The physical resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our historic faith, it's the heartbeat of the gospel, and living proof of God’s sovereign power. It happened.
The physical resurrection of Jesus came to pass just like the scriptures foretold. It is not about any religious myth, or about some fleeting hope. Nope. It was real, His resurrection power is very real.
This Bible message is our eternal declaration that Jesus Christ is alive, and because He lives, we too shall live. You can live in a relationship with the risen Son of God as well.
Because He Lives
Because Jesus lives, the curse of sin is broken.
The empty tomb is not just an event in history; it is the turning point of eternity. It proclaims that Jesus is who He said He is, that His sacrifice was sufficient, and that life eternal is available to all who believe. As the hymn so beautifully declares, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.”
It's About A Living Lord (1 Corinthians 15:1–19)
The gospel is not a philosophy or a mere moral teaching; it is truth anchored in historical reality. Paul writes, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins… that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day… and that He appeared” (1 Corinthians 15:3–5). The resurrection is not a story passed along without evidence; it stands on the testimony of eyewitnesses—men and women who encountered the risen Christ and whose lives were forever transformed.
Because Jesus is alive, death no longer holds dominion over those who trust Him. When we receive Christ, we are given resurrection life, eternal life. As Jesus Himself promised, “Whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24).
It's About A Living Hope (1 Corinthians 15:20–49)
The resurrection is more than an event of the past; it is the guarantee of our future. Paul calls Christ the “firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (v. 20). His resurrection is the first in a harvest of lives raised to eternal glory.
When Christ returns, the dead in Him will rise, and we will be changed. Our frail, perishable bodies will be transformed into imperishable, glorified ones. This is not a reconstruction of our old selves, but a divine re-creation—a body that is like Christ’s, perfected and eternal (1 John 3:2). Just as a seed planted in the ground emerges as a flower, so too will our glorified bodies rise from the perishable.
It's About A Living Dynamic (1 Corinthians 15:50–58)
The resurrection has from the time of Christ emerging from the tomb been a major Christian doctrine to believe, it's the capstone doctrine. Yes, it's a cardinal truth of our historic Christian Faith. One can not be a Christian and not believe in this essential Christian doctrine. Paul proclaims that “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (v. 50), but we have a promise of victory. Death has been defeated. Sin’s sting has been removed. Christ’s triumph is our triumph.
Paul concludes with a clarion call: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (v. 58).
If we truly believe in the resurrection and the return of Christ, our lives will reflect it. The hope of glory inspires perseverance, faithfulness, and an unwavering commitment to God’s work.
1 Cor. 15:1 nlt "Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. 2 It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place.
3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. 9 For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.
10 But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace. 11 So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach, for we all preach the same message you have already believed.
12 But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? 13 For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. 15 And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. 16 And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. 18 In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! 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.
29 If the dead will not be raised, what point is there in people being baptized for those who are dead? Why do it unless the dead will someday rise again?
30 And why should we ourselves risk our lives hour by hour? 31 For I swear, dear brothers and sisters, that I face death daily. This is as certain as my pride in what Christ Jesus our Lord has done in you. 32 And what value was there in fighting wild beasts—those people of Ephesus—if there will be no resurrection from the dead? And if there is no resurrection, “Let’s feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!” 33 Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don’t know God at all.
35 But someone may ask, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?” 36 What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first. 37 And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting. 38 Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have. A different plant grows from each kind of seed. 39 Similarly there are different kinds of flesh—one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish.
40 There are also bodies in the heavens and bodies on the earth. The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the glory of the earthly bodies. 41 The sun has one kind of glory, while the moon and stars each have another kind. And even the stars differ from each other in their glory.
42 It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. 43 Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. 44 They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.
45 The Scriptures tell us, “The first man, Adam, became a living person.”[h] But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit. 46 What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later. 47 Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven. 48 Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man. 49 Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like[i] the heavenly man.
50 What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.
51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.
54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die,[j] this Scripture will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless."
The Ultimate Victory Is There For You In Christ
The empty tomb declares with finality: “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said” (Matthew 28:6). In Christ, death has been swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:54). The grave no longer has the final word; the God of life does.
The resurrection is not a distant theological concept—it is a present reality with eternal implications. It assures us that Jesus is not just a great teacher or prophet but the Savior, the living Lord who has conquered death, hell, and the grave. Because He lives, we have a living hope, a living future, and a living purpose.
So, let us live boldly, love deeply, and labor faithfully for the One who has given us victory through His resurrection. The best is yet to come, and eternity beckons us to give Him our very best today.
Do you have this living Lord ruling without contention or rival inside of you? (1 Cor. 15:1–19). Jesus is alive, and the gospel message is true! Witnesses who saw Him have passed along their testimony to us. When you trust Him, you receive resurrection life, and eternal life (John 5:24); death can hold you no more.
Do you have this living Hope to firsthand experience daily (20–49). Jesus Christ will come again, and the dead in Christ will be raised. We will have glorified bodies like Christ’s body (1 John 3:1–3). Keep in mind that resurrection is not reconstruction. God does not reassemble the original body that has turned to dust. Like flowers and fruit from the planted seed, the glorified body is related to the “planted” body but different from it.
Do you have this living dynamic as you pray and obey (50–58). We have no reason to give up because Jesus has conquered sin and death! If you really believe in the resurrection and return of Jesus, verse 58 will characterize your life. The best is yet to come, so let us give Him our best now.
You can right here and right now. Are you not really sure, not convinced? You can be right here and right now.
Apostle Paul’s message in 1 Corinthians 15 is a masterpiece of clarity and urgency, painting the grand narrative of the gospel as both deeply personal and profoundly universal. Here’s how he brings us into the center of Christian belief, illustrating why the resurrection of Christ is the bedrock of faith and the source of eternal hope.
A Message for All—Come Repent and Believe.
His Word goes out To Believers, Seekers, and Pretenders
Paul’s words open with a striking reality: not all within the church truly believe. Some are seekers on the cusp of faith; others are imposters. Yet, he emphasizes that judgment belongs to God alone (Matthew 13:28–29). The Good News holds the power to save only if we believe it and continue in faithful obedience.
Three Unshakable Pillars Regarding The Lord's Gospel
Christ Died for Our Sins
- This was no cosmic accident but the fulfillment of ancient prophecies (e.g., Isaiah 53:5–6, Psalm 16:8–11).
- His death was the payment for humanity’s sin—a divine exchange where the sinless bore the penalty for the sinful.
He Was Buried
- His burial confirms the reality of his death. It silences those who claim his death was fabricated or symbolic.
He Rose Again on the Third Day
- This resurrection has never been about any myth but a historic event that was witnessed by over 500 people, including apostles and even skeptics like James, Jesus’ half-brother.
- The Scriptures prophesied about the Resurrection of Christ (See Jonah 1:17, Psalm 16:8–11), and Jesus’ victory over death anchors Christian hope.
A Lord Worth Living and Dying For
Paul’s life exemplifies what it means to live for this truth. Once an enemy of Christ, Paul became a tireless apostle, enduring persecution daily. He labored harder not out of pride but as a response to God’s grace (15:9–10). His humility reflects a life transformed by the Resurrection’s power.
The Resurrection: A Living Hope
- It Validates Faith: Without Christ’s resurrection, faith is futile, sins remain unforgiven, and hope is an illusion (15:17).
- It Defeats Death: Christ’s resurrection guarantees ours. Death, once humanity’s great enemy, is now a defeated foe (15:54–56).
- It Promises Transformation: Our resurrection bodies will be imperishable, glorious, and spiritual—a perfect reflection of our eternal destiny (15:42–44).
The Call to Action
Paul ends with a rallying cry: “Nothing you do is useless” (15:58). The certainty of Christ’s victory and our future resurrection should inspire unwavering dedication to God’s work. Every act of service, every moment of faithfulness, echoes into eternity.
A Thought To Keep Musing On
Again, the Apostle Paul’s message is a key doctrine among other great Christian doctrines. It’s part of His invitation to you for regeneration and a transformed life. It challenges us to examine our faith, stand firm in the gospel, and live with purpose. In Christ’s resurrection, we find not just hope for tomorrow but strength for today—a truth worth believing, sharing, and embodying.
“Because he lives, we too shall live.”
1 Cor. 15:3, 4 The central theme of the gospel is given in these verses, a key text for the defense of Christianity. The three most important points are: (1) Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. Without the truth of this message, Christ’s death was worthless, and those who believe in him are still in their sins and without hope. However, Christ as the sinless Son of God took the punishment of sin so that those who believe can have their sins removed. “The Scriptures” refers to Old Testament prophecies such as Psalm 16:8–11 and Isaiah 53:5, 6. Christ’s death on the cross was no accident or afterthought. It had been part of God’s plan from all eternity in order to bring about the salvation of all who believe.
(3) He was raised from the dead on the third day, as the Scriptures said. Christ was raised physically and permanently, forever; his Father raised him from the dead “on the third day” as noted in the Gospels (Friday afternoon to Sunday morning—three days in Jewish reckoning of time). This also occurred “as the Scriptures said.” Jesus quoted the prophet Jonah in Matthew 12:40 (see Jonah 1:17) to show the connection to “three days” as prophesied in the Old Testament. Psalm 16:8–11 and Psalm 110 also foretell the resurrection of the Messiah.
15:5–8 There will always be people who say that Jesus didn’t rise from the dead. Paul assures us that many people saw Jesus after his resurrection: Peter; the twelve apostles; more than 500 Christian believers (most of whom were still alive when Paul wrote this, although some had died); James (Jesus’ half-brother); all the apostles; and finally Paul himself. The Resurrection is a historical fact. Don’t be discouraged by doubters who deny the Resurrection. Be filled with hope because of the knowledge that one day you, and they, will see the living proof when Christ returns. (For more evidence on the Resurrection, see the chart in Mark 15, p. 1663.)
15:7 This James is Jesus’ half brother, who at first did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah (John 7:5). After seeing the resurrected Christ, he became a believer and ultimately a leader of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:13). James wrote the New Testament book of James.
We all have a body—each looks different; each has different strengths and weaknesses. But as physical, earthly bodies, they are all alike. All believers are promised life after death and a body like Christ’s (15:49), a resurrection body.
15:8, 9 Paul’s most important credential of his apostleship was that he was an eyewitness of the risen Christ (see Acts 9:3–6). The other apostles saw Christ in the flesh. Paul was in the next generation of believers—yet Christ appeared to him.
15:9, 10 As a zealous Pharisee, Paul had been an enemy of the Christian church—even to the point of capturing and persecuting believers (see Acts 9:1–3). Thus, he felt unworthy to be called an apostle of Christ. Though undoubtedly the most influential of the apostles, Paul was deeply humble. He knew that he had worked hard and accomplished much but only because God had poured kindness and grace upon him. True humility is not convincing yourself that you are worthless but recognizing God’s work in you. It is having God’s perspective on who you are and acknowledging his grace in developing your abilities.
15:10 Paul wrote of working harder than the other apostles. This was not an arrogant boast, because he knew that his power came from God and that it really didn’t matter who worked hardest. Because of his prominent position as a Pharisee, Paul’s conversion made him the object of even greater persecution than the other apostles; thus, he had to work harder to preach the same message.
15:12ff Most Greeks did not believe that people’s bodies would be resurrected after death. They saw the afterlife as something that happened only to the soul. According to Greek philosophers, the soul was the real person, imprisoned in a physical body, and at death the soul was released. There was no immortality for the body, but the soul entered an eternal state. Christianity, by contrast, affirms that the body and soul will be united after resurrection. The church at Corinth was in the heart of Greek culture. Thus, many believers had a difficult time believing in a bodily resurrection. Paul wrote this part of his letter to clear up this confusion about the resurrection.
15:13–18 The bodily resurrection of Christ is the center of the Christian faith. Because Christ rose from the dead, as he promised, we know that what he said is true and that he is God. The Resurrection affirms the truthfulness of Jesus’ life and words. The Resurrection confirms Jesus’ unique authority to say, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). Because he rose, we have certainty that our sins are forgiven. Because he rose, he lives and represents us before God. Because he rose and defeated death, we know we also will be raised. Christ’s resurrection guaranteed both his promise to us and his authority to make that promise. We must take him at his word and believe.
15:19 Why does Paul say believers would be “more to be pitied than anyone in the world” if there were only earthly value to Christianity? In Paul’s day, Christianity often brought a person persecution, ostracism from family, and, in many cases, poverty. There were few tangible benefits from being a Christian in that society. It was certainly not a step up the social or career ladder. More important is the fact that if Christ had not been resurrected from the dead, Christians would not be forgiven of their sins or have any hope of eternal life. If what Christians believe is a lie, we would be pitiful because we would be going through such suffering for no purpose. Fortunately, that is not the case!
15:20 Just as the first part of the harvest was brought to the Temple as an offering (Leviticus 23:10ff) so Christ was the first to rise from the dead and never die again. He is our forerunner, the guarantee of our eventual resurrection to eternal life.
15:21 Death came into the world as a result of Adam and Eve’s sin. In Romans
5:12–21, Paul explained why Adam’s sin brought sin to all people, how death and sin spread to all humans because of this first sin, and the parallel between Adam’s death and Christ’s death.
15:24–28 This is not a chronological sequence of events, and no specific time for these events is given. Paul’s point is that the resurrected Christ will conquer all evil, including death. See Revelation 20:14 for words about the final destruction of death.
15:25–28 Although God the Father and God the Son are equal, each has a special work to do and an area of sovereign control (15:28). Christ is not inferior to the Father, but his work is to defeat all evil on earth. First, he defeated sin and death on the cross, and in the end he will defeat Satan and all evil. World events may seem out of control, and justice may seem to have vanished. But God is in control, allowing evil to remain for a time until he sends Jesus to earth again. Then he will present to God a perfect new world.
15:29 Some believers were baptized on behalf of others who had died unbaptized. Nothing more is known about this practice, but it obviously affirms a belief in the resurrection. Paul is not promoting baptism for the dead; he is illustrating his argument that the resurrection is a reality.
15:30–34 If death ends it all, enjoying the moment would be all that matters. But Christians know that life continues beyond the grave and that life on earth is only a preparation for our life that will never end. What you do today matters for eternity. In light of eternity, sin is a foolish gamble. Your belief in the resurrection will affect your view of the future. It also ought to affect how you live today.
15:31, 32 “I face death daily” refers to the dangers Paul encountered daily. The “wild beasts” in Ephesus referred to the savage opposition he had faced there.
15:33 Keeping company with those who deny the resurrection can corrupt good Christian character. Don’t let your relationships with unbelievers lead you away from Christ or cause your faith to waver.
15:35ff Paul launches into a discussion about what our resurrected bodies will be like. If you could select your own body, what kind would you choose—strong, athletic, beautiful? Paul explains that we will be recognizable in our resurrected body, yet it will be better than we can imagine, for it will be made to live forever. We will still have our own personality and individuality, but these will be perfected through Christ’s work. The Bible does not reveal everything that our resurrected body will be able to do, but we know it will be perfect, without any infirmities (see Philippians 3:21).
15:35ff Paul compares the resurrection with the growth of a seed in a garden. Seeds placed in the ground don’t grow unless they “die” first. The plant that grows looks very different from the seed because God gives it a new “body.” There are different kinds of bodies—people, animals, fish, birds. Even the angels in heaven have bodies that are different in beauty and glory. Our resurrected body will be very different from our earthly body. It will be a spiritual body full of glory.
15:42–44 Our present body is perishable and prone to decay. Our resurrection body will be transformed. The spiritual body will not be limited by the laws of nature. This does not necessarily mean we’ll be superpeople, but our body will be different from and more capable than our present earthly body. Our spiritual body will not be weak, will never get sick, and will never die.
15:45 Because Christ rose from the dead, he is a life-giving Spirit. This means that he entered into a new form of existence. He is the source of the spiritual life that will result in our resurrection. Christ’s new glorified human body now suits his new glorified life—just as Adam’s human body was suitable to his natural life. When we are resurrected, God will give us a transformed, eternal body suited to our new eternal life.
15:50–53 We all face limitations. Some may have physical, mental, or emotional disabilities. Some may be blind, but they can see a new way to live. Some may be deaf, but they can hear God’s Good News. Some may be lame, but they can walk in God’s love. In addition, they have the encouragement that those disabilities are only temporary. Paul tells us that we all will be given new bodies when Christ returns and that these bodies will be without disabilities, never to die or become sick. This can give us hope in our suffering.
15:51, 52 Christians alive at that day will not have to die but will be transformed immediately. A trumpet blast will usher in the new heaven and earth. The Jews would understand the significance of this because trumpets were always blown to signal the start of great festivals and other extraordinary events (Numbers 10:10).
15:54–56 Satan seemed to be victorious in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3) and at the cross of Jesus. But God turned Satan’s apparent victory into defeat when Jesus Christ rose from the dead (Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14, 15). Thus, death is no longer a source of dread or fear. Christ overcame it, and one day we will also. The law will no longer make sinners out of us just because we cannot keep it. Death has been defeated, and we have hope beyond the grave.
In 1 Cor. 15:58 Paul says that because of the resurrection, nothing we do is useless. Sometimes we become apathetic about serving the Lord because we don’t see any results. Knowing that Christ has won the ultimate victory should affect the way we live right now. Don’t let discouragement over an apparent lack of results keep you from doing the work of the Lord enthusiastically as you have an opportunity.
- Matthew 28:5-8.
- 1 Peter 1:3.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:14.
- Romans 8:11.
- John 11:25-26.
- John 6:40.
- 1 Corinthians 6:14.
- Romans 6:4.
