From a human point of view, resurrection seems impossible. We see what death does to the human body, and we know that many people have been dead for hundreds or even thousands of years.

But Christianity is built on something that God has already done: Jesus died and rose again.

If Jesus had remained in the grave, He would not be who He claimed to be. His death on the cross would not have saved us from sin, and we would have no hope beyond death – 1 Corinthians 15:14-17

KJV ¹⁴ And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. ¹⁵ Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. ¹⁶ For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: ¹⁷ And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. CEV ¹⁴ And if Christ wasn't raised to life, our message is worthless, and so is your faith. ¹⁵ If the dead won't be raised to life, we have told lies about God by saying he raised Christ to life, when he really did not. ¹⁶ So if the dead won't be raised to life, Christ wasn't raised to life. ¹⁷ Unless Christ was raised to life, your faith is useless, and you are still living in your sins.
..But Jesus is alive!

Christ's resurrection gives us confidence that those who die trusting in Him will also be raised.

Jesus is the "firstfruits" of those who have died – 1 Corinthians 15:20

KJV ²⁰ But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. CEV ²⁰ But Christ has been raised to life! And he makes us certain that others will also be raised to life.
..His resurrection guarantees the future resurrection of His people.

When Jesus returns, the righteous dead will be raised with immortal bodies, the living righteous will be transformed, and God's people will experience final victory over death.

This week we will study the power of Christ's resurrection and discover why it is our only hope of eternal life.

- SATURDAY – The Power of Christ’s Resurrection

- Memory Text

1 Corinthians 15:14-17

KJV ¹⁴ And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. ¹⁵ Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. ¹⁶ For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: ¹⁷ And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. CEV ¹⁴ And if Christ wasn't raised to life, our message is worthless, and so is your faith. ¹⁵ If the dead won't be raised to life, we have told lies about God by saying he raised Christ to life, when he really did not. ¹⁶ So if the dead won't be raised to life, Christ wasn't raised to life. ¹⁷ Unless Christ was raised to life, your faith is useless, and you are still living in your sins.

- Lesson

Even in Paul's time, some people found the idea of resurrection difficult to believe.

People knew what happened when someone died. The body decayed and eventually returned to dust.

From a human point of view, bringing someone back from death seemed impossible then, just as it does today.

Some believers in Corinth were influenced by ideas around them and began saying there was no resurrection of the dead.

Paul understood how serious this teaching was.

If there is no resurrection, then Jesus Himself has not risen – 1 Corinthians 15:13

KJV ¹³ But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: CEV ¹³ If they won't be raised to life, Christ himself wasn't raised to life.
..And if Jesus has not risen, Christianity loses its foundation.

Our preaching would be empty.

Our faith would be useless.

Our sins would remain unforgiven.

Those who died trusting in Christ would have no future hope.

But Paul confidently announces the wonderful truth: Christ has risen from the dead – 1 Corinthians 15:20

KJV ²⁰ But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. CEV ²⁰ But Christ has been raised to life! And he makes us certain that others will also be raised to life.
..Jesus defeated death.

Christ's resurrection proves that death will not have the final word.

Jesus has risen, ascended to heaven, and will return to take His people home.

That is why the resurrection is not simply one Christian teaching among many.

It is essential to the gospel and to our hope of salvation.

- EGW Notes (Paraphrased)

Ellen White explains that baptism represents our union with the death and resurrection of Jesus.

A Christian is symbolically buried with Christ and raised to live a new life.

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit promise divine help to those who surrender themselves to God.

The Holy Spirit changes the heart, and through God's Word Christians increasingly become like Jesus.

When Christ lives within us by faith, our lives begin to reveal Him.

God's purpose is that our lives should make other people better because they can see Christ working within us.

Our hope is not found in ourselves.

We can rest in the love of Christ and trust the One who gives life and salvation.

The closer we live to Jesus, the more clearly His character will shine through our lives.

- Conclusion

Without Christ's resurrection, Christianity would offer no real hope.

But Jesus is alive.

Because He conquered death, we can trust His promise that death will not have the final victory over those who belong to Him.

- Reflection

Why is Christ's resurrection essential to our salvation?

Reveal Suggested Answer

What hope does Jesus' resurrection give us when someone dies?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- SUNDAY – Proclaiming the Resurrection of Christ

- Lesson

Paul begins 1 Corinthians 15

KJV ¹ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; ² By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. ³ For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; ⁴ And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: ⁵ And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: ⁶ After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. ⁷ After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. ⁸ And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ⁹ For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. ¹¹ Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed. ¹² Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: ¹⁴ And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. ¹⁵ Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. ¹⁶ For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: ¹⁷ And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. ¹⁸ Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. ¹⁹ If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. ²⁰ But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. ²¹ For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. ²³ But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. ²⁴ Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵ For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. ²⁶ The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. ²⁷ For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. ²⁸ And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. ²⁹ Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? ³⁰ And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? ³¹ I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. ³² If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. ³³ Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. ³⁴ Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. ³⁵ But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? ³⁶ Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: ³⁷ And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: ³⁸ But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. ³⁹ All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. ⁴⁰ There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. ⁴¹ There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. ⁴² So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: ⁴³ It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: ⁴⁴ It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. ⁴⁶ Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. ⁴⁷ The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. ⁴⁸ As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. ⁴⁹ And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. ⁵⁰ Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. ⁵¹ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵² In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. ⁵⁵ O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. CEV ¹ My friends, I want you to remember the message I preached and that you believed and trusted. ² You will be saved by this message, if you hold firmly to it. But if you don't, your faith was all for nothing. ³ I told you the most important part of the message exactly as it was told to me. This part is: Christ died for our sins, as the Scriptures say. ⁴ He was buried, and three days later he was raised to life, as the Scriptures say. ⁵ Christ appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. ⁶ After this, he appeared to more than five hundred other followers. Most of them are still alive, but some have died. ⁷ He also appeared to James, then to all of the apostles. ⁸ Finally, he appeared to me, even though I am like someone who was born at the wrong time. ⁹ I am the least important of all the apostles. In fact, I caused so much trouble for God's church that I don't even deserve to be called an apostle. ¹⁰ But God treated me with undeserved grace! He made me what I am, and his grace wasn't wasted. I worked much harder than any of the other apostles, although it was really God's grace at work and not me. ¹¹ But it doesn't matter if I preached or if they preached. All of you believed the message just the same. ¹² If we preach that Christ was raised from death, how can some of you say the dead will not be raised to life? ¹³ If they won't be raised to life, Christ himself wasn't raised to life. ¹⁴ And if Christ wasn't raised to life, our message is worthless, and so is your faith. ¹⁵ If the dead won't be raised to life, we have told lies about God by saying he raised Christ to life, when he really did not. ¹⁶ So if the dead won't be raised to life, Christ wasn't raised to life. ¹⁷ Unless Christ was raised to life, your faith is useless, and you are still living in your sins. ¹⁸ And those people who died after putting their faith in him are completely lost. ¹⁹ If our hope in Christ is good only for this life, we are worse off than anyone else. ²⁰ But Christ has been raised to life! And he makes us certain that others will also be raised to life. ²¹ Just as we will die because of Adam, we will be raised to life because of Christ. ²² Adam brought death to all of us, and Christ will bring life to all of us. ²³ But we must each wait our turn. Christ was the first to be raised to life, and his people will be raised to life when he returns. ²⁴ Then after Christ has destroyed all powers and forces, the end will come, and he will give the kingdom to God the Father. ²⁵ Christ will rule until he puts all his enemies under his power, ²⁶ and the last enemy he destroys will be death. ²⁷ When the Scriptures say he will put everything under his power, they don't include God. It was God who put everything under the power of Christ. ²⁸ After everything is under the power of God's Son, he will put himself under the power of God, who put everything under his Son's power. Then God will mean everything to everyone. ²⁹ If the dead are not going to be raised to life, what will people do who are being baptized for them? Why are they being baptized for those dead people? ³⁰ And why do we always risk our lives ³¹ and face death every day? The pride that I have in you because of Christ Jesus our Lord is what makes me say this. ³² What do you think I gained by fighting wild animals in Ephesus? If the dead are not raised to life, “Let's eat and drink. Tomorrow we die.” ³³ Don't fool yourselves. Bad friends will destroy you. ³⁴ Be sensible and stop sinning. You should be embarrassed that some people still don't know about God. ³⁵ Some of you have asked, “How will the dead be raised to life? What kind of bodies will they have?” ³⁶ Don't be foolish. A seed must die before it can sprout from the ground. ³⁷ Wheat seeds and all other seeds look different from the sprouts that come up. ³⁸ This is because God gives everything the kind of body he wants it to have. ³⁹ People, animals, birds, and fish are each made of flesh, but none of them are alike. ⁴⁰ Everything in the heavens has a body, and so does everything on earth. But each one is very different from all the others. ⁴¹ The sun isn't like the moon, the moon isn't like the stars, and each star is different. ⁴² That's how it will be when our bodies are raised to life. These bodies will die, but the bodies that are raised will live forever. ⁴³ These ugly and weak bodies will become beautiful and strong. ⁴⁴ As surely as there are physical bodies, there are spiritual bodies. And our physical bodies will be changed into spiritual bodies. ⁴⁵ The first man was named Adam, and the Scriptures tell us that he was a living person. But Jesus, who may be called the last Adam, is a life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶ We see that the one with a spiritual body did not come first. He came after the one who had a physical body. ⁴⁷ The first man was made from the dust of the earth, but the second man came from heaven. ⁴⁸ Everyone on earth has a body like the body of the one who was made from the dust of the earth. And everyone in heaven has a body like the body of the one who came from heaven. ⁴⁹ Just as we are like the one who was made out of earth, we will be like the one who came from heaven. ⁵⁰ My friends, I want you to know that our bodies of flesh and blood will decay. This means they cannot share in God's kingdom, which lasts forever. ⁵¹ I will explain a mystery to you. Not every one of us will die, but we will all be changed. ⁵² It will happen suddenly, quicker than the blink of an eye. At the sound of the last trumpet the dead will be raised. We will all be changed, so we will never die again. ⁵³ Our dead and decaying bodies will be changed into bodies that won't die or decay. ⁵⁴ The bodies we now have are weak and can die. But they will be changed into bodies that are eternal. Then the Scriptures will come true, “Death has lost the battle! ⁵⁵ Where is its victory? Where is its sting?” ⁵⁶ Sin is what gives death its sting, and the Law is the power behind sin. ⁵⁷ But thank God for letting our Lord Jesus Christ give us the victory! ⁵⁸ My dear friends, stand firm and don't be shaken. Always keep busy working for the Lord. You know that everything you do for him is worthwhile.
by reminding the Corinthians of the gospel he had preached to them.

They had received this gospel, stood firmly in it, and were being saved through it – 1 Corinthians 15:1-2

KJV ¹ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; ² By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. CEV ¹ My friends, I want you to remember the message I preached and that you believed and trusted. ² You will be saved by this message, if you hold firmly to it. But if you don't, your faith was all for nothing.
..At the centre of this gospel is the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

KJV ¹ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; ² By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. ³ For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; ⁴ And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: CEV ¹ My friends, I want you to remember the message I preached and that you believed and trusted. ² You will be saved by this message, if you hold firmly to it. But if you don't, your faith was all for nothing. ³ I told you the most important part of the message exactly as it was told to me. This part is: Christ died for our sins, as the Scriptures say. ⁴ He was buried, and three days later he was raised to life, as the Scriptures say.
, Luke 24:44-47

KJV ⁴⁴ And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. ⁴⁵ Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, ⁴⁶ And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: ⁴⁷ And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. CEV ⁴⁴ Jesus said to them, “While I was still with you, I told you that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Books of the Prophets, and in the Psalms had to happen.” ⁴⁵ Then he helped them understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ He told them: The Scriptures say that the Messiah must suffer, then three days later he will rise from death. ⁴⁷ They also say that all people of every nation must be told in my name to turn to God, in order to be forgiven. So beginning in Jerusalem,
, and Romans 1:1-4

KJV ¹ Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, ² (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) ³ Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; ⁴ And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: CEV ¹ From Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus. God chose me to be an apostle, and he appointed me to preach the good news ² that he promised long ago by what his prophets said in the holy Scriptures. ^3-4 This good news is about his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ! As a human, he was from the family of David. But the Holy Spirit proved that Jesus is the powerful Son of God, because he was raised from death.

1. Christ Died for Our Sins – 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

KJV ¹ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; ² By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. ³ For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; ⁴ And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: CEV ¹ My friends, I want you to remember the message I preached and that you believed and trusted. ² You will be saved by this message, if you hold firmly to it. But if you don't, your faith was all for nothing. ³ I told you the most important part of the message exactly as it was told to me. This part is: Christ died for our sins, as the Scriptures say. ⁴ He was buried, and three days later he was raised to life, as the Scriptures say.

Jesus' death was not an accident.

He died for our sins in fulfilment of God's plan revealed in Scripture.

2. Christ Rose From the Dead – 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

KJV ¹ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; ² By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. ³ For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; ⁴ And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: CEV ¹ My friends, I want you to remember the message I preached and that you believed and trusted. ² You will be saved by this message, if you hold firmly to it. But if you don't, your faith was all for nothing. ³ I told you the most important part of the message exactly as it was told to me. This part is: Christ died for our sins, as the Scriptures say. ⁴ He was buried, and three days later he was raised to life, as the Scriptures say.

Jesus was buried and rose again on the third day.

His resurrection is an essential part of the gospel.

3. Scripture Pointed Forward to Jesus – Luke 24:44-47

KJV ⁴⁴ And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. ⁴⁵ Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, ⁴⁶ And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: ⁴⁷ And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. CEV ⁴⁴ Jesus said to them, “While I was still with you, I told you that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Books of the Prophets, and in the Psalms had to happen.” ⁴⁵ Then he helped them understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ He told them: The Scriptures say that the Messiah must suffer, then three days later he will rise from death. ⁴⁷ They also say that all people of every nation must be told in my name to turn to God, in order to be forgiven. So beginning in Jerusalem,

Jesus explained that His suffering, resurrection, and the proclamation of repentance and forgiveness fulfilled what Scripture had already revealed.

4. Jesus Is the Son of God – Romans 1:1-4

KJV ¹ Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, ² (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) ³ Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; ⁴ And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: CEV ¹ From Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus. God chose me to be an apostle, and he appointed me to preach the good news ² that he promised long ago by what his prophets said in the holy Scriptures. ^3-4 This good news is about his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ! As a human, he was from the family of David. But the Holy Spirit proved that Jesus is the powerful Son of God, because he was raised from death.

Christ's resurrection powerfully confirms who He is.

Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

The gospel message therefore includes both the cross and the empty tomb.

Jesus died for our sins and rose again.

Paul also connects believing with proclaiming this message.

Read 1 Corinthians 15:2, 11

KJV ¹¹ Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed. CEV ¹¹ But it doesn't matter if I preached or if they preached. All of you believed the message just the same.

1. Believe the Gospel – 1 Corinthians 15:2

KJV ² By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. CEV ² You will be saved by this message, if you hold firmly to it. But if you don't, your faith was all for nothing.

The Corinthians were saved as they continued holding firmly to the gospel they had believed.

2. Proclaim the Gospel – 1 Corinthians 15:11

KJV ¹¹ Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed. CEV ¹¹ But it doesn't matter if I preached or if they preached. All of you believed the message just the same.

Whether the message was preached by Paul or the other apostles, the message remained the same: Christ died and rose again.

Those who proclaim that Jesus is risen must believe that His resurrection really happened.

Paul did not present the Resurrection as a legend, symbol, or spiritual idea.

He presented it as a historical event witnessed by real people.

Read 1 Corinthians 15:5-8

KJV ⁵ And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: ⁶ After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. ⁷ After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. ⁸ And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. CEV ⁵ Christ appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. ⁶ After this, he appeared to more than five hundred other followers. Most of them are still alive, but some have died. ⁷ He also appeared to James, then to all of the apostles. ⁸ Finally, he appeared to me, even though I am like someone who was born at the wrong time.

1. Jesus Appeared to Peter and the Twelve – 1 Corinthians 15:5

KJV ⁵ And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: CEV ⁵ Christ appeared to Peter, then to the twelve.

The risen Jesus appeared to His disciples.

2. Jesus Appeared to More Than Five Hundred People – 1 Corinthians 15:6

KJV ⁶ After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. CEV ⁶ After this, he appeared to more than five hundred other followers. Most of them are still alive, but some have died.

Many of these witnesses were still alive when Paul wrote 1 Corinthians.

People could investigate their testimony for themselves.

3. Jesus Appeared to James and the Apostles – 1 Corinthians 15:7

KJV ⁷ After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. CEV ⁷ He also appeared to James, then to all of the apostles.

Christ continued appearing to His followers after His resurrection.

4. Jesus Appeared to Paul – 1 Corinthians 15:8

KJV ⁸ And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. CEV ⁸ Finally, he appeared to me, even though I am like someone who was born at the wrong time.

Paul himself became a witness of the risen Christ.

The disciples were eyewitnesses of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.

Jesus called them to become witnesses of these things – Luke 24:48

KJV ⁴⁸ And ye are witnesses of these things. CEV ⁴⁸ you must tell everything that has happened.
..They were to proclaim what they had seen to the world.

We did not personally stand beside the empty tomb.

But our faith rests on the testimony God has preserved in Scripture from those who encountered the risen Jesus.

Their testimony gives us strong reasons to believe and proclaim that Christ is alive.

- EGW Notes (Paraphrased)

Ellen White explains that the disciples had witnessed the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

They understood the prophecies that pointed to Him and personally experienced His power to forgive sins.

Jesus therefore commanded them to share these truths with the world.

They were not to wait for people to come to them.

They were to go out and proclaim God's invitation of mercy to Jews and Gentiles, nations, languages, and peoples.

Everything they did was to centre on Jesus.

His name was the source of their authority, unity, and success.

The same risen Christ remains at the centre of the church's mission today.

- Conclusion

The apostles did not merely teach an idea about resurrection.

They proclaimed that Jesus Himself had risen from the dead.

His resurrection fulfilled Scripture, confirmed His identity, and became an essential part of the gospel they carried throughout the world.

- Reflection

Why is Christ's resurrection an essential part of the gospel?

Reveal Suggested Answer

What evidence did Paul give that Jesus really rose from the dead?

Reveal Suggested Answer

How can we be witnesses of Christ's resurrection even though we did not personally see the risen Jesus?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- MONDAY – The Risen Christ, Our Only Hope!

- Lesson

Paul explains the terrible consequences if Jesus had not risen from the dead.

Some people in Corinth were saying that there was no resurrection.

This idea was common in the surrounding pagan world. Many believed that at death the soul left the body and continued somewhere else.

But Paul teaches something very different.

Christian hope depends on a real resurrection from death.

Read 1 Corinthians 15:9-19

KJV ⁹ For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. ¹¹ Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed. ¹² Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: ¹⁴ And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. ¹⁵ Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. ¹⁶ For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: ¹⁷ And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. ¹⁸ Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. ¹⁹ If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. CEV ⁹ I am the least important of all the apostles. In fact, I caused so much trouble for God's church that I don't even deserve to be called an apostle. ¹⁰ But God treated me with undeserved grace! He made me what I am, and his grace wasn't wasted. I worked much harder than any of the other apostles, although it was really God's grace at work and not me. ¹¹ But it doesn't matter if I preached or if they preached. All of you believed the message just the same. ¹² If we preach that Christ was raised from death, how can some of you say the dead will not be raised to life? ¹³ If they won't be raised to life, Christ himself wasn't raised to life. ¹⁴ And if Christ wasn't raised to life, our message is worthless, and so is your faith. ¹⁵ If the dead won't be raised to life, we have told lies about God by saying he raised Christ to life, when he really did not. ¹⁶ So if the dead won't be raised to life, Christ wasn't raised to life. ¹⁷ Unless Christ was raised to life, your faith is useless, and you are still living in your sins. ¹⁸ And those people who died after putting their faith in him are completely lost. ¹⁹ If our hope in Christ is good only for this life, we are worse off than anyone else.

1. If There Is No Resurrection, Christ Has Not Risen – 1 Corinthians 15:12-13

KJV ¹² Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: CEV ¹² If we preach that Christ was raised from death, how can some of you say the dead will not be raised to life? ¹³ If they won't be raised to life, Christ himself wasn't raised to life.

Some Corinthians claimed that there was no resurrection of the dead.

Paul explains that if resurrection is impossible, then Christ Himself could not have risen.

2. Our Preaching Would Be Empty – 1 Corinthians 15:14

KJV ¹⁴ And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. CEV ¹⁴ And if Christ wasn't raised to life, our message is worthless, and so is your faith.

The apostles proclaimed that Jesus had risen from the dead.

If He had not risen, their entire message would be empty.

3. Our Faith Would Be Empty – 1 Corinthians 15:14

KJV ¹⁴ And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. CEV ¹⁴ And if Christ wasn't raised to life, our message is worthless, and so is your faith.

Christian faith depends on a living Saviour.

If Jesus remained dead, our faith would have no foundation.

4. The Apostles Would Be False Witnesses – 1 Corinthians 15:15

KJV ¹⁵ Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. CEV ¹⁵ If the dead won't be raised to life, we have told lies about God by saying he raised Christ to life, when he really did not.

The apostles repeatedly testified that God raised Jesus from the dead.

If the Resurrection never happened, their testimony about God would be false.

5. We Would Still Be in Our Sins – 1 Corinthians 15:16-17

KJV ¹⁶ For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: ¹⁷ And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. CEV ¹⁶ So if the dead won't be raised to life, Christ wasn't raised to life. ¹⁷ Unless Christ was raised to life, your faith is useless, and you are still living in your sins.

Without Christ's resurrection, our faith would be useless and the problem of our sins would remain.

The risen Jesus confirms that His sacrifice for sin was victorious.

6. Those Who Died in Christ Would Be Lost – 1 Corinthians 15:18

KJV ¹⁸ Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. CEV ¹⁸ And those people who died after putting their faith in him are completely lost.

If there were no resurrection, believers who had died trusting in Jesus would have no future.

7. Christians Would Have Hope Only for This Life – 1 Corinthians 15:19

KJV ¹⁹ If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. CEV ¹⁹ If our hope in Christ is good only for this life, we are worse off than anyone else.

If our hope in Christ ended at death, Christians would have no hope of eternal life.

Paul's argument shows how completely Christianity depends on Christ's resurrection.

Without the Resurrection, preaching and faith would be empty.

The apostles would be false witnesses.

Our sins would remain unforgiven.

Those who died trusting in Jesus would have no future hope.

But Christ did rise.

Our hope is therefore not built on a dead teacher or merely on good ideas.

Our hope is centred on the living Jesus.

Paul's teaching also helps us understand the Bible's teaching about death.

If believers immediately received their final reward at death, Paul's emphasis on the future resurrection would be difficult to understand.

Instead, Scripture describes those who have died in Christ as waiting for the resurrection when Jesus returns.

That future resurrection is possible because Jesus Himself conquered death.

- EGW Notes (Paraphrased)

Ellen White explains that God has given us the wonderful hope of eternal life.

Jesus purchased forgiveness and immortality for sinful human beings, and we receive these gifts through faith in Him.

Our hope should never be centred in ourselves or in our own goodness.

It must be centred completely in Christ.

Faith in His sacrifice and His continuing work for us gives stability when we face temptation and difficulty.

Christ is the sure anchor of our hope.

The message of the crucified and risen Saviour is the hope of every believer and encouragement for those who are sorrowing.

When our eyes remain fixed on Jesus, we can trust God's Word and confidently look forward to eternal life.

- Conclusion

Everything depends on whether Jesus really rose from the dead.

If He did not rise, Christian faith would be useless.

But because Christ is alive, our sins can be forgiven and those who die trusting in Him have the sure hope of resurrection and eternal life.

- Reflection

What would we lose if Christ had not risen from the dead?

Reveal Suggested Answer

Why should our hope be centred in Jesus rather than ourselves?

Reveal Suggested Answer

Why is the Bible's teaching that the dead sleep important to Paul's argument about resurrection?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- TUESDAY – Christ, the Firstfruits

- Lesson

After explaining what Christianity would mean if Jesus had not risen, Paul announces the wonderful reality.

Christ has been raised from the dead – 1 Corinthians 15:20

KJV ²⁰ But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. CEV ²⁰ But Christ has been raised to life! And he makes us certain that others will also be raised to life.
..The Resurrection is not merely something Christians hope happened.

Paul presents it as a historical fact.

Because Jesus rose, we can be certain that those who have died in Christ will also rise.

Read 1 Corinthians 15:20-23

KJV ²⁰ But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. ²¹ For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. ²³ But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. CEV ²⁰ But Christ has been raised to life! And he makes us certain that others will also be raised to life. ²¹ Just as we will die because of Adam, we will be raised to life because of Christ. ²² Adam brought death to all of us, and Christ will bring life to all of us. ²³ But we must each wait our turn. Christ was the first to be raised to life, and his people will be raised to life when he returns.

1. Christ Is the Firstfruits – 1 Corinthians 15:20

KJV ²⁰ But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. CEV ²⁰ But Christ has been raised to life! And he makes us certain that others will also be raised to life.

Paul calls Jesus the "firstfruits" of those who have died.

In Bible times, the first part of the harvest was presented to God as a promise that the rest of the harvest would follow.

In the same way, Christ's resurrection guarantees the future resurrection of His people.

2. Death Came Through Adam – 1 Corinthians 15:21-22

KJV ²¹ For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. CEV ²¹ Just as we will die because of Adam, we will be raised to life because of Christ. ²² Adam brought death to all of us, and Christ will bring life to all of us.

Humanity experiences death because of sin.

Adam's fall brought death into the human experience.

But Jesus brings life.

3. Those Who Belong to Christ Will Be Raised – 1 Corinthians 15:23

KJV ²³ But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. CEV ²³ But we must each wait our turn. Christ was the first to be raised to life, and his people will be raised to life when he returns.

The resurrection of God's people does not happen independently of Christ's return.

Those who belong to Jesus will be raised when He comes.

Jesus is also presented as the last Adam.

The first Adam failed to obey God, but Jesus perfectly submitted Himself to the Father's will.

Christ will finally defeat every enemy, including death, and restore God's rightful rule – 1 Corinthians 15:25-28

KJV ²⁵ For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. ²⁶ The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. ²⁷ For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. ²⁸ And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. CEV ²⁵ Christ will rule until he puts all his enemies under his power, ²⁶ and the last enemy he destroys will be death. ²⁷ When the Scriptures say he will put everything under his power, they don't include God. It was God who put everything under the power of Christ. ²⁸ After everything is under the power of God's Son, he will put himself under the power of God, who put everything under his Son's power. Then God will mean everything to everyone.
..Everything lost through sin will ultimately be restored through Christ.

Paul then returns to the foolishness of denying resurrection.

Read 1 Corinthians 15:29-34

KJV ²⁹ Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? ³⁰ And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? ³¹ I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. ³² If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. ³³ Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. ³⁴ Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. CEV ²⁹ If the dead are not going to be raised to life, what will people do who are being baptized for them? Why are they being baptized for those dead people? ³⁰ And why do we always risk our lives ³¹ and face death every day? The pride that I have in you because of Christ Jesus our Lord is what makes me say this. ³² What do you think I gained by fighting wild animals in Ephesus? If the dead are not raised to life, “Let's eat and drink. Tomorrow we die.” ³³ Don't fool yourselves. Bad friends will destroy you. ³⁴ Be sensible and stop sinning. You should be embarrassed that some people still don't know about God.

1. Baptism Points to Resurrection – 1 Corinthians 15:29

KJV ²⁹ Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? CEV ²⁹ If the dead are not going to be raised to life, what will people do who are being baptized for them? Why are they being baptized for those dead people?

Paul mentions people being "baptized for the dead."

The exact meaning of this difficult expression is uncertain.

It may describe people who decided to be baptized because they wanted to be reunited with loved ones who had died in Christ, or because the faithful example of believers who had died encouraged them to follow Jesus.

Either way, Paul's point is that baptism and Christian hope make little sense if there is no resurrection.

2. Following Christ Would Not Be Worth the Danger – 1 Corinthians 15:30-31

KJV ³⁰ And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? ³¹ I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. CEV ³⁰ And why do we always risk our lives ³¹ and face death every day? The pride that I have in you because of Christ Jesus our Lord is what makes me say this.

Paul regularly faced suffering and the possibility of death because he proclaimed Jesus.

Why would he risk his life if there were no resurrection?

3. Without Resurrection, This Life Would Be All We Have – 1 Corinthians 15:32

KJV ³² If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. CEV ³² What do you think I gained by fighting wild animals in Ephesus? If the dead are not raised to life, “Let's eat and drink. Tomorrow we die.”

If death were truly the end, people might simply decide to enjoy the pleasures of this life while they can.

But because resurrection is real, our choices have eternal importance.

4. Resurrection Hope Should Change Our Lives – 1 Corinthians 15:33-34

KJV ³³ Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. ³⁴ Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. CEV ³³ Don't fool yourselves. Bad friends will destroy you. ³⁴ Be sensible and stop sinning. You should be embarrassed that some people still don't know about God.

Paul warns believers not to allow wrong ideas to influence the way they live.

Believing in the Resurrection should lead us to live faithfully for God today.

Baptism beautifully illustrates our relationship with Christ.

We are symbolically buried with Him and raised with Him to a new life – Romans 6:3-4

KJV ³ Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? ⁴ Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. CEV ³ Don't you know that all who share in Christ Jesus by being baptized also share in his death? ⁴ When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father.
; Colossians 2:12

KJV ¹² Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. CEV ¹² And when you were baptized, it was the same as being buried with Christ. Then you were raised to life because you had faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from death.
..The same Jesus who gives us new spiritual life today will one day physically raise His people from death.

Paul could therefore face the future with confidence.

He knew the One in whom he believed and trusted Him completely – 2 Timothy 1:12

KJV ¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. CEV ¹² This is why I am suffering now. But I am not ashamed! I know the one I have faith in, and I am sure he can guard until the last day what he has trusted me with.
..His confidence was not based on himself but on the faithfulness and power of Jesus.

- EGW Notes (Paraphrased)

Ellen White explains that Jesus raised several people from death during His earthly ministry, including the widow's son, Jairus' daughter, and Lazarus.

But these people were restored to ordinary mortal life and eventually faced death again.

Christ's own resurrection was different.

His victory over death became the guarantee of the future resurrection of all who trust in Him.

The Bible's picture of "firstfruits" helps explain this promise.

In Israel, the first portion of the harvest was presented to God before the rest of the harvest was gathered.

It represented the larger harvest that would follow.

In the same way, Christ is the firstfruits of those who sleep in death.

His resurrection is the promise that the righteous dead will also be raised.

The same divine power that raised Jesus will one day raise His people and give them eternal life.

- Conclusion

Jesus did not rise only for Himself.

His resurrection is God's guarantee that death will not permanently hold those who belong to Christ.

Jesus is the firstfruits, and when He returns, the great harvest of His people will follow.

- Reflection

What does it mean that Christ is the "firstfruits" of those who have died?

Reveal Suggested Answer

Why would Paul's suffering for the gospel make little sense if there were no resurrection?

Reveal Suggested Answer

How can you have the same confidence about the future that Paul expressed in 2 Timothy 1:12

KJV ¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. CEV ¹² This is why I am suffering now. But I am not ashamed! I know the one I have faith in, and I am sure he can guard until the last day what he has trusted me with.
?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- WEDNESDAY – The Resurrected Body

- Lesson

Paul has established that Jesus rose from the dead and that those who belong to Him will also be raised.

But this raises an understandable question.

What will our resurrected bodies be like?

Read 1 Corinthians 15:35-49

KJV ³⁵ But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? ³⁶ Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: ³⁷ And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: ³⁸ But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. ³⁹ All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. ⁴⁰ There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. ⁴¹ There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. ⁴² So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: ⁴³ It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: ⁴⁴ It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. ⁴⁶ Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. ⁴⁷ The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. ⁴⁸ As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. ⁴⁹ And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. CEV ³⁵ Some of you have asked, “How will the dead be raised to life? What kind of bodies will they have?” ³⁶ Don't be foolish. A seed must die before it can sprout from the ground. ³⁷ Wheat seeds and all other seeds look different from the sprouts that come up. ³⁸ This is because God gives everything the kind of body he wants it to have. ³⁹ People, animals, birds, and fish are each made of flesh, but none of them are alike. ⁴⁰ Everything in the heavens has a body, and so does everything on earth. But each one is very different from all the others. ⁴¹ The sun isn't like the moon, the moon isn't like the stars, and each star is different. ⁴² That's how it will be when our bodies are raised to life. These bodies will die, but the bodies that are raised will live forever. ⁴³ These ugly and weak bodies will become beautiful and strong. ⁴⁴ As surely as there are physical bodies, there are spiritual bodies. And our physical bodies will be changed into spiritual bodies. ⁴⁵ The first man was named Adam, and the Scriptures tell us that he was a living person. But Jesus, who may be called the last Adam, is a life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶ We see that the one with a spiritual body did not come first. He came after the one who had a physical body. ⁴⁷ The first man was made from the dust of the earth, but the second man came from heaven. ⁴⁸ Everyone on earth has a body like the body of the one who was made from the dust of the earth. And everyone in heaven has a body like the body of the one who came from heaven. ⁴⁹ Just as we are like the one who was made out of earth, we will be like the one who came from heaven.

Paul uses several illustrations and comparisons to help us understand the miracle of resurrection.

1. A Seed Becomes Something New – 1 Corinthians 15:36-38

KJV ³⁶ Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: ³⁷ And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: ³⁸ But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. CEV ³⁶ Don't be foolish. A seed must die before it can sprout from the ground. ³⁷ Wheat seeds and all other seeds look different from the sprouts that come up. ³⁸ This is because God gives everything the kind of body he wants it to have.

Paul compares the body to a seed planted in the ground.

A seed is buried, but from it God produces a living plant.

The plant looks very different from the original seed, yet there is a connection between them.

In the same way, resurrection is a miracle that only God can perform.

2. God Creates Different Kinds of Bodies – 1 Corinthians 15:39

KJV ³⁹ All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. CEV ³⁹ People, animals, birds, and fish are each made of flesh, but none of them are alike.

God has already demonstrated His ability to create different kinds of bodies.

Humans, animals, birds, and fish have bodies appropriate for the lives they were created to live.

God is therefore fully able to give His resurrected people bodies suitable for eternal life.

3. Different Bodies Have Different Glory – 1 Corinthians 15:40-41

KJV ⁴⁰ There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. ⁴¹ There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. CEV ⁴⁰ Everything in the heavens has a body, and so does everything on earth. But each one is very different from all the others. ⁴¹ The sun isn't like the moon, the moon isn't like the stars, and each star is different.

Paul points to the earth, sun, moon, and stars.

Each has its own kind of glory.

In the same way, our resurrected bodies will be far more glorious than our present bodies damaged by sin.

Paul then contrasts our present bodies with the bodies God will give His people at the resurrection.

Read 1 Corinthians 15:42-44

KJV ⁴² So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: ⁴³ It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: ⁴⁴ It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. CEV ⁴² That's how it will be when our bodies are raised to life. These bodies will die, but the bodies that are raised will live forever. ⁴³ These ugly and weak bodies will become beautiful and strong. ⁴⁴ As surely as there are physical bodies, there are spiritual bodies. And our physical bodies will be changed into spiritual bodies.

1. Perishable Becomes Imperishable – 1 Corinthians 15:42

KJV ⁴² So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: CEV ⁴² That's how it will be when our bodies are raised to life. These bodies will die, but the bodies that are raised will live forever.

Our present bodies grow old, decay, and die.

Our resurrected bodies will never decay.

2. Dishonour Becomes Glory – 1 Corinthians 15:43

KJV ⁴³ It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: CEV ⁴³ These ugly and weak bodies will become beautiful and strong.

Our present bodies suffer the effects of sin, sickness, weakness, and death.

God will raise His people in glory.

3. Weakness Becomes Power – 1 Corinthians 15:43

KJV ⁴³ It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: CEV ⁴³ These ugly and weak bodies will become beautiful and strong.

Our present bodies can become tired, injured, sick, and weak.

Our resurrected bodies will possess strength and power appropriate for eternal life.

4. Natural Becomes Spiritual – 1 Corinthians 15:44

KJV ⁴⁴ It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. CEV ⁴⁴ As surely as there are physical bodies, there are spiritual bodies. And our physical bodies will be changed into spiritual bodies.

Paul describes our present bodies as natural and our resurrected bodies as spiritual.

This does not mean that God's people will become spirits without physical bodies.

Paul uses the word "body" for both.

The resurrected body will be a real body completely transformed and perfectly suited to eternal life.

Jesus Himself provides the greatest example.

Our resurrected bodies will be transformed to become like His glorious body – Philippians 3:21

KJV ²¹ Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. CEV ²¹ has power over everything, and he will make these poor bodies of ours like his own glorious body.
..We will remain real people, but we will no longer suffer the physical effects of sin.

There will be continuity between who we are now and who we will be after the resurrection.

We will still be ourselves.

But there will also be a wonderful transformation.

The bodies we have now are subject to sickness, disability, ageing, decay, and death.

Our resurrected bodies will be imperishable, glorious, powerful, and immortal.

Because all we have ever known is a world affected by sin, it is difficult for us to imagine life without sickness, physical weakness, ageing, and death.

But this is exactly what God promises.

- EGW Notes (Paraphrased)

Ellen White explains that the resurrection of Jesus gives us a picture of the future resurrection of God's people.

After His resurrection, Jesus remained recognisable to His followers.

In the same way, those who rise when Jesus returns will retain their personal identity.

Friends will recognise one another.

People who suffered disease, disability, or physical defects in this life will rise free from these effects of sin.

God does not need to restore the exact physical material that once made up a person's body.

Paul's illustration of the seed helps us understand this.

A seed placed in the ground changes, and God produces from it something new.

In the resurrection, God will give each person a transformed body while preserving his or her individual identity.

The same divine power that raised Jesus from the dead will raise His people to immortal life.

- Conclusion

The resurrection is not simply about returning to the same life we have now.

God promises something far greater.

We will remain ourselves, but He will give us transformed, glorious, powerful, and immortal bodies that will never again suffer sickness, decay, or death.

- Reflection

What does Paul's illustration of a seed teach us about resurrection?

Reveal Suggested Answer

Does a "spiritual body" mean that we will become spirits without real bodies?

Reveal Suggested Answer

How can the promise of a perfect resurrected body encourage us when we experience physical weakness today?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- THURSDAY – Final Victory Over Death

- Lesson

Paul reaches the wonderful climax of his teaching about resurrection.

Christ has risen.

Those who die in Christ will rise.

And when Jesus returns, God's people will be transformed and death will finally be defeated.

Read 1 Corinthians 15:50-57

KJV ⁵⁰ Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. ⁵¹ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵² In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. ⁵⁵ O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. CEV ⁵⁰ My friends, I want you to know that our bodies of flesh and blood will decay. This means they cannot share in God's kingdom, which lasts forever. ⁵¹ I will explain a mystery to you. Not every one of us will die, but we will all be changed. ⁵² It will happen suddenly, quicker than the blink of an eye. At the sound of the last trumpet the dead will be raised. We will all be changed, so we will never die again. ⁵³ Our dead and decaying bodies will be changed into bodies that won't die or decay. ⁵⁴ The bodies we now have are weak and can die. But they will be changed into bodies that are eternal. Then the Scriptures will come true, “Death has lost the battle! ⁵⁵ Where is its victory? Where is its sting?” ⁵⁶ Sin is what gives death its sting, and the Law is the power behind sin. ⁵⁷ But thank God for letting our Lord Jesus Christ give us the victory!

1. Our Present Bodies Must Be Changed – 1 Corinthians 15:50

KJV ⁵⁰ Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. CEV ⁵⁰ My friends, I want you to know that our bodies of flesh and blood will decay. This means they cannot share in God's kingdom, which lasts forever.

Paul says that "flesh and blood" cannot inherit God's kingdom.

He is not teaching that people in heaven will exist without bodies.

The surrounding verses show that Paul is contrasting our present mortal and corruptible condition with the immortal life God will give us.

Our bodies must be transformed because bodies affected by sin, decay, and death are not suited for eternal life.

2. The Dead Will Be Raised – 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

KJV ⁵¹ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵² In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. CEV ⁵¹ I will explain a mystery to you. Not every one of us will die, but we will all be changed. ⁵² It will happen suddenly, quicker than the blink of an eye. At the sound of the last trumpet the dead will be raised. We will all be changed, so we will never die again.

Paul reveals a wonderful truth.

Not every believer will experience death, because some will still be alive when Jesus returns.

But every believer will be changed.

At the last trumpet, the dead will be raised and God's living people will also be transformed.

3. Mortality Will Become Immortality – 1 Corinthians 15:53-54

KJV ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. CEV ⁵³ Our dead and decaying bodies will be changed into bodies that won't die or decay. ⁵⁴ The bodies we now have are weak and can die. But they will be changed into bodies that are eternal. Then the Scriptures will come true, “Death has lost the battle!

Our present bodies are mortal and subject to decay.

At Christ's return, God's people will receive immortality.

Only then will death finally be swallowed up in victory.

4. Death Will Lose Its Victory – 1 Corinthians 15:54-55

KJV ⁵⁴ So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. ⁵⁵ O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? CEV ⁵⁴ The bodies we now have are weak and can die. But they will be changed into bodies that are eternal. Then the Scriptures will come true, “Death has lost the battle! ⁵⁵ Where is its victory? Where is its sting?”

Paul celebrates the defeat of humanity's great enemy.

Death has caused suffering and separation throughout human history.

But it will not have the final word.

Through Jesus, death itself will be conquered.

5. Victory Comes Through Jesus – 1 Corinthians 15:56-57

KJV ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. CEV ⁵⁶ Sin is what gives death its sting, and the Law is the power behind sin. ⁵⁷ But thank God for letting our Lord Jesus Christ give us the victory!

Our victory over sin and death does not come through our own strength.

God gives us victory through Jesus Christ.

This transformation happens at the second coming of Jesus.

Paul gives the same hope to grieving Christians in Thessalonica.

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

KJV ¹³ But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. ¹⁵ For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: ¹⁷ Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. CEV ¹³ My friends, we want you to understand how it will be for those followers who have already died. Then you won't grieve over them and be like people who don't have any hope. ¹⁴ We believe Jesus died and was raised to life. We also believe that when God brings Jesus back again, he will bring with him all who had faith in Jesus before they died. ¹⁵ Our Lord Jesus told us that when he comes, we won't go up to meet him ahead of his followers who have already died. ¹⁶ With a loud command and with the shout of the chief angel and a blast of God's trumpet, the Lord will return from heaven. Then those who had faith in Christ before they died will be raised to life. ¹⁷ Next, all of us who are still alive will be taken up into the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the sky. From that time on we will all be with the Lord forever.

1. Christians Do Not Grieve Without Hope – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

KJV ¹³ But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. CEV ¹³ My friends, we want you to understand how it will be for those followers who have already died. Then you won't grieve over them and be like people who don't have any hope. ¹⁴ We believe Jesus died and was raised to life. We also believe that when God brings Jesus back again, he will bring with him all who had faith in Jesus before they died.

Death causes genuine sorrow.

But Christians do not need to grieve as though death were the end.

Because Jesus died and rose again, His followers have resurrection hope.

2. Jesus Will Return – 1 Thessalonians 4:15-16

KJV ¹⁵ For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: CEV ¹⁵ Our Lord Jesus told us that when he comes, we won't go up to meet him ahead of his followers who have already died. ¹⁶ With a loud command and with the shout of the chief angel and a blast of God's trumpet, the Lord will return from heaven. Then those who had faith in Christ before they died will be raised to life.

The Lord Himself will descend from heaven.

His return will be accompanied by a commanding shout, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet of God.

3. The Dead in Christ Will Rise – 1 Thessalonians 4:16

KJV ¹⁶ For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: CEV ¹⁶ With a loud command and with the shout of the chief angel and a blast of God's trumpet, the Lord will return from heaven. Then those who had faith in Christ before they died will be raised to life.

Those who died trusting in Jesus will be raised when He returns.

4. God's People Will Meet Jesus Together – 1 Thessalonians 4:17

KJV 500 Internal Server Error nginx CEV ¹⁷ Next, all of us who are still alive will be taken up into the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the sky. From that time on we will all be with the Lord forever.

The resurrected believers and those who are alive at Christ's coming will together meet the Lord.

From that time onward, God's people will always be with Him.

The Bible's teaching about the sleep of death makes this promise especially beautiful.

For someone who dies trusting in Jesus, there is no awareness of thousands of years passing.

A believer may have died centuries ago, but from that person's experience, the next conscious moment will be the resurrection.

Death closes the eyes.

Then, from the believer's perspective, Jesus comes.

Paul describes the transformation as happening "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye" – 1 Corinthians 15:52

KJV ⁵² In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. CEV ⁵² It will happen suddenly, quicker than the blink of an eye. At the sound of the last trumpet the dead will be raised. We will all be changed, so we will never die again.
..The dead are raised incorruptible, the living righteous are transformed, and together God's people experience the fulfilment of their hope.

This helps us understand the apparent delay of Christ's return.

Whether a Christian dies today or died many centuries ago, death cannot make the wait seem long.

The next thing that person knows will be the voice of Jesus calling His people to life.

- EGW Notes (Paraphrased)

Ellen White describes the wonderful scene when the voice of Jesus calls His sleeping people from their graves.

The righteous dead rise clothed with immortality.

At the same time, the living righteous are transformed.

Together, the resurrected and living saints are caught up to meet Jesus.

Those who were separated by death are reunited, never again to be separated.

Jesus welcomes His redeemed people into His kingdom.

The suffering and conflict caused by sin are finally over.

Christ will not return as He came the first time, as a baby in Bethlehem.

He will return in the glory of the Father, accompanied by the angels of heaven.

Those who have waited for Him will joyfully recognise their Saviour.

At the last trumpet, the sleeping saints will rise and God's people will experience complete victory over death and the grave.

- Conclusion

Death may seem powerful now, but its victory is temporary.

When Jesus returns, the righteous dead will rise, the living righteous will be transformed, and God's people will receive immortality.

Because Jesus conquered death, His followers can confidently look forward to the day when death itself will finally be defeated.

- Reflection

When will God's people receive immortality?

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Why can Christians grieve with hope when someone dies?

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How does understanding death as a sleep help us think about the apparent delay of Jesus' return?

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- FRIDAY – Further Thought

- Lesson

This week we have seen that Christ's resurrection is essential to the Christian faith.

Jesus did not simply teach about eternal life.

He conquered death Himself.

Because Christ is divine and has risen from the dead, those who trust in Him have the assurance of eternal life.

Jesus made this promise when He spoke to Martha before raising Lazarus.

Read John 11:25-26

KJV ²⁵ Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: ²⁶ And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? CEV ²⁵ Jesus then said, “I am the one who raises the dead to life! Everyone who has faith in me will live, even if they die. ²⁶ And everyone who lives because of faith in me will never really die. Do you believe this?”

1. Jesus Is the Resurrection and the Life – John 11:25-26

KJV ²⁵ Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: ²⁶ And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? CEV ²⁵ Jesus then said, “I am the one who raises the dead to life! Everyone who has faith in me will live, even if they die. ²⁶ And everyone who lives because of faith in me will never really die. Do you believe this?”

Jesus has power over death.

Those who believe in Him may die, but death will not have the final victory over them.

When Jesus returns, the righteous dead will be raised incorruptible and the living righteous will be transformed.

Lazarus' resurrection gave a small picture of this future resurrection.

But Lazarus eventually died again.

The final resurrection will be far greater.

God's people will rise with immortal bodies, free forever from sickness, decay, and death.

Paul describes this wonderful victory – 1 Corinthians 15:52-55

KJV ⁵² In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. ⁵⁵ O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? CEV ⁵² It will happen suddenly, quicker than the blink of an eye. At the sound of the last trumpet the dead will be raised. We will all be changed, so we will never die again. ⁵³ Our dead and decaying bodies will be changed into bodies that won't die or decay. ⁵⁴ The bodies we now have are weak and can die. But they will be changed into bodies that are eternal. Then the Scriptures will come true, “Death has lost the battle! ⁵⁵ Where is its victory? Where is its sting?”
..At the last trumpet, the dead will be raised incorruptible and the living righteous will be changed.

Those who went into the grave suffering from the effects of disease and death will rise in immortal health and strength.

Friends and family members who were separated by death will be reunited.

Together, the resurrected righteous and the transformed living saints will meet Jesus and never again be separated from Him.

This is the great hope made certain by Christ's resurrection.

- EGW Notes (Paraphrased)

Ellen White explains that Christ's divinity gives believers assurance of eternal life.

When Jesus promised that those who believe in Him will live even though they die, He was looking forward to His second coming.

Then the righteous dead will be raised incorruptible and the living righteous will be taken to heaven without experiencing death.

The resurrection of Lazarus demonstrated Christ's power to give life, but it also pointed forward to the resurrection of all the righteous dead.

Ellen White describes the return of Jesus as a glorious reunion.

At Christ's voice, the sleeping saints will rise clothed with immortality.

The living righteous will be changed in a moment, and together they will meet their Lord.

Bodies that entered the grave marked by sickness and death will rise in immortal health and strength.

People who were separated by death will be reunited, never again to part.

- Conclusion

Christ's resurrection guarantees that death will not have the final victory.

Jesus is alive, and when He returns, He will call His sleeping people from their graves and transform His living followers.

Because He lives, we have the sure hope of resurrection, immortality, reunion, and eternal life with Him.

- Reflection

Why does Christ's resurrection give us assurance of eternal life?

Reveal Suggested Answer

What will happen to God's people when Jesus returns?

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How can the resurrection hope comfort someone who has lost a loved one in Christ?

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- DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

How can we be witnesses of Christ's resurrection even though we did not personally see Him rise from the dead?

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Why would Christ's death lose its meaning if He had not risen from the dead?

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What did Paul mean when he said that if the dead do not rise, we might as well "eat and drink, for tomorrow we die" – 1 Corinthians 15:32

KJV ³² If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. CEV ³² What do you think I gained by fighting wild animals in Ephesus? If the dead are not raised to life, “Let's eat and drink. Tomorrow we die.”
..What does resurrection hope change about the way we live?

Reveal Suggested Answer

Why does Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 15

KJV ¹ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; ² By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. ³ For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; ⁴ And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: ⁵ And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: ⁶ After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. ⁷ After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. ⁸ And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ⁹ For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. ¹¹ Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed. ¹² Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: ¹⁴ And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. ¹⁵ Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. ¹⁶ For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: ¹⁷ And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. ¹⁸ Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. ¹⁹ If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. ²⁰ But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. ²¹ For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. ²³ But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. ²⁴ Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵ For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. ²⁶ The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. ²⁷ For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. ²⁸ And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. ²⁹ Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? ³⁰ And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? ³¹ I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. ³² If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. ³³ Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. ³⁴ Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. ³⁵ But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? ³⁶ Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: ³⁷ And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: ³⁸ But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. ³⁹ All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. ⁴⁰ There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. ⁴¹ There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. ⁴² So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: ⁴³ It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: ⁴⁴ It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. ⁴⁶ Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. ⁴⁷ The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. ⁴⁸ As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. ⁴⁹ And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. ⁵⁰ Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. ⁵¹ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵² In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. ⁵⁵ O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. CEV ¹ My friends, I want you to remember the message I preached and that you believed and trusted. ² You will be saved by this message, if you hold firmly to it. But if you don't, your faith was all for nothing. ³ I told you the most important part of the message exactly as it was told to me. This part is: Christ died for our sins, as the Scriptures say. ⁴ He was buried, and three days later he was raised to life, as the Scriptures say. ⁵ Christ appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. ⁶ After this, he appeared to more than five hundred other followers. Most of them are still alive, but some have died. ⁷ He also appeared to James, then to all of the apostles. ⁸ Finally, he appeared to me, even though I am like someone who was born at the wrong time. ⁹ I am the least important of all the apostles. In fact, I caused so much trouble for God's church that I don't even deserve to be called an apostle. ¹⁰ But God treated me with undeserved grace! He made me what I am, and his grace wasn't wasted. I worked much harder than any of the other apostles, although it was really God's grace at work and not me. ¹¹ But it doesn't matter if I preached or if they preached. All of you believed the message just the same. ¹² If we preach that Christ was raised from death, how can some of you say the dead will not be raised to life? ¹³ If they won't be raised to life, Christ himself wasn't raised to life. ¹⁴ And if Christ wasn't raised to life, our message is worthless, and so is your faith. ¹⁵ If the dead won't be raised to life, we have told lies about God by saying he raised Christ to life, when he really did not. ¹⁶ So if the dead won't be raised to life, Christ wasn't raised to life. ¹⁷ Unless Christ was raised to life, your faith is useless, and you are still living in your sins. ¹⁸ And those people who died after putting their faith in him are completely lost. ¹⁹ If our hope in Christ is good only for this life, we are worse off than anyone else. ²⁰ But Christ has been raised to life! And he makes us certain that others will also be raised to life. ²¹ Just as we will die because of Adam, we will be raised to life because of Christ. ²² Adam brought death to all of us, and Christ will bring life to all of us. ²³ But we must each wait our turn. Christ was the first to be raised to life, and his people will be raised to life when he returns. ²⁴ Then after Christ has destroyed all powers and forces, the end will come, and he will give the kingdom to God the Father. ²⁵ Christ will rule until he puts all his enemies under his power, ²⁶ and the last enemy he destroys will be death. ²⁷ When the Scriptures say he will put everything under his power, they don't include God. It was God who put everything under the power of Christ. ²⁸ After everything is under the power of God's Son, he will put himself under the power of God, who put everything under his Son's power. Then God will mean everything to everyone. ²⁹ If the dead are not going to be raised to life, what will people do who are being baptized for them? Why are they being baptized for those dead people? ³⁰ And why do we always risk our lives ³¹ and face death every day? The pride that I have in you because of Christ Jesus our Lord is what makes me say this. ³² What do you think I gained by fighting wild animals in Ephesus? If the dead are not raised to life, “Let's eat and drink. Tomorrow we die.” ³³ Don't fool yourselves. Bad friends will destroy you. ³⁴ Be sensible and stop sinning. You should be embarrassed that some people still don't know about God. ³⁵ Some of you have asked, “How will the dead be raised to life? What kind of bodies will they have?” ³⁶ Don't be foolish. A seed must die before it can sprout from the ground. ³⁷ Wheat seeds and all other seeds look different from the sprouts that come up. ³⁸ This is because God gives everything the kind of body he wants it to have. ³⁹ People, animals, birds, and fish are each made of flesh, but none of them are alike. ⁴⁰ Everything in the heavens has a body, and so does everything on earth. But each one is very different from all the others. ⁴¹ The sun isn't like the moon, the moon isn't like the stars, and each star is different. ⁴² That's how it will be when our bodies are raised to life. These bodies will die, but the bodies that are raised will live forever. ⁴³ These ugly and weak bodies will become beautiful and strong. ⁴⁴ As surely as there are physical bodies, there are spiritual bodies. And our physical bodies will be changed into spiritual bodies. ⁴⁵ The first man was named Adam, and the Scriptures tell us that he was a living person. But Jesus, who may be called the last Adam, is a life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶ We see that the one with a spiritual body did not come first. He came after the one who had a physical body. ⁴⁷ The first man was made from the dust of the earth, but the second man came from heaven. ⁴⁸ Everyone on earth has a body like the body of the one who was made from the dust of the earth. And everyone in heaven has a body like the body of the one who came from heaven. ⁴⁹ Just as we are like the one who was made out of earth, we will be like the one who came from heaven. ⁵⁰ My friends, I want you to know that our bodies of flesh and blood will decay. This means they cannot share in God's kingdom, which lasts forever. ⁵¹ I will explain a mystery to you. Not every one of us will die, but we will all be changed. ⁵² It will happen suddenly, quicker than the blink of an eye. At the sound of the last trumpet the dead will be raised. We will all be changed, so we will never die again. ⁵³ Our dead and decaying bodies will be changed into bodies that won't die or decay. ⁵⁴ The bodies we now have are weak and can die. But they will be changed into bodies that are eternal. Then the Scriptures will come true, “Death has lost the battle! ⁵⁵ Where is its victory? Where is its sting?” ⁵⁶ Sin is what gives death its sting, and the Law is the power behind sin. ⁵⁷ But thank God for letting our Lord Jesus Christ give us the victory! ⁵⁸ My dear friends, stand firm and don't be shaken. Always keep busy working for the Lord. You know that everything you do for him is worthwhile.
fit with the Bible's teaching that the dead sleep until the resurrection?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- LESSON SUMMARY

The Power of Christ's Resurrection

The resurrection of Jesus is essential to the gospel.

Christ died for our sins and rose again, just as Scripture foretold – 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

KJV ¹ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; ² By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. ³ For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; ⁴ And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: CEV ¹ My friends, I want you to remember the message I preached and that you believed and trusted. ² You will be saved by this message, if you hold firmly to it. But if you don't, your faith was all for nothing. ³ I told you the most important part of the message exactly as it was told to me. This part is: Christ died for our sins, as the Scriptures say. ⁴ He was buried, and three days later he was raised to life, as the Scriptures say.
..Many eyewitnesses saw the risen Jesus, giving powerful testimony that His resurrection was a real historical event.

Without Christ's resurrection, Christian preaching and faith would be empty. We would still be in our sins, and those who died trusting in Christ would have no future hope – 1 Corinthians 15:14-19

KJV ¹⁴ And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. ¹⁵ Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. ¹⁶ For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: ¹⁷ And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. ¹⁸ Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. ¹⁹ If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. CEV ¹⁴ And if Christ wasn't raised to life, our message is worthless, and so is your faith. ¹⁵ If the dead won't be raised to life, we have told lies about God by saying he raised Christ to life, when he really did not. ¹⁶ So if the dead won't be raised to life, Christ wasn't raised to life. ¹⁷ Unless Christ was raised to life, your faith is useless, and you are still living in your sins. ¹⁸ And those people who died after putting their faith in him are completely lost. ¹⁹ If our hope in Christ is good only for this life, we are worse off than anyone else.
..But Christ has risen.

Jesus is the firstfruits of those who have died – 1 Corinthians 15:20-23

KJV ²⁰ But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. ²¹ For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. ²³ But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. CEV ²⁰ But Christ has been raised to life! And he makes us certain that others will also be raised to life. ²¹ Just as we will die because of Adam, we will be raised to life because of Christ. ²² Adam brought death to all of us, and Christ will bring life to all of us. ²³ But we must each wait our turn. Christ was the first to be raised to life, and his people will be raised to life when he returns.
..His resurrection guarantees that those who belong to Him will also be raised when He returns.

God will give His resurrected people transformed bodies. What is now perishable will become imperishable, weakness will become power, and mortality will become immortality – 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 53-54

KJV ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. CEV ⁵³ Our dead and decaying bodies will be changed into bodies that won't die or decay. ⁵⁴ The bodies we now have are weak and can die. But they will be changed into bodies that are eternal. Then the Scriptures will come true, “Death has lost the battle!
..We will remain ourselves, but we will no longer suffer sickness, ageing, decay, or death.

When Jesus returns, the righteous dead will rise and the living righteous will be transformed – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

KJV ¹⁶ For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: ¹⁷ Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. CEV ¹⁶ With a loud command and with the shout of the chief angel and a blast of God's trumpet, the Lord will return from heaven. Then those who had faith in Christ before they died will be raised to life. ¹⁷ Next, all of us who are still alive will be taken up into the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the sky. From that time on we will all be with the Lord forever.
..Together God's people will meet Jesus and remain with Him forever.

Death will finally lose its victory.

Our hope rests completely in Jesus.

Because Christ lives, those who trust in Him can face death with confidence and look forward to resurrection, immortality, reunion, and eternal life when He returns.