Reflection: The Resurrection of the Dead

A reflection of 1 Corinthians 15:12-34.

Paul makes an emphatic reminder of Christ's resurrection in this passage.

While there is much that may be expounded from this passage, the one thing I drew from this passage is the nature of Christ's work in the world:

More than just making the sinful righteous, Christ came to make the dead living again.

In this passage, we understand that Paul refers to physical death as "sleeping" and spiritual death (or total death) as "death". He makes it clear that Christ brings everything to his subjection, which includes destroying every rule and authority, the last being death itself. This is a crucial point of detail: Upon Christ's resurrection, we were freed from the bondage of spiritual death; upon Christ's return, death itself shall be no more. 

What does this mean for us?

When Christ died on the cross as the propitiation for our sins, he essentially gave us a chance to escape from dying spiritual deaths. We are, as Jesus previously mentioned, "born again". This would not be possible if Christ had not been raised from the dead, for the one who frees others from death must be free from death himself.

If we believe the resurrection of Christ to be true (the foundation for all Christianity), then we must, in full confidence, believe that Christ has the power to make us dead people living again. We must believe that the one, to whom all things will be subjected to, has the power to destroy all rule and authority, to destroy death, to rid us from living in our sins.

How should we live?

Paul delivers this instruction clearly, in parts:

"...I die every day!"

"Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals"."

"Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning."

As we look upon our lives from the vantage point of death, we are able to live in soberness. When we understand the weight of Christ's resurrection and its implications on our lives, it is natural and right to make a conscious decision towards daily surrendering of our lives to Christ. It is sensible to be mindful of our company, and what we choose to entertain each day in thought and deed. It is sensible to live with the mentality of looking forward to the hope that we have in Jesus, and the faithful anticipation of his return that death may finally be destroyed once and for all. And it is sensible for us to live in what is right and free from sin. 

Christ is our eternal king; he is our divine saviour, the rightful Messiah.

He has freed us from the bondage of our iniquities. He has given us a chance to live right.

We have been given this privilege, brothers and sisters. Let us strive towards that.

"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" - Micah 6:8 (ESV) 

Sola Deo Gloria,

Matt