The Victory of Jesus!

February 14, 2022

The Victory of Jesus!

By Brooke Holt

“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. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.” - 1 Corinthians 15:20-25

At this point in his letter, Paul was breaking through the Corinthian babble with the truth of the Gospel. No longer would he continue the questions and logical breakdowns. Paul declared the truth: “Christ has been raised from the dead” (verse 20). Though the Corinthian beliefs about the resurrection were proven wrong, there was a really good benefit from being wrong—true hope in believers being resurrected from the dead.

There are few things that are absolutely certain in this life, but one of those few things is that you are going to die; I am going to die; everyone is going to die. There simply are no exceptions but those who will be there at the second coming of Jesus Christ. For the rest of us, death is our certainty. But, because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, death is not the end for those who put their faith in him. Like Jesus, you will be made alive. You will have a resurrected body, and that body will be perfect, whole, fully restored, and redeemed. Yes, that means no more dieting or hard workouts in the gym. Better yet, it means you will receive and live in the glory of Jesus Christ.

And this hope comes with a promise. Jesus, himself is the guarantee of what is to come. Paul called him the firstfruits meaning that Jesus is God’s pledge to you. What he has done for Jesus, he will do for you. Through Jesus, you will overcome death and know the joy of eternal life in him.

You are part of the victory of Christ’s resurrection. Not only will you share in his glory, but you will share his victory. Before ascending to the Father, Jesus promised his disciples that he would come again and that when he did, he would fully establish his kingdom. In that kingdom, there will be no more sin, death, or evil at work. Every rule and power in this world will be destroyed as Jesus will take his reign among us. What a glorious day that will be!

Reflection:

Have you, like me and these early Corinthian believers, had experiences in which you saw the joy of being wrong? Why do you think it is so important to remain humble and teachable, especially in the ways of the Lord? Are there areas in which you can choose that humility today? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

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