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Jesus, the first fruit of the resurrection

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[ 1 Corinthians 15:20 ]

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

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Jesus died on the cross for our sins. The dead body of Jesus was buried in the tomb of Joseph in Arimathea. And as foretold, He resurrected in three days.

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The resurrected Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene. He appeared before the disciples, including Peter. He appeared to Thomas, who was suspicious, and showed them nail marks and spear marks on his side.

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Jesus stayed on earth for 40 more days until He was resurrected and ascended to heaven. During that time, he showed the resurrected body to over 500 people. The last person to meet the resurrected Jesus was Paul, who was going to Damascus to catch those who believed in Jesus. When Paul met the resurrected Jesus, he became an Apostle to tell the Gentiles of Jesus' death and resurrection.

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Because Jesus overcame death and was resurrected, everyone who believed in Jesus was saved. Jesus also showed by resurrection that all believers in Jesus will receive the resurrection of the body like Jesus.

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When Jesus was on earth, he showed himself to bring the dead back to life. Lazarus, a friend Jesus loves, died. Jesus came there four days after Lazarus died.

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Lazarus's sister Martha sadly told Jesus. “If Jesus had been here, my brother would not have died.” Jesus told Martha, "Your brother will rise again."

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Jesus told Martha: 『Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"』 [John 11:25-26]

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Jesus went to the tomb of Lazarus and puts the stone in front of the tomb. And shouted loudly. “Lazarus, come out.”

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Lazarus, who died after the words of Jesus, walked out of the tomb. Lazarus was resurrected with his hands and feet wrapped in cloth. Jesus showed that He died and rose again through the resurrection of the dead Lazarus.

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But there were people in the Corinthian church where Paul preached the gospel that the dead cannot be resurrected. Paul speaks firmly to these people's claims.

For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. [1 Corinthians 15:16-17]

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Though Adam's sin brought the curse of death to all men, God gave His resurrection grace to all who believe in Him through Jesus' resurrection. Jesus overcame death and became the firstfruits of the resurrection to give resurrection to those who believe in Him. 『But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.』 [1 Corinthians 15:20]

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Another man said, "How can a man be resurrected physically when he dies and after a period of time the body decays?" Some people would not believe it. In response, the apostle Paul used seeds as an illustration to explain the resurrection.

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After the seeds are sown in the ground, they will be reborn in a new body. Seeds extending out of the ground are no longer shaped like seeds. It is to be reborn in a whole new way. Seeds decay in the ground, but they are born anew out of the earth in the image God has set.

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The apostle Paul said that the resurrection of the dead is the same. A person in faith in Jesus is not the end, even if he dies and his body decays. For a believer, death is the channel to a glorious body that will never perish!

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Those who believe in Jesus and become children of God are not the last on earth. Through Jesus we are born again to the resurrection life. They will live with Jesus forever.

Therefore, we must strive to realize this grace and to do the work of the Lord with zeal while living on earth. The work for the Lord is never in vain, and he is recognized before the Lord on the day of the last resurrection.

(This is the sample conclusion provided by CTM. Please feel free to change the conclusion to best suit the listeners of your sermon.)