Dear Brethren,

Our Hope in the Resurrected Christ

“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.” 1 Corinthians 15:19-20

There are two phases in our lives that we need hope in – the present earthly life and the after-life. Thank God that the Christian is a life of hope now and for all eternity. God’s Word in 1 Cor. 15:19-20 reminds us of this blessed hope. The Christian hope is a sure 100% hope as it is God that promised us this certainty. Chiefly, our hope concerns the resurrection of our earthly bodies. This hope is rooted in Christ’s resurrection. Our Lord’s resurrection guarantees the resurrection of all believers.

Christ’s Resurrection is foundational to our Hope

At every Easter, we commemorate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul reasoned in 1 Corinthians 15:12-18 of the negative implications to the believers’ life, faith and hope if Christ has not risen.

  • If Christ has not risen from the dead – then, we have trusted and hoped in vain.
  • If Christ has not risen – then, we are all still in our sins, and will therefore be judged by God and eventually end up in hell.
  • If Christ has not risen from the dead – then we have been false witnesses of God because we have preached that Christ has risen
  • If Christ has not risen – then those who have fallen asleep (or died) in Christ have perished forever.
  • If Christ has not risen – then we are of all people most miserable, having to suffer in this life and in the after-life. Then we might as well follow this worldly philosophy, “Let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die”

But Christ’s resurrection gives us a real hope for our tomorrows on this earth despite its uncertainties and the burdens every believer has to endure. More importantly, Christ’s resurrection gives us a real hope in our eternal future in Heaven. Do you have this hope in Christ? If not, then today repent of your sins and put your faith only in the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour.

The Characteristic of Hope

“For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” Romans 8:24-25

If our hope in Christ is real, then we will have patience and endurance to run and finish our Christian race. The hope in Christ will enable us to ensure and cause us to focus only in Christ. Never lose hope in Christ even in the most difficult circumstances. He is ever near you to help and His grace is all sufficient. Keep your hope strong in Christ! He will not fail you.

Elder John Leong