A faith that is not futile
April 8th, 2010 by Kristi Stephens
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.
1 Corinthians 15:17-23
In recent years I have become fascinated by the feasts of Israel. While we are not under the Old Testament law and therefore are not required to keep the feasts, I am convinced that we miss some of the profound depth in the Scriptures because we do not understand the “Jewishness” of what is being said.
The feast of firstfruits was held in the spring – the Israelites were to bring the first crops they harvested in the spring and present it before the Lord. As they thanked God for providing for them what was ultimately from His hand, they also expressed faith in the next crops to come.
Did you know that Jesus rose from the dead on the feast of firstfruits? When Paul says that Jesus is the “firstfruits” of the dead, he is making a clear statement: Jesus’ resurrection was the promise of more to come!
Suddenly, this strange happening at the death of Christ (which I have never actually heard discussed in a sermon!) makes sense:
The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
Matthew 27:52-53
Zola Levitt comments about this passage, “The Lord, not unlike a Jewish planter, gratefully showed the Father the early crops of what will be a magnificent harvest later on.”
Jesus is the resurrection and the life! It is His resurrection that promises the resurrection of my own broken body and those I love! As Paul stated so eloquently, if it is only for this life that we hope in Christ – if this is just a good way to live that gives us meaning and peace in this life alone – we are to be pitied more than all men. We have bought a great lie. We are fools.
But if Jesus has been raised – what hope!
Death, where is your victory, where is your sting?
Our faith is not futile, friends. The life of Jesus offers us more than a feel-good bedtime story and a reason to wear a new dress on Easter Sunday.
His resurrection is everything! Without it, our faith is futile. But with it… if Jesus really is alive…
it changes eternity.
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