Reading Plan:
1 Corinthians 15:54-58

Our Thoughts:
Volcano models are one of the most exciting science experiments to watch as a kid. The teacher brings out the carefully crafted volcano structure that is perfectly shaped and painted brown with plastic palm trees glued at the base. Just the sight of the hand-made mountain fills the room with chatter and delight. The anticipation builds as the teacher measures out the baking soda mixture, putting it in the crater. Students hold their breath as the teacher tilts the beaker of vinegar over the baking soda mixture until... boom! Foamy lava flows down the volcano and cheers erupt around the classroom. Now, imagine if the teacher made a beautiful, realistic volcano structure, but failed to add the vinegar at the end-the baking soda would be left sitting in the crater. There would be nothing but an arts-and-craft project and a room full of disappointed students. The volcano structure, the baking soda mixture, the vinegar-all are necessary elements to create an eruption to teach the students about geology. In the same way, the truth of the Gospel can feel incomplete without all the parts of God's plan.
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul addresses a point of confusion over one element of the gospel: the resurrection. The Corinthian church was conflicted over whether believers had hope in eternal life. Ancient secular writings clearly show the thoughts on resurrection in this culture: "Hopes are among the living; the dead are without hope." -Theocritus
To answer their concerns, Paul laid out the Gospel: Jesus, God's Son, lived a perfect, sinless life; He died on the cross for our sins; Jesus was buried in a tomb; and He rose again on the third day. Paul says that if there was no resurrection-if Jesus did not rise from the tomb on the third day-then we (believers) preach in vain, we are false witnesses, and we are still dead in our sins with no hope. But we have a Father who had the perfect plan (with no steps left undone), and a Savior who overcame sin and death not just once for himself, but once and for all-for all believers. His resurrection is the proof of His identity, the source of our eternal hope, and the promise of the resurrection of the dead when He returns.
Christ will return, the dead will rise, and the living will meet them in the clouds. Our resurrection is possible because of Jesus' resurrection-He has already conquered death! Because we have put our faith in Jesus, we can trust in His power and His promises. When we tell others of our hope in Jesus, His resurrection is the promise of eternity-without His resurrection, we would be dead without hope. Since we have hope of resurrection and victory over death, let us boldly live for the glory of God and bring the hope of the complete, unabridged Gospel to the hopeless-until Christ's return or our last breath.

More Questions:
What truths or characteristics of God give you hope in your everyday life?
Who do you know who needs to hear the complete gospel of Jesus? Invite them to House Church this week.

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for the gospel. Thank you for the hope of the resurrection and for making a way for eternal life. I believe in your life, death, burial, and resurrection and I hold to your promise of eternity with you. Help me to boldly share your complete truth and live for eternity today.

Author: Amy Fontenot