“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”
1 Corinthians 15 is the greatest chapter on the resurrection, outside of the gospels, in the New Testament. Verse 19 was written in reference to the hope that we have in Christ’s resurrection, and in our resurrection. The New Testament is clear that Christ arose from the grave and that believers will be resurrected. I can’t imagine having any joy in life if what this life offers is all that we have. The New Testament not only teaches that believers will be raised, but that when they die they go immediately to Jesus. The same Paul who wrote this verse also wrote that when we are absent from the body, we are present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8) What would be the result if “in this life only we have hope in Christ”? If this life is the only hope that we have, the whole Bible is proved to be wrong. I know that the Old Testament does not put as much stress on life after death as the New Testament, although there is evidence of it in various texts. But the New Testament is rife with the teaching that we will live on after we die. In John 11:26 Jesus said to Martha, the sister of Lazarus: “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die…” This is a plain and simple statement from the mouth of Jesus – believers never die. (Unbelievers have after life too, but that is spent in eternal death.) If we believe in the teachings of the Bible, we believe that there is life after this life. If this life is the only hope that we have, we don’t have a great deal to look forward to. Someone once said to me that it would be great to just go to sleep (die) and sleep forever. I love to sleep as much as the next person, but I sure don’t want to spend eternity sleeping. I would hate to think that all of the preaching that I have heard in my life, and all of the preaching that I have done that promises eternal life with Jesus was all for naught. I am looking forward to spending eternity with Jesus, and with all of the believers of all the ages. I know that there is disagreement on this, but I believe that we will know one another in heaven. I don’t know what our eternal relationship will be with each other, but we will know each other. I am looking forward to eternal fellowship with Abraham, David, Peter, Paul, and a host of other great saints of the ages. But as the song says, most of all "I want to See Jesus." If this life is the only hope that we have there is no real joy in this life. The wonderful thing about being a Christian is that when we receive Christ into our lives, we begin eternal life then. In other words, we are living eternally here and now. Jesus brings eternity into our lives. This is one reason that I feel sorry for unbelievers. They would say that their unbelief does not make them miserable, but that is because they do not know the joy of being a believer. Part of the joy that we have in this present life as Christians is that we have fellowship with each other, and can believe that this fellowship will continue into eternity. This thought brings joy to my life here and now, and I hope it is bringing joy to your life here and now. Bro. Joe
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AuthorDr. Joe Beauchamp is the author of this blog and website. Categories
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