Eternal Guarantee

November 20, 2015 Year B

Have you ever been offered a guarantee on something which you have committed – either with money or talents? You commit to something on the promise that the guarantee is true. For example:

Buy this car, then you will receive free oil changes for two years.

Take this pill and you will be guaranteed to lose weight.

Do what we ask and we can guarantee your safety.

There are all kinds of offers which people will pitch to you. But if you notice what works the most in the guarantee is personal testimonies. People will claim that these offers have worked for them, so it will work for you.

That is what we have here. Paul is pitching to the church at Corinth the guarantee of eternal life. Jesus Christ is the One who gives the first testimony to support the proof of this eternal guarantee (1 Corinthians 15:20). The word “first fruits” comes from the Old Testament. It means that this is the first evidence of the crop. In this case, Christ is the first evidence of the eternal guarantee. He rose from the dead. Therefore, anyone who comes after Him who belong to Him will also see this eternal guarantee (1 Corinthians 15:23).

First, Christ is resurrected from death (1 Corinthians 15:21-23). Then, we will resurrected from death (1 Corinthians 15:23). Christ will establish His eternal kingdom (1 Corinthians 15:24-25). Finally, death will end its rule (1 Corinthians 15:26).

Why is this eternal guarantee possible? It is possible because Christ will have the authority to grant it (1 Corinthians 15:27-28). God will put everything (including death) under Christ’s authority. Christ will have power over death.

Just as the one pitching the idea has the power to enforce the guarantee, Christ has the power to enforce His eternal guarantee. He is the only One who can promise eternal life because He has experienced it and He has power over it. All it takes is trusting that Christ will do what He promised.

Will you get a lemon out of the deal? Not possible. Because the same Person who can destroy death and make you alive (1 Corinthians 15:22). He can guarantee your eternal life because He has destroyed the power of death. There will not be an eternal recall. The same God who created You for this life will also guarantee your resurrection to eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:28).

Prayer: God, thank You for Jesus who gives the testimony of the eternal guarantee. I trust that He knows how to secure that guarantee for me.