As we continue our Easter reading plan, day 37 brings us to some powerful passages about the resurrection of Jesus and its implications for our lives as believers. On this day, we will reflect on 1 Corinthians 15, where Paul lays out in great detail the theological and practical significance of Christ’s resurrection from the dead.
In 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Paul reviews the core truth of the gospel message – that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. He then lists out all the eyewitnesses to the resurrected Christ, emphasizing that Jesus’ resurrection is a historical fact verified by many credible witnesses. As Paul says in verse 14, “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” The bodily resurrection of Jesus is essential to the Christian faith.
Paul goes on to explain how Christ’s resurrection guarantees our future resurrection. Just as Christ was the “firstfruits” of resurrection, so too will those who belong to Him be raised imperishable when He returns (15:20-23). Paul contrasts our current earthly bodies which are perishable and weak, with our future heavenly bodies which will be imperishable, glorious, powerful, and spiritual (15:42-44). Christ’s resurrection ensures victory over sin and death, not just for Himself but for all who put their faith in Him.
In light of these truths, Paul urges us to stand firm in our faith, to keep working for Christ, and to “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” because we know our labor in the Lord is not in vain (15:58). The absolute certainty of Christ’s resurrection and our future resurrection should motivate us to live wholeheartedly for Him and to keep pressing on in our service for the Kingdom.
As we reflect on 1 Corinthians 15, let us be reminded of the centrality of Christ’s bodily resurrection to our faith. Let us stand firm in this truth, resolute against any doubt or false teaching that would seek to minimize or metaphorize the historical reality of this event. And let the assurance of Christ’s power over death and the grave spur us on to live and work passionately for the One who conquered sin and death once and for all!
Additional Insights from 1 Peter 1:3-9
In addition to 1 Corinthians 15, our reading for day 37 includes a powerful resurrection-focused passage from 1 Peter 1:3-9. In this section of his letter, Peter praises God for the living hope we have through Christ’s resurrection and encourages believers to rejoice in spite of trials and suffering.
1 Peter 1:3 blesses God for causing us to be “born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Our living hope comes directly from Christ’s resurrection victory. Because He was powerfully raised from the dead, we can have confidence that we too will receive the “inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven” for us (v.4).
This inheritance – our eternal salvation – is secured by God’s power, not our own feeble efforts. And it is “for you who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (vv.5-6). Even amidst suffering and grief in this world, we can “rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory” because of the sure hope we have in Christ’s resurrection (vv.6-9).
As Peter writes, “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (vv.8-9). We believe and rejoice in a resurrected Savior we have not physically seen, and we can endure any hardship because we know our faith in Him will result in eternal salvation.
1 Peter 1 powerfully reminds us that the living hope we have as believers is anchored in the historical reality of Jesus’ resurrection. Because He rose, we too will rise. And this unshakable hope fortifies us to endure any trial or persecution we may face until the day of His return.
Reflecting on the Destiny of Our Bodies
Both of today’s passages have profound things to say about the destiny of our earthly bodies. Paul stresses that just as Christ’s physical body was resurrected and transformed into a glorious, immortal, spiritual body, so too will the bodies of those who belong to Christ be resurrected and transformed when He returns (1 Cor 15:20-23, 35-57). While our current bodies are weak and perishable, our future resurrection bodies will be imperishable, immortal, powerful, and spiritual.
Peter similarly describes how our living hope through Christ’s resurrection is for an “inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4). Our future resurrected bodies will be perfectly suited for eternity with God.
As we await the return of Christ, the Holy Spirit lives within us, guaranteeing and giving us a foretaste of the glory to come. While we may struggle with the weaknesses and limitations of our current earthly bodies, we can take heart knowing that our bodies will one day be raised and transformed into the likeness of Christ’s glorious resurrection body (Philippians 3:20-21). This truth enables us to suffer hardship in this life with joy and unwavering confidence.
During this Easter season, may we thank God for the blessed hope and glorious destiny promised to our earthly bodies because of Christ’s resurrection. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
Living Out Our Future Hope Today
A key theme in both of today’s passages is the impact that the hope of our future resurrection should have on how we live today. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul uses the certainty of our own resurrection, guaranteed by Christ’s resurrection, as motivation to steadfastly pursue the Lord’s work here and now (15:58). In 1 Peter 1, Peter says that our living hope through Christ’s resurrection enables us to rejoice with “inexpressible and glorious joy” amid earthly trials and grief (1:6-9).
As Easter people who serve a resurrected Savior, our lives here and now should be radically shaped by the sure hope we have of sharing in Christ’s ultimate victory over sin and death. This hope liberates us from the fear of suffering, empowers us to sacrificially love others, and emboldens us to serve Jesus wholeheartedly during our time on earth.
Let us live out the present implications of our future hope by:
- Rejoicing always (1 Thess 5:16)
- Praying without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17)
- Giving thanks in every circumstance (1 Thess 5:18)
- Using our gifts to serve others (1 Peter 4:10)
- Making the most of every opportunity (Eph 5:15-21)
- Investing in things of eternal value (Matt 6:19-21)
Because Christ conquered the grave once for all, we can live fearlessly and joyfully as we await the day when His victory will be fully manifested in the resurrection of the dead and the dawning of the new creation.
The Centrality of the Resurrection
In both 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Peter 1, the bodily resurrection of Jesus is presented as an absolutely essential, non-negotiable truth of the Christian faith. Paul states bluntly that if Christ was not raised, Christian preaching and faith are meaningless (1 Cor 15:14). Peter highlights how it is through Christ’s resurrection that we have been born again to a living hope (1 Peter 1:3).
Without the historical reality of Jesus’ resurrection, there is no good news to proclaim. His resurrection verifies who He claimed to be (the Son of God) and demonstrates that He conquered sin and death once for all. It launched the new creation into this fallen world, setting God’s ultimate victory in motion. That’s why the resurrection has always been at the very heart of gospel proclamation from the earliest days of the Church (Acts 2:14-36; 3:13-15; 4:1-2, 10, 33; 10:39-41; 13:32-39).
As those who have been saved by believing the gospel (1 Cor 15:1-2), we must zealously guard, defend, and proclaim the truth of Jesus’ bodily resurrection. Let us build our lives and ministries on the solid rock of this astonishing miracle, joining with the faithful cloud of witnesses throughout church history who have proclaimed a resurrected Savior.
Hope That Inspires Perseverance
Today’s passages remind us that the hope inspired by Christ’s resurrection gives us strength to persevere through hardship. As Peter writes, “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials” (1 Peter 1:6). Because we have a sure hope secured by Jesus’ resurrection victory (1:3), we can face trials and persecution with joy, knowing our faith is “more precious than gold” and will result in eternal salvation (1:7).
Similarly, Paul says the absolute certainty of our own future resurrection should motivate us to “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Cor 15:58). The assurance we have in Christ’s resurrection empowers us to serve God with endurance and confidence despite opposition or adversity.
No matter what hardships we face as believers, we can stand firm in the strength of the Risen One. Our living hope purifies and prepares us to love and follow Jesus no matter the cost. As His resurrection power works within us, we can faithfully testify to His grace (Acts 4:33) and never grow weary in proclaiming the good news of His victory over death and the grave.
The Centrality of Scripture
In both 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Peter 1, the resurrection of Jesus is presented as the fulfillment of Old Testament Scripture. Paul teaches that Jesus died for our sins and was raised “according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4). Peter writes that believers are born again “through the living and abiding word of God” (1 Peter 1:23).
The clear testimony of Scripture is what validates the resurrection as a historical event. Jesus and the apostles did not expect people to take this miraculous claim on blind faith – they rooted it in the sure testimony of inspired prophecy and apostolic witness, appealing to the Scriptures to substantiate it.
As we proclaim the resurrection today, we must similarly point to the word of God as our source of authority. The Bible faithfully records Jesus’ teaching about His coming death and resurrection, as well as eyewitness testimony of His appearances after rising from the tomb. Our confidence in the resurrection is not based on our own experience, but on the unchanging truth of God’s word.
Like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, we should turn to the Scriptures to find Jesus – His death, burial, resurrection, and appearances all testified to therein (Luke 24:13-27). As Jesus said, the Word of God bears witness about Him (John 5:39). Let us build our lives and our proclamation of the risen Lord on the firm foundation of biblical truth.
Eyewitnesses of the Risen Christ
In defending and explaining the resurrection, Paul highlights the many trustworthy eyewitnesses who saw Jesus alive after his death: Peter, the Twelve, five hundred disciples, James, all the apostles, and finally Paul himself (1 Cor 15:5-8). The resurrection was not a subjective vision seen only by one or two people, but an objective event verified by many ordinary men and women who knew Jesus personally.
Some key lessons we can take from the eyewitness testimony presented by Paul:
- The eyewitnesses were numerous and represented a wide variety of people.
- Most were still alive at the time of Paul’s writing, available to confirm or deny his statements.
- The eyewitnesses touched the physical, resurrected body of Jesus and interacted with Him over an extended time.
- Those who saw Jesus went on to be martyred for their eyewitness testimony, a powerful indicator of their sincerity.
In proclaiming the resurrection today, we can confidently appeal to the diverse, reliable eyewitness testimony recorded in Scripture. Jesus rose bodily, visibly, and convincingly, appearing to skeptics like James and Paul as well as His closest disciples. The unanimous testimony of these eyewitnesses provides undeniable evidence that Jesus is alive!
Salvation through the Resurrected Christ
A key implication of the resurrection highlighted in both passages today is that those who put their faith in the risen Christ receive eternal salvation. As Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 15, Christ’s sacrifice for sins and resurrection from the dead accomplished salvation for all who believe this gospel message:
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 (1 Cor 15:1-4).
Likewise, Peter says that through Christ’s resurrection, God “has caused us to be born again to a living hope” and to “an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4). When we trust in the risen Christ, we spiritually partake of His resurrection life and receive the promise of eternal salvation (Rom. 6:1-14).
The resurrection sets Jesus apart as the only One who can save us from sin and death. He powerfully demonstrated His authority over the grave, and now graciously offers the hope of resurrection life to all who put their faith in Him. Have you received the salvation accomplished by the risen Christ? If so, rejoice – His victory guarantees yours!
Conclusion
In closing, our reading today from 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Peter 1 firmly grounds our hope and faith as believers in the historical bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. This miraculous event is central to the gospel message. It demonstrates Christ’s power over sin and death and His authority as the Son of God. It also guarantees the future resurrection of all who belong to Him. As those who serve a risen Savior, we can live joyfully and confidently in the assurance that His victory is our victory. Let His resurrection life flow through us by the Spirit, empowering us to testify boldly to the saving hope found only in our resurrected King and Lord.