father. Give up the struggle and simply believe. Then, the peace that passes all understanding will become evident in a new way. Your relationship with Jesus Christ will become personal and you will find new hope, new faith and new life.

Next week: I feel it’s time to take a closer look at our relationship with Christ. The messages I will be writing next week are more difficult for me. God has called me to use His word to correct, rebuke and encourage. Get ready, because that’s where we’re heading. My prayers are with you all this Easter weekend. God bless.

Your servant,
randy
2TIM1:7

Scripture quotations taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

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