How should belief in the "first resurrection" influence our daily Christian walk? The Promise of the First Resurrection (Revelation 20:5–6) “ ‘The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were complete. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.’ ” Those words root us in a literal, future event that guarantees eternal life, victory over death, and partnership with Christ’s kingdom rule. Living with Resurrection-Centered Hope • Hope is not vague; it is anchored in a scheduled event on God’s calendar (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). • Daily anxieties shrink when measured against “the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). • Joy springs up because “in His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:3). Fueling Holiness and Purity • Knowing we will be raised holy and immortal motivates present holiness: “Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure” (1 John 3:3). • We count ourselves “dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11). • Sin’s temptations lose allure when we remember we are destined to be “priests of God and of Christ.” Strengthening Perseverance in Suffering • Suffering is temporary; resurrection life is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17–18). • Endurance grows because “if we endure, we will also reign with Him” (2 Timothy 2:12). • Persecution cannot threaten what God will raise incorruptible (1 Corinthians 15:52–53). Prioritizing Eternal Investments • Since we will reign with Christ, we invest now in what lasts forever: – Treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19–21). – Acts of service that follow us (Revelation 14:13). • Colossians 3:1–4 directs us to “set your minds on things above,” because our real life “is now hidden with Christ in God.” Energizing Ministry and Witness • The certainty of resurrection intensifies our urgency: “Since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:11). • We long to see others share in the first resurrection instead of facing the second death (Jude 23). • Ministry fatigue lessens when viewed through the promise that our labor “is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Cultivating Daily Joy and Gratitude • Gratitude flows from knowing death’s curse is broken (Revelation 20:6). • Worship is fueled by anticipation: “Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior… who will transform our lowly bodies” (Philippians 3:20–21). • Everyday routines—work, family life, rest—become acts of worship directed toward the coming kingdom. Summary Belief in the first resurrection steadies our hope, shapes our conduct, strengthens our endurance, redirects our priorities, energizes our witness, and fills ordinary days with joyful expectation. Living in light of that certain future, we walk now as people already marked for life, holiness, and eternal purpose. |
    |