What If Christ Has Not Been Raised?1 Corinthians 15:32
If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."

Thoughts for Today:So what if Christ has not been raised? Then the whole idea of Christianity is a hoax. We could talk of a God who might be like an old grandpa -- kind hearted, loving and gentle. But there would be no mention of godly righteousness and consequence. We might try to convince unbelievers that we are all God's children, but the Bible tells us the relationship is only ours if we have been born again in Christ. Perhaps we would feel sorry for the addict, then assure him he is a strong person; and if he could only make up his mind to not indulge again in drugs or alcohol, he once again would enjoy a sober life. But it would be a lie. Why? Because the power to overcome additions, and everything else that plagues us, is not within our own heads -- no matter how smart or strong we might think we are. The power is only with God.

Think about it. If Christ was not raised, then Christianity has little value. It is simply two thousand years of nothingness -- another unrealistic philosophy of life. It's the point Paul makes in our passage today: If we have no more than human hopes, then what is the point of our faith? What have we gained without the resurrection? We might as well party hard, because we're all going to die anyway!

Questions to Ponder:We are humans, Satan is on the prowl among us, and we can be susceptible to doubt. We might even have the question: What if Christ is not raised? If any doubt begins to weigh upon you, turn to this chapter and read it once again. God inspired Paul to help us during those times. Why? Because Christ lives!

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​Enforcing His Victory1 Corinthians 15:27a
For he "has put everything under his feet."

Thoughts for Today:In our passage today, Paul is not speaking of the physical feet of the resurrected Jesus, but the subduing of His enemies under His body, the church.

Ephesians 1:22-23: "He raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way."

We, the body of Christ, are responsible for enforcing His victory over Satan on earth. That is until He returns and finishes the job perfectly. Then whose fault is it if a conquered opponent is allowed to run around freely, wreaking havoc wherever he goes? Jesus has already fought and defeated Satan completely. So the only way Satan functions, is if people give him authority in their lives. It might be easy to understand why unbelievers might -- they have no moral compass, support, or power. But there is no excuse for Christians to allow Satan to destroy their lives.

Questions to Ponder:It is the Lord's will and command for His followers to exercise their authority over Satan -- if we believe. (John 14:12: "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.") Do you believe in the victory of Jesus? Are you living a victorious life?

No More Death or Mourning1 Corinthians 15:26
The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Thoughts for Today:There will always be people who ridicule the Second Coming of Jesus and the resurrection of the dead. Just as Peter speaks of (2 Peter 3:3-7): "Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, 'Where is this "coming" he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.'"

A lot of people think, "If Jesus hasn't been able to defeat His enemies and establish His kingdom over the last 2,000 years, then He can't do it. The whole thing is one big myth!" But they ignore a few other things the Lord said through His Word:

1. "With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day" (2 Peter 3:8).

2. The Lord's strategies rarely make sense to the world. Gideon is a great example (Judges 6-8).

3. Our timing is not His timing. For instance, the Israelites spent 400 years in Egypt because the sins of the Amorites were not yet complete. (Genesis 15:16: "In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.")

4. The Father has fixed the times and seasons by His authority. (Act 1:7: "He said to them: 'It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.'")

In our passage today, Paul tells us that death is the last enemy. So although physical death was overcome by Jesus when He rose from the dead, it still remains a factor in this world. When Jesus returns, even death as we know it will be vanquished. (Revelation 21:4: "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.")

Questions to Ponder:Ultimately there will be no escape from the eternity we have chosen by the choices we make in this life. This is true for believers and unbelievers. How are you using your time until the coming of Jesus? Is it productive? Does it have eternal value?

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Reigning Now and Reigning to Win!1 Corinthians 15:25
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

Thoughts for Today:A lot of people think the reign of Christ over the world will begin when He returns. However, our passage today says almost the exact opposite: "For He must reign UNTIL..."

It is God's plan for the risen Jesus to reign over the entire world, but only until every enemy is conquered. After this occurs, there will be no sinful world to defeat. When Jesus has brought every enemy under His control, He will return the scepter of power He was given to the Father who sent Him. (Psalm 110:1-2: "The Lord says to my lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.' The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, 'Rule in the midst of your enemies!'")

There are two things meant by the word "until". First, it means that Christ is reigning right here and now. And second, He is reigning to win. Isn't that what Jesus said? (Matthew 28:18-20: "Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'")

Questions to Ponder:The reign of Jesus is real and it's in the present. Not just some future and distant period. Are the enemies of your happiness the enemies of Christ? If so, you can be certain that He is fighting for you with all the authority of the Father. However, it is in His way and in His time. Will you patiently await the inevitable victory?

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​The Stages of the Resurrection1 Corinthians 15:23-24
But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.

Thoughts for Today:In our passage today, Paul reveals that there are successive stages of the resurrection:

1. Jesus Christ was the firstfruits.

2. Some of the Old Testament saints were resurrected immediately following Christ's resurrection. (Matthew 27:50-53: "And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus' resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.")

3. Those of us who belong to Him will be resurrected at His coming. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.")

4. A second resurrection of all unbelievers who will be judged and condemned. (John 5:28-29: "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out--those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned." Revelations 20:12-13: "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.")

There is a process of resurrection that began with the Resurrection of Christ, continues with His Second Coming (including the resurrection of believers), and will conclude with the resurrection of all unbelievers.

Questions to Ponder:If someone asked, could you explain the stages of resurrection? Read more in the referenced passages for a greater understanding.

                                              Redemption by a Man1 Corinthians 15:21
For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.

Thoughts for Today:In our passage today, is a very subtle truth: Since death came by a man, the resurrection had to come by a man. There was no other way for humanity to be redeemed except by another of our kind. Why? Because it was a man who abused and misused his God-given authority and caused the human race to be in this mess in the first place. Therefore, it had to be a man to redeem the situation. Jesus had to come in the flesh so He would have authority. (John 5:27: "And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.")

However, we need more than just a payment for our past sins -- we also need deliverance from the present and future power of sin. Without it, in a very short time, we would have voided any forgiveness we received. The resurrected Jesus provides us with that power because it went far beyond the simple forgiveness of sins. As believers, through His Resurrection, we now have new spirits and new life that cannot be corrupted when we sin. (Romans 6:4-7: "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin -- because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.")

Questions to Ponder:Are you living the new life promised by the Lord? Have you left your old ways and the old self behind? We no longer have to be slaves to sin. Are you living as someone who has been set free from sin?

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Dual Significance1 Corinthians 15:20
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Thoughts for Today:In the Levitical calendar, following Passover was a week of celebration called the Festival of Unleavened Bread. (Exodus 23:15-16: "Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread; for seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Aviv, for in that month you came out of Egypt. No one is to appear before me empty-handed. Celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field.")

During this feast the Israelites waved sheaves of grain harvested from their fields toward heaven. This had dual significance: First, their gratitude to God for His provision; and second, the promise of more to come. (Leviticus 23:10b-11: "When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. He is to wave the sheaf before the Lord so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath.")

When did Jesus rise? The day following Passover. So what's the significance? Jesus is the Firstfruit because He is evidence of the promise of more to come. Who's next? All of us who are believers. Jesus was not the first to rise from the dead (He raised Lazarus and others), but He is the first who was truly resurrected -- to never die again.

Questions to Ponder:Have you been honoring God with the firstfruit of your harvest? What promises do you hold on to? Is it only for God's provision in this life, or for what is to come in the next?

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