PRAY: Heavenly Father, we belong to you. We have been bought and paid for by the blood of your son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Sanctify us that on that final day we may stand before you in purity and holiness.

read: 1 Corinthians 15:20–49

meditate:
Paul calls Jesus the “firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (v. 20). At harvest time, the Israelites would offer to God the first ripened produce of the crop (Lev. 23:10). This sacrifice was a recognition that as the remainder of the crop ripened and subsequently was harvested, all belonged to the Lord. Likewise, Jesus is the “firstfruits” of the resurrection of the dead; we are the remainder of the crop. As Jesus belonged to God, so do we. The resurrection of Christ causes the believer to be raised spiritually in this life (Romans 6:4; Ephesians 2:6) and guarantees that we will be raised bodily in the next.

Questions and Application:

1. 1. In the Apostles’ Creed, we proclaim that we believe in the “resurrection of the body.” What would it mean to interpret this in a symbolic sense? How about in a literal sense? Does it matter?
2. What are the implications and the applications of believing in our own physical resurrection from the dead?
3. In emphasizing the significance of the belief in a bodily resurrection, Paul asks (v. 30), “And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour?” The implied answer is, “Because I am preaching the resurrection of Jesus and of all believers.”Why was the literal resurrection a dangerous message to preach? Is it still dangerous today?

PRAY: Lord Jesus, it was not enough for you to redeem our souls; you have also redeemed our bodies. Remind us each day that our bodies are holy to you and consecrated to your use.