Many people have a monthly set of bills that they must pay each month. Housing rent, car payments, food bills, cell phone plans, and so on. All of these things can add up, and to pay for everything a person will usually need to have some kind of a job to bring in that income. But what if someone went to their job, and upon the completion of two weeks of work when they should have received their paycheck they instead were told, This is a volunteer position, we aren’t going to pay you. What do you think will happen? Obviously they will likely be a bit upset, but then they will probably quit that job, because what would be the point of working there if they weren’t going to receive payment for their time? That was the entire purpose of working there in the first place.
Well in much the same line of thinking, as believers in the teachings of Christ we know that we are in debt because of our sins, and this knowledge causes us to know that we need a way to receive forgiveness that is found in Christ, as well as the gift of eternal life that Jesus will bestow as a reward to those who diligently serve Him. But what if there really wasn’t life after death? What if someone lived their entire life serving Christ, faithfully studying scripture, attending service, and even enduring suffering and persecution because of their faith– what would have been the purpose? Why would someone live for Jesus if there was no hope of eternal life after death? It would really be purposeless, wouldn’t it?
1 Corinthians 15:12-22 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
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.
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Paul said it best, if there is no resurrection after death, meaning life after death, then Jesus didn’t actually rise from the tomb on the third day. If there is no resurrection of the dead, then the entire foundation of the New Testament would be a complete lie, and our faith in the scriptures is completely purposeless. There would be no point in getting up each day and living according to the teachings of Christ if we do not have the ability to live after death.
All of the sufferings that Paul went through, the beatings, the stonings, the imprisonment, would all have been for nothing of Jesus didn’t rise from the grave. But it wasn’t in vain, because there is life after death. Jesus did rise up from the grave, and eternal salvation is definitely a real reward. Because of sin we die, but through Christ we may live.
1 Corinthians 15:45-49 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
Eternal life is real, and it is waiting for you.
In Christ
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 