Resurrection of Believers
(1 Corinthians 15:20-26)
Anyone who believes in Jesus says that they believe in the resurrection of Christ. However, many among them lack confidence that they will also be resurrected and only understand the resurrection as an abstract concept.
1. One piece with the Resurrection of Christ
If Christ had been resurrected, then the resurrection of believers would not be doubtful. Therefore, Paul said that Christ was raised from the dead and has been the firstfruit of those who have fallen asleep. In the past, when Israelites harvested their crops, they offered the firstfruits to the priest. Afterward, with the priest’s permission, they started the harvest with earnestness. Therefore, Paul referred to Jesus’ resurrection as the firstfruit because the resurrection of believers who belong to Christ will progress on a large scale.
2. The Resurrection of the people who Belong to the Resurrected King
Christ not only redeemed our sins, but also secured the glorious future for us, where we will be resurrected and enjoy eternal life. We do not need to worry about whether we will be resurrected after we die. It is because resurrection is a part of the grand plan of God. His plan is to cleanse everything and establish an eternal heaven where Christ will rule as the King. The fact that the King of this kingdom has been resurrected is inseparable from the resurrection of His people, who will dwell in His kingdom.
3. The Resurrection of those who Overcome sins and Do righteous deeds
Now the most important thing for us is how we are making our lives based on the fundamental premise of our belief in our resurrection as the truth. We should not be satisfied by just staying within the realm of ‘believers’. Rather, we must constantly examine ourselves to see if our personalities resemble that of Christ and if we are living in accordance with God’s righteousness. Let us not be obsessed with simple notion that we will be resurrected as long as we believe in Him. Let us earnestly accept the Lord’s perspective that distinguishes between those who do unrighteousness and those who do right, as well as those who do good deeds and those who do evil deeds.
April 16, 2023
Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim
