Never Without Hope
By: Wayne Boyer
While working the other day we received word that a critically ill patient was being transferred to our institution for more care and intervention. Unfortunately, there was no improvement in her condition on arrival, but we committed to do our best to try and preserve her life. However, we first we sat down with her family to explain her likelihood of survival was low but we would try our best. As long as there was some glimmer of hope the family remained emotionally stable.
In Paul’s day some argued against a resurrection from the dead and in our day many believe the same—no life or hope exists after death. But what are the implications of such beliefs? In First Corinthians 15:12–19, Paul tells us if Christ has not been raised from the dead then three things are true. Our message is empty, our faith is useless, and we are liars (we would be lying in the sense that we give God credit for raising the dead, when in fact, they are not raised). Imagine being in a place where we have no hope to offer anyone in this life, including ourselves.
Paul continues, if the dead are not raised then Christ is not raised. And if Christ is not raised, then three tragic truths are realized. Our faith is worthless, we remain in sin, and the dead have perished. If Christ is not raised from the dead the reality or existence of sin is not negated. We are left without an eternal sacrifice and no possibility of forgiveness for our sin. Why is that? Because we understand that the perfect life of Christ qualified Him as the only acceptable sacrifice to God. His death was necessary to pay the penalty for our sin. His blood covers our sin and makes us righteous before God; otherwise, we are condemned to everlasting punishment without any hope.
If Christ is not raised then His death is in vain. He has not conquered death which is an effect of sin and described as the last enemy to be conquered. Thus Paul concludes, if there is no resurrection, “we are of all men most to be pitied.”
In the following verses (1 Cor. 15:20-28) Paul argues that Christ has been raised from the dead. While our death has come through Adam, our resurrection comes through Christ, who gives eternal life. Death came through Adam because God had warned Adam that he would surely die if he ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17). Adam did eat of that tree and therefore he died. We being the same nature as Adam inherit the same weaknesses and culpabilities as Adam.
Christ, being fully human, suffered death like all humanity. In the strictest sense, this is the only time something bad happened to someone good. The writer of Hebrews helps us understand why the God-Man would subject Himself to such darkness. “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death, He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives” (Heb. 2:14–15). Do you sense His victory and our liberation in this truth? We have this confidence, “if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:11).
In the final verses of the chapter (1 Cor. 15:42-58) Paul explains the transformation in our life that occurs because of the resurrection of Christ. As descendants of Adam we received natural bodies and through Christ we will receive resurrected bodies. The natural comes before the spiritual—we move from earthly to heavenly. We move from perishable to imperishable; from dishonor to glory; and from weakness to power.
In this lifelong process we are conformed to the image of Christ. “If we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who had died is free from sin” (Rom. 6:5-7).
Not only is this transformation necessary to conform us to the image of Christ, it is necessary for us to inherit the kingdom of God. “But when this perishable will have been put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’” (1 Cor. 15:54-55). In the kingdom of heaven sin will be eliminated and therefore death will be eliminated. “Christ having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him” (Rom. 6:9). We enter the kingdom of God, through Christ, to eternal life. This is our blessed hope!
Paul ends this section of Scripture with an exhortation to help the believers press on in their daily walk. He says, “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58). Paul does not exhort us to be steadfast and toil in our own strength. Christ told his disciples it was to their “advantage” that He go away because He promised a Helper who would guide them in all truth (cf. John 16:7–15). After His resurrection Christ appeared to His disciples. Twice He said, “Peace be with you” and then “He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:19–22). Because of the resurrection of Christ we are left with His Spirit. We have God indwelling us—we are not without hope and our faith is not in vain.
Following our procedure the family came to see their loved one. Recognizing her critical and deteriorated condition, the family broke down and lost hope. Their grief nearly brought me to tears. I have witnessed this scenario many times over the years and I am always struck by the lack of comfort in those experiencing the death of loved ones. I am saddened these lost souls do not experience the comfort Paul gives the Thessalonians when he says, “We do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus” (1 Thess. 4:13–14).
Through the resurrection of Christ we see the proceeding death that demonstrates a deep love for us, a willingness to suffer and pay the penalty of our sin, and an invitation to an everlasting relationship with God the Father. Through the resurrection of Christ we see His power to conquer death—and if He can conquer death, then He can sustain us with an eternal hope. And through the resurrection we see hope for all those who will trust in the work of Christ and call upon Him for salvation.
“We are more sure to arise out of our graves than out of our beds.” [Thomas Watson]
All Scripture references taken from NASB-95
