If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
If hope in Christ ended with this present life, believers would be more to be pitied than anyone else, left with no future hope beyond earthly life and death. This is because without a raising of the dead Christ Himself would not have risen, faith would be empty, and those who died trusting in Him would be lost. Christ's resurrection assures that the righteous will rise, so Christian hope rests on the resurrection and reaches beyond death. That hope looks to a future life and home without sin, disappointment, or enemies, where faithfulness is rewarded and suffering and sacrifice for truth are made worthwhile when the Son of man comes in glory to give to every person according to works. The resurrection is therefore essential to the hope of eternal life, and to overlook it hides a central teaching of the gospel, since expecting blessedness at once at death makes the resurrection seem needless and weakens hope fixed on Christ's return.
Resurrection Ground of Hope
If hope in Christ ended with this life, believers would be more pitiable than anyone else, with no future hope beyond earthly life and death. This misery follows because without the resurrection of the dead Christ would not have risen, faith would be futile, and those who died in Christ would be lost. Christ's resurrection assures the resurrection of the righteous, so Christian hope depends on resurrection and reaches beyond death. The reading about the resurrection presents it as the ground for hope beyond death, which would otherwise be pitiful if it ended with this life.
The resurrection taught is a literal raising of the dead that does not require the same particles of matter that formed the mortal body, for continuity between the mortal and immortal person is in identity and organization, not identical matter. Hope limited to this life would leave believers most miserable in a world marked by misery and the effects of sin, if Christ offered hope only here. It would especially leave most miserable those believers who suffer and sacrifice for the truth, if hope ended at death, while the future life is the reward that makes such faithfulness worthwhile as a home without disappointment, sin, enemies, or passion, promised to those who follow Christ and obey God's commandments.
Promise of Future Life
Hope in Christ is not confined to this present existence but reaches beyond death to a future life that rewards faithfulness and makes suffering and sacrifice for truth worthwhile. This life is an appointment to that future life, with a heaven to gain and a hell to shun. When the Son of man comes from heaven with all His glory He will reward every person according to works. That coming reward is a future home without disappointment, without sin, without enemies, and without outbursts of passion, promised to those who follow Christ the true Shepherd and obey God's commandments.
The resurrection is essential to that hope of eternal life, and to neglect it is to obscure a central teaching of the gospel. Belief that blessedness comes immediately at death makes the resurrection seem unnecessary and weakens hope centered on Christ's return.
Call to Transformed Service
Hope not limited to this life means faith itself is to have a resurrection into ardent, enduring life. That risen faith lifts the cross of Calvary and is lifted by it, stands in its lot and place catching the inspiration of Christ's work for souls, endures as seeing Him who is invisible, and serves as a soldier of the cross with positive influence for good, since indifference is denial of Christ.
The phrase of all men most miserable applies to ministers whose works are not wrought in God and who are left to their own imperfect efforts. They need conversion and transformation of character and earnest seeking to become Christlike. Christ will be with every minister who is most earnestly seeking to become Christlike, even though perfection of character has not yet been attained. That need compels the minister to pray and weep between the porch and the altar, crying in soul-anguish for the Lord's presence to be with him. Without that presence he cannot stand before the people while all heaven looks upon him and the angel's pen records his words, deportment, and spirit.
Though Satan is at war with Christ's followers, the true Shepherd will not allow anyone to be plucked from His hand. Every sincere soul who asks the heavenly Father receives help, because He knows human deformity by sin and weakness and Satan's striving to control people. He sent Christ to break every yoke and set a perfect pattern to copy, for heaven is worth everything.
If hope in Christ ended with this present life, believers would be more to be pitied than anyone else, left with no future hope beyond earthly life and death. This is because without a raising of the dead Christ Himself would not have risen, faith would be empty, and those who died trusting in Him would be lost. Christ's resurrection assures that the righteous will rise, so Christian hope rests on the resurrection and reaches beyond death. That hope looks to a future life and home without sin, disappointment, or enemies, where faithfulness is rewarded and suffering and sacrifice for truth are made worthwhile when the Son of man comes in glory to give to every person according to works. The resurrection is therefore essential to the hope of eternal life, and to overlook it hides a central teaching of the gospel, since expecting blessedness at once at death makes the resurrection seem needless and weakens hope fixed on Christ's return.
Resurrection Ground of Hope
If hope in Christ ended with this life, believers would be more pitiable than anyone else, with no future hope beyond earthly life and death. This misery follows because without the resurrection of the dead Christ would not have risen, faith would be futile, and those who died in Christ would be lost. Christ's resurrection assures the resurrection of the righteous, so Christian hope depends on resurrection and reaches beyond death. The reading about the resurrection presents it as the ground for hope beyond death, which would otherwise be pitiful if it ended with this life.
The resurrection taught is a literal raising of the dead that does not require the same particles of matter that formed the mortal body, for continuity between the mortal and immortal person is in identity and organization, not identical matter. Hope limited to this life would leave believers most miserable in a world marked by misery and the effects of sin, if Christ offered hope only here. It would especially leave most miserable those believers who suffer and sacrifice for the truth, if hope ended at death, while the future life is the reward that makes such faithfulness worthwhile as a home without disappointment, sin, enemies, or passion, promised to those who follow Christ and obey God's commandments.
Promise of Future Life
Hope in Christ is not confined to this present existence but reaches beyond death to a future life that rewards faithfulness and makes suffering and sacrifice for truth worthwhile. This life is an appointment to that future life, with a heaven to gain and a hell to shun. When the Son of man comes from heaven with all His glory He will reward every person according to works. That coming reward is a future home without disappointment, without sin, without enemies, and without outbursts of passion, promised to those who follow Christ the true Shepherd and obey God's commandments.
The resurrection is essential to that hope of eternal life, and to neglect it is to obscure a central teaching of the gospel. Belief that blessedness comes immediately at death makes the resurrection seem unnecessary and weakens hope centered on Christ's return.
Call to Transformed Service
Hope not limited to this life means faith itself is to have a resurrection into ardent, enduring life. That risen faith lifts the cross of Calvary and is lifted by it, stands in its lot and place catching the inspiration of Christ's work for souls, endures as seeing Him who is invisible, and serves as a soldier of the cross with positive influence for good, since indifference is denial of Christ.
The phrase of all men most miserable applies to ministers whose works are not wrought in God and who are left to their own imperfect efforts. They need conversion and transformation of character and earnest seeking to become Christlike. Christ will be with every minister who is most earnestly seeking to become Christlike, even though perfection of character has not yet been attained. That need compels the minister to pray and weep between the porch and the altar, crying in soul-anguish for the Lord's presence to be with him. Without that presence he cannot stand before the people while all heaven looks upon him and the angel's pen records his words, deportment, and spirit.
Though Satan is at war with Christ's followers, the true Shepherd will not allow anyone to be plucked from His hand. Every sincere soul who asks the heavenly Father receives help, because He knows human deformity by sin and weakness and Satan's striving to control people. He sent Christ to break every yoke and set a perfect pattern to copy, for heaven is worth everything.