The Hope and Reality of Resurrectiond

A Faithful Congregation is a Prayerful Congregation
The Hope and Reality of Resurrection
1 Corinthians 15:14, 17, 19; 1 Peter 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13
 
1 Corinthians 15:14, 17, 19  If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain…If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins…If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
 
1 Peter 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

1 Thessalonians 4:13  But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.
 
 
The Greatest Hope
The greatest sadness is the loss of a loved one.  When a parent, a child, a friend, or family member dies, great sadness reigns.  But praise be to God!  He has given a way to endure the sadness loss brings.  The greatest hope for a Christian is resurrection.  Jesus, the God-man, lived a sinless life, died for our sins on the cross, and was resurrected from the dead.  He ascended to Father in Heaven and promises that all who believe may join Him there.  This means that there is hope.  There is hope that we will live and hope that we will see our loved ones who have died because all who believe in Jesus will be resurrected, just as Jesus was resurrected.
 
The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the cornerstone of the Chrisitan message.  Yes, Jesus died on the cross for our sins, but it is the resurrection which validates and vindicates His sacrifice.  If Jesus did not rise from the dead then our preaching in in vain, our faith is in vain and is worthless for we would still be in our sins (1 Corinthians 15:14, 17).  The resurrection proves that the cross worked!  The resurrection also gives us hope for things to come.  The Chrisitan hope is that all who believe will be resurrected.  Such hope is a living hope (1 Peter 1:3).  Such hope helps us grieve with hope, and not just grieve with sadness (1 Thessalonians 4:13).  Those who do not believe but suppose that this life is all there is, view death as an unconquerable foe.  Not so the Christian.  Jesus has already conquered death and in Him, so shall we.  This means that we shall see our believing loved ones again.
 
Of course, if the resurrection is just dream—it if did not really happen, then we have no hope.  Therefore, it is important that we understand the reasons to believe in the resurrection.  There is the empty tomb and the uncut grave wrappings, there are the appearances of the risen Jesus, there is the transformed lives of the disciples, there is the biblical record, and there is our experience of the Holy Spirit within us testifying to the truth.
 
Here are links to RightNow Media videos that help us understand the evidence for the resurrection. 

• Wallace - https://app.rightnowmedia.org/en/player/video/379632?session=379645&position=0  
• Ingram - https://app.rightnowmedia.org/en/player/video/928?session=5753&position=0

 
If you already have a RightNow Media account, simply click the links.  If you do not have a RightNow Media account yet, it is a free resource that GCC provides.  RightNow Media has thousands of Bible study videos and materials.  It is a powerful tool for individual Bible study, for Life Groups, and for families.  The kid’s section is wonderful.  To sign up for your free RightNow Media account, click this link: https://app.rightnowmedia.org/join/glendale
 
 
Prayer Prompt
Dear Yahweh, thank You so much for the resurrection.  We have a living hope because of the resurrection.  We live this life with the hope that we shall see our loved ones again. This hope is secure because You, Lord Jesus, raised from the dead never to die again.  You conquered death, defeated the grave, ascended to the Father, and sent the Holy Spirit. Spirit, thank You for dwelling within us and for inspiring the human authors of Scripture to emphasize the resurrection so well.  Yahweh, You are the triune God.  You give such great gifts. You help us endure such great sadnesses.  Thank You!  Thank You for the resurrection—the cornerstone of our faith and foundation of our hope.  Please prompt us to live in the reality of the resurrection daily and to share this hope with others.
 
We love You, Yahweh, but please don’t just take our word for it, but see it in how we live for You.  Amen.
 
Let our faithfulness in prayer mirror Yahweh’s faithfulness!
 
-FW, CC, SL,
Andrew