My grandmother, Mdm Wee Gin Neo, died earlier this year in April. She was a member of Kay Poh Road Baptist Church and used to bake the bread for The Lord's Supper! By God's grace, she lived a long and full life, to the age of 92. As I helped out with funeral matters such as the obituary and eulogy, I thought about hope - the Christian hope of eternal life.
We sometimes use the word "hope" to describe things which we want to happen, but may not actually happen. For example, we "hope" that Singapore will qualify for the World Cup. The difference between worldly hope and Christian hope is that Christian hope is 100% certain. How can we be so sure?
"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures." - 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
In 1 Corinthians 15, the apostle Paul establishes that Christ not only died for our sins, but was buried, and raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. It is because of this, because He lives, that we have hope.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know, I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives
"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied." - 1 Corinthians 15:17-19
Saying that Jesus died for our sins, without going on to say that Jesus was raised back to life, is not the gospel. It is not good news. In fact, it is very bad news, because it means that Jesus has been defeated by death and we have no hope!
"But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." - 1 Corinthians 15:20-22
Because Jesus defeated death, we are no longer in our sins and have hope beyond this life. Because Jesus clothes us with His righteousness and immortality, we can inherit the kingdom of God, which is an eternal kingdom.
"I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"" - 1 Corinthians 15:50-55
Because Jesus defeated death, we have victory over death (i.e. eternal life), if we are in Christ.
"Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died - more than that, who was raised - who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us." - Romans 8:34
Furthermore, because Jesus was raised back to life, He can intercede for us. We do not have a dead High Priest, but a great High Priest!
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great High Priest whose name is love
Who ever lives and pleads for me
Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26)
May we believe in Jesus and, even when faced with death, have the Christian hope of eternal life!
