The Resurrection
The Resurrection of Christ
The Firstfruits of Those Who Sleep
Description
Christ's resurrection is the foundation of our hope. If Christ be not risen, our faith is vain and we are still in our sins. But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the firstfruits of them that slept. His resurrection guarantees ours—as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive. The same power that raised Christ from the dead will raise us. His resurrection was bodily—He invited Thomas to touch His wounds, ate fish with His disciples, and declared He was not a spirit. The resurrection body is real, physical, yet glorified and transformed.
Key Verses
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.