By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo
1 Corinthians 15:14,16-18 "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith… For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost." - NIV
Paul dedicated this chapter to teach about the resurrection: of Christ as first fruits and ours too. He argues why this determines the authenticity of the gospel and hope of our faith. If Christ never shed His blood, died and rose from the dead, then our preaching is useless and we are to be pitied of all people. We would still be in our sins. But He did, and so the gospel is authentic, despite all attempts of satan to distort it through deception.
Sins are forgiven by Jesus’ shed blood on the cross. That’s the basis of our faith and hope; that Jesus died and rose in triumphant victory over sin, the devil and death. It means those who live and die in Him have the same hope, that they shall rise with Him. He declared that He was dead, but now alive (Rev 1:18 ) never to be defeated or die again. Paul says this hope made him face severe trials with hope whether in death or life.
There will be a resurrection of all who died. The righteous will rise to everlasting life in glorious peace and joy. The wicked will rise to eternal damnation and gnashing of teeth in extreme pain because they rejected the Savior. Physical death is not the end. While there is still time in this body, we all have a chance to mend our ways and be reconciled to God our Maker. Then can we have a living hope at the resurrection, that we shall spend eternity with God.
John 5:28-29 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned."
Shalom children of God.