Intro: Eternal life (a quality of life or abundant life with God) is the proof of Christ’s resurrection and our relationship with the Father. In Christ, we have the assurance our sins are forgiven and we are free from the judgment of God. Believers can enjoy tastes of eternal life now while we are in the world, because we have died with Christ and been raised with him into new [resurrection] life. So this reality gives us a different perspective of our lives; a heavenly one filled with hope.
We can know the power that raised Christ from the dead right now, because the Spirit helps to raise us from sin and dead living. This is where we place our faith; in the presence, provision, and power of God. And let us not forget, according to Scripture, there will be another resurrection in the future—all people will be resurrected either into eternal life or into judgment.
For this reason, please make sure you have an abiding relationship with Christ now; make him the Lord of your life. By obeying the Lord and living according to his will, we can look forward to stepping from this corrupt and sinful world into God’s glorious paradise (Luke 23:42-43). This is where God’s people place their hope [Heb: tikvah—expectation]. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom 15:13).
1 Corinthians 15:19-28 NLT
19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.
20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.
21 So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. 22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. 23 But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.
24 After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. 25 For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. 26 And the last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For the Scriptures say, “God has put all things under his authority.” (Of course, when it says “all things are under his authority,” that does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.) 28 Then, when all things are under his authority, the Son will put himself under God’s authority, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere.
Prayer: Lord, I pray for people across the world to be drawn to you and to reach for the salvation you offer in Christ. As believers, our hope is in you and everything you have promised to do in bringing us into the fullness of eternal life. We know one day you will conquer all evil on this earth once and for all. It cannot be soon enough for us, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.