THE PROMISE OF THE RESURRECTION
Five Truths That Establish Our Hope in Christ
Harvest of Faith Live | Facebook Teaching
Theme Scripture: John 11:25–26 (NASB 1995)
Jesus said to her, “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?”
Opening:
Today, I want to share five truths concerning the promise of the resurrection. Our hope is not based on feelings, traditions, or human opinions. Our hope rests on the finished work of Jesus Christ and the faithfulness of God’s Word.
POINT 1. JESUS IS THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE
Scripture: John 11:25
Jesus said to her, “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?”
Notice Jesus did not merely say He could perform a resurrection. He said, “I am the resurrection and the life.”
Resurrection life is found in a Person—Jesus Christ.
Our hope is not in our own righteousness, strength, or ability. Our hope is in Him!
Teaching truth: Because Jesus lives, death cannot have the final word over those who belong to Him.
Transition: But how do we know His resurrection guarantees ours?
POINT 2. JESUS IS THE FIRST FRUITS OF OUR RESURRECTION
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:20–23
But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.
For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming.
In the Old Testament, the first fruits were the beginning of the harvest.
Jesus is the first fruits of the resurrection harvest. His resurrection is the guarantee that the harvest will follow.
Teaching truth: We do not believe in resurrection because we have seen every detail of our future. We believe because Jesus has already risen from the dead!
Transition: And what exactly does God promise to do with our bodies?
POINT 3. GOD WILL GIVE LIFE TO OUR MORTAL BODIES
Scripture: Romans 8:11
But 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.
Notice that Paul says “your mortal bodies.”
God’s promise is not merely that we will continue to exist. Scripture promises the resurrection and transformation of our bodies.
The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to our mortal bodies.
Teaching truth: Our present bodies are subject to weakness, aging, and death, but our future is in the hands of the God who raises the dead!
Transition: When will this resurrection take place?
POINT 4. THE DEAD IN CHRIST WILL RISE
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
Paul wrote these words to comfort believers who were grieving the loss of fellow Christians.
Notice the certainty of the promise: “The dead in Christ will rise.”
The resurrection is our hope in the face of death. Those who belong to Christ will be raised, and God’s people will be gathered to the Lord.
Teaching truth: We grieve, but we do not grieve as those who have no hope!
Transition: What does all this mean for how we live today?
POINT 5. DEATH WILL BE SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:54–57
But when this perishable will have 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?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The resurrection is the ultimate triumph of Jesus Christ over death.
Because of His finished work, we have a living hope and an eternal future.
Paul concludes the chapter with this declaration:
1 Corinthians 15:58 (NASB 1995)
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
Why should we remain steadfast? Because the resurrection changes everything!
Our faith is not in vain. Our labor is not in vain. Our future is secure in Christ.
CLOSING DECLARATION
Church, let us hold firmly to these five truths:
- Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
- His resurrection guarantees the resurrection harvest to come.
- God will give life to our mortal bodies.
- The dead in Christ will rise at His coming.
- Death will ultimately be swallowed up in victory.
Our hope is not simply that we will die and go to heaven. Our hope includes the glorious promise that Jesus Christ will raise His people from the dead!
Because He lives, we have a living hope. Because He has risen, we look forward to our resurrection. And because He has conquered death, we can live faithfully today.
Closing Prayer
Father, in the name of Jesus, thank You for the living hope we have through the resurrection of Your Son. Establish Your Word in our hearts. Remove the fear of death and strengthen our confidence in Your promises. Help us to live steadfastly, knowing that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. We look forward to the day when death will be swallowed up in victory and we will be forever with the Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
S
