A Certain Hope

GETTING STARTED

A few years ago, California news outlets reported about a woman who almost missed out on multimillion lottery winnings because she failed to check her ticket. As time ran out to redeem the ticket, local media ran photos from surveillance videos at the convenience store where the winning ticket was bought. Seeing the photos, a daughter recognized her mother and rushed to her with the unbelievable news. The woman had the ticket, but almost lost the benefit it afforded her because, distracted by other things, she had left it forgotten in her car.

  • How have distractions displaced the reality of Christ’s resurrection for you?

READ THE WORD: 1 CORINTHIANS 15:20-28 (ESV)

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. As Paul asserted Christ’s resurrection, what did he say Jesus is (vss. 20, 23)?
  2. What is the contrast between Adam and Christ (vss. 21-22)? What will happen to those “in Christ”?
  3. What is the order of things to happen (vss. 23-26)? What will be the result of the last enemy being destroyed (vs. 28)?
  4. What will it mean for believers when God is “all in all” (vs. 28)?
  5. What implication does the certainty of Christ’s resurrection hold for our lives? How do you connect to the reality of Christ’s resurrection in your day-to-day life?

RESPOND TO GOD

Believers in Corinth were at odds—many focused on cultural and theological issues, forgetting, even rejecting, the resurrection message. For most of us, the resurrection is settled fact; but perhaps we need a fresh focus on its implications. The same power that spoke the world into being, holds the stars in place, and defeated death, through Christ empowers us! Truly grasping this presses a view of all life’s circumstances through a lens of hope and a certainty of abundant life—peace, freedom, and joy—now and forever.

  • Praise God for his incredible power. Thank him that, through Christ, we are empowered, too.
  • Ask God to quicken your heart, to refresh your understanding, and to help you see your life and circumstances in view of a certain eternity.