Jesus Christ Lives Forevermore

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you--unless you believed in vain.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

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. - The Apostle Paul (I Corinthians 15:1-22)

The Gospel is outstandingly good news. Especially in the light of a proper grasp of our falleness and unworthiness. It is worth remembering during the dark hours of our earthly sojourn that if we are in Christ we should rejoice because our names are written in the "Book of Life" (Luke 10:20). I sometimes ponder the depressing thought of going through life only hoping in temporal things and without eternal hope. That grieves me beyond measure and should compel us to preach in season and out of season. Charles Spurgeon said that "every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter". Do not offend God with your silence concerning His gift of salvation this Easter. Set aside the debate over whether Christ's death and resurrection actually happened at this time of year and seize the opportunity to preach Christ - the resurrection hope!

It is wonderful to have the legacy of the resurrection hope while we live in our terminally ill flesh that is but a moment on the scale of eterntiy.

When all around is sinking sand on Christ the solid Rock I stand Hallelujah!



Christ was raised bodily, glorified so that His human frame was perfectly suited for both heaven and earth. His body could be seen, and touched (Luke 24:39; John 20:27; 1 John 1:1). He ate food (Luke 24:42-43) and walked and talked as He had before the crucifixion. At this very moment, he sits on the Father's right hand in that same body—making intercession for the saints, including me.

More amazing than all of that, I will one day have a body like His: able to traverse heaven and earth, immortal, yet familiar in its physical form. In fact, it will be this very body, thoroughly healed of all its infirmities and imperfections. That amazes me and thrills me - Phil Johnson.

Till He returns or calls me home . . .