Our Future is not Bleak but Triumphant in Christ

We just celebrated the most important event in history this past weekend — Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:3–4).

We gathered as a body of believers, giving testimony to our faith in what Christ accomplished for us through the cross and the empty tomb.

In 1 Corinthians 15:54–58, the Apostle Paul, in the same way, gave testimony to the victory the death, burial, and bodily resurrection of Christ accomplished for believers in the form of praise and worship.

Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 15 to correct some who were denying the future bodily resurrection. He spent time carefully presenting the truth about the gospel, the resurrection of Christ, and our future bodily resurrection, but in verses 54–57 Paul turned to worship.

He wrote this section as a triumphant praise flowing from the truth he just taught.

I believe he invites us to join him in this triumphant praise in verses 54–57:

54 “Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.
57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

When we understand Christ’s resurrection and what it accomplished for the believer –

the promise of our future bodily resurrection, we too should praise and worship God.

I love what Jesus said to Martha in John 11:25–26:

“I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

I also love how Martha declared her faith in verse 27,

“She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”

I believe what Paul was emphasizing in verses 54–57, in the form of praise and worship, was the truth that Jesus’ death on the cross for our sin, His burial, and His resurrection have secured for every believer victory over sin and death and the future hope of a bodily resurrection.

Then he wrote how we should serve in response to this truth in verse 58:

“So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”

Knowing Jesus’ resurrection conquered sin, defeated death, and promises eternal hope and our own future bodily resurrection should change how we serve Christ and view all the difficulties, hardships, and disappointments in ministry.

As John MacArthur has said, “No work done in His name is wasted in light of eternal glory and reward.”

The resurrection of Christ guarantees that the believer’s home is heaven and that we will all receive new resurrected bodies (Phil.2:20,21) and stand at the judgment seat of Christ following the rapture of the church to receive reward for our faithfulness and service for all we have done in Christ (2 Cor.5:10). Therefore, we have great hope!

I’m not sure what difficulties you are facing in serving the Lord or what hardships you are experiencing in life right now. Serving the Lord can be difficult, and life can be hard, disappointing, and uncertain, but we have hope.

Why?

He is Risen!

Our future is not bleak but triumphant in Christ.

Matthew 28:6a

“He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said …”