Connect 1 Corinthians 15:19 with other scriptures about eternal hope in Christ. Finding the Thread: 1 Corinthians 15:19 “If our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are to be pitied more than all men.” (1 Corinthians 15:19) Paul’s words remind us that Christianity stands or falls on an eternal promise. Christ’s resurrection secures a future so certain that living only for the here-and-now would strip the gospel of its very heart. Scripture repeatedly weaves this truth through every page. Why a Short-Sighted Faith Is Hollow • Without a future resurrection, preaching is empty and faith is futile (1 Corinthians 15:14–17). • Sacrifice loses meaning; persecution becomes pointless; obedience devolves into mere moralism. • The world’s fleeting comforts would make better sense than carrying a cross—unless eternity is real. Scripture’s Unbroken Witness to an Eternal Hope • John 14:1-3 —“I am going there to prepare a place for you… I will come back and welcome you into My presence.” • 1 Peter 1:3-4 —A “living hope” and an inheritance “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you.” • Titus 2:13 —We wait “for the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” • Philippians 3:20-21 —Our heavenly citizenship anticipates bodies “like His glorious body.” • 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 —Present affliction produces “an eternal glory far beyond comparison.” • Hebrews 6:18-19 —Hope acts as “an anchor for the soul, firm and steadfast.” • Revelation 21:3-4 —The day is coming when God Himself “will wipe away every tear… and there will be no more death.” The Resurrection: Cornerstone and Firstfruits • 1 Corinthians 15:20 —“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” • His literal, bodily resurrection guarantees ours. What happened to the Head must happen to the Body. Living Today in Light of Forever • Perspective: “I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18) • Priorities: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:1-2) • Purity: “Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure.” (1 John 3:3) • Perseverance: Knowing that nothing done for the Lord is ever wasted (1 Corinthians 15:58). Anchored Beyond the Veil • Hebrews 6 pictures hope as an anchor lodged “behind the curtain,” where Jesus—in glorified flesh—already stands. • Because the anchor rests in heaven, no earthly storm can rip it loose. Looking Ahead with Certain Joy • Revelation 21:1 —A “new heaven and a new earth” await; this is not wishful thinking but a concrete promise from the One who cannot lie. • The same voice that called Lazarus from the tomb will call every believer to immortal life. Bringing It Home Our passage warns against a faith shrunk to earthly scale. Christ rose, ascended, and is returning; therefore: 1. Hold loosely what cannot last. 2. Invest freely in what will. 3. Face trials with eyes fixed on the “eternal glory” they are producing. Hope in Christ is far more than coping for eighty years—it is everlasting life secured by an empty tomb and a living Savior. |
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