What if everything you’ve ever feared about death could be undone? What if the finality of the grave wasn’t final at all? In this powerful sermon from 1 Corinthians 15:12–23, Pastor Léveillé unpacks the life-altering truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In a world filled with uncertainty, suffering, and loss, the resurrection isn’t just a religious event it is our hope, our security, and our victory. Because Jesus is alive, we can live with confidence today and look forward to forever with Him. This message will help you understand why the resurrection matters and how it impacts your past, present, and future.
1. His Resurrection Secures Our Future (Verse 20)
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not merely a theological idea—it is the very cornerstone of our faith and the definitive guarantee of our own resurrection. In 1 Corinthians 15:20, Paul declares, “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” This isn’t hypothetical or symbolic. Paul makes it unequivocally clear: Christ is risen. And because of that, everything changes.
This verse reassures us that Jesus didn’t just die and stay dead. His rising from the grave is proof that death is not the end. He is the “firstfruits,” a term taken from harvest language, meaning He is the first of many to come. Just as the first sheaf of the harvest was given to God as a guarantee of more to follow, Jesus’ resurrection is the first of a great harvest of those who will be raised to life. If you’re in Christ, your future is secure—not maybe, not possibly, but certainly. Jesus’ resurrection secures our future resurrection.
2. His Resurrection Solves Our Fall (Verses 21–22)
Paul continues by explaining why Christ’s resurrection is necessary: “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.” (v. 21). This man, Adam, brought death into the world through his disobedience. That’s why the world is broken. That’s why we die. Sin isn’t just something we do; it’s a condition we inherited. “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (v. 22).
Adam’s fall brought death to all of us. It wasn’t just his problem; it became ours. But Jesus—fully man and fully God—stepped into history to undo what Adam did. Where Adam failed, Christ succeeded. In Jesus, we get a new identity, a new lineage, and a new destiny. His resurrection isn’t just the reversal of death; it’s the reversal of the curse. He took on death so that we could take on life. In Christ, we are made alive—not figuratively, not merely emotionally, but eternally. His resurrection solves our fall.
3. His Resurrection Seals Our Forever (Verses 22–23)
Paul brings it home in verse 23, emphasizing the order of resurrection: “But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.” The resurrection isn’t just a past event; it’s a future promise. Jesus rose first, and when He returns, those who are His will rise too. This is not wishful thinking—it is a divine guarantee sealed by the power of God.
The word “belong” is key here. If you belong to Christ, your forever is sealed. You don’t need to fear death or wonder what happens next. Jesus’ resurrection is the down payment on eternity. It confirms that what God started in you, He will complete. When you close your eyes in death, you will open them to eternal life with Christ—not because you earned it, but because He secured it.
This changes everything about how we live now. It means we can face hardship, persecution, even death, with unshakable hope. It means we don’t live for this life only. Christ’s resurrection seals our forever, and that is the anchor of our souls.
