Hope in Christ (Easter 2025)
1 Corinthians 15:19-26
Pastor Scott Skones
Easter Sunday 2025 Sermon
Around 2000 years ago a king was betrayed by those he trusted and killed as countless onlookers watched. He locked eyes with those he thought were his friends as he breathed his last.
Who was that king? We are in church, so you probably have a guess as to who I’m referring to. But, you’re probably wrong.
The king who died, betrayed by his closest friends, some 2068 years ago last month was 55-year-old Gaius Julius Caesar.
Julius Caesar was a crafty and skilled military and political leader. He had an innate gift for mobilizing soldiers. He expanded the Roman Empire’s Control through Germany, France, and Belgium – greatly increasing the territory and impact of the empire.
He then set off around the Mediterranean, marking conquests in northern Africa and in Turkey. Famous for his prideful declaration, “I came, I saw, I conquered”, Caesar eventually returned to Rome where he assumed the title “dictator perpetuo.” Or, “ruler in perpetuity.” Julius Caesar was now the king of kings.
He was the hope of Rome. He was the only one powerful and persuasive enough to keep everything together. If you wanted a chance at a good life in the Roman empire, your trust MUST be in Caesar. He was Sovereign. He was the king. He was divine.
But, a few short years later, Julius Caesar was assassinated.
A couple of years following his death, the Roman Senate declared him a God.
But you know what never happened? Nobody ever saw Julius Caesar again. He died. And he stayed dead.
But some 77 years later, another King was killed. Betrayed by those closest to him. Denied by those who claimed to love him.
But this other king – born under the rule of Julius’ great Nephew Augustus – His story had a very different ending.
While Julius Caesar was cremated and stayed exactly where his remains were placed – this other king couldn’t be stopped by death. His power, his authority, and his control could not be stopped by a Caesar’s cross. He was placed in a tomb and on the third day was raised to life.
Caesar is dead. His ashes are still there buried under a Roman temple. But Jesus is alive.
Jesus is the true “ruler in perpetuity.” He is on the throne today. Right now, at this very moment. And this changes everything for us.
Our sermon text this morning is from 1 Corinthians 15:19-26:
If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
Lord, we thank you that we can say with confidence today – that the purpose of this day – is the reality that Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.
Give us faith to believe these words. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
What gives you hope?
Take a moment to think about that question. What is it that gives you hope? In what or whom do you find hope?
Now I want you to imagine that you were to go out on the street, walk up to total strangers, and ask them, “What gives you hope?” What kinds of replies do you think you’d receive?
This is a question that cuts to the core of our worldview. The answer to this question is found at the intersection of our own personal view of sociology, psychology, anthropology, philosophy, and theology.
What gives you hope?
It’s a fascinating question. And every human person approaches this question a little bit differently.
Last year, a Gallup poll was released that sought to gauge the way that young people perceive their own well-being, mental health, and sense of hope for the future.
In one revealing question, respondents aged 18-26 were asked to evaluate the current state of their mental health. Just a decade earlier, about half of respondents said that their mental health was excellent. And those were alarming numbers at the time. Because that meant that half indicated some level of problem with their mental health.
Fast forward to last year - what percent of those aged 18-26 described their mental health as “excellent”? 15%.
If you apply that percentage to this room today – that means that less than 40 in this room, by percentage, wouldn’t identify some level of concern with their mental health.
Those of you who know me know I’m not the doomsday type. I’m not quick to jump to the worst possible outcome.
But these numbers are concerning. It would be fair to say that we are experiencing a crisis of hope. Many around us – many of our neighbors – maybe even many here this morning – see very little hope for the future.
And so I return to that probing question. What gives you hope?
Our text today from 1 Corinthians 15 has a couple of things that I’d like to share with you today. In these words about Jesus’ resurrection, we see the hopelessness of this world – but we also receive an invitation to hope in Christ.
Let’s look first at:
The Hopelessness of this World
V. 19 - “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.”
If our sense of hope is limited to this world, to this life, to this mortal existence – all is hopeless.
Paul has been building this case in the verses leading up to our text. For example, in verse 17 - “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”
If our hope is limited to this life, to this world – if death HASN’T been defeated – if you truly ONLY live once – then there is, in fact, very little reason to be hopeful.
I don’t have to tell you this – just look around. Examine the state of things. This world cannot and will not give us true and lasting hope. It can’t be found here. And, fundamentally, any sense of hope is actually a delusion if it’s rooted in this life, in this world. It’s all just make-believe if there is no eternity – if there is no life to come.
If everything around us is just an accident – just a chain of biological and chemical functions – then there is no true, lasting, enduring hope.
And while it is certainly true that this world gives us very little reason to hope, that’s where the Resurrection enters the story. Scripture contains an invitation to place our hope in Christ.
Paul writes these words to emphasize the power and significance of Christ’s resurrection – and actually invites us to place our hope in Christ and Christ alone.
So let’s take a look at 5 arguments that our text makes for why you should place your hope in Christ.
He is alive. (20)
V. 20 - “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead…”
While the conquering, charismatic, powerful Julius Caesar remains in the ground to this day, Christ walked out of that tomb, raised to new life.
The Christian faith is not the worship of an old dead guy, but a relationship with a living, loving savior who reigns as king of the universe at this very moment.
As we declared at the beginning of our service, He is risen, indeed.
And if this is true. If Easter is reality. If Jesus really died and was raised to life – that changes everything. And I would argue, that demands that we look to him and him alone for our hope.
A king who conquers the grave is worthy of your hope.
He is alive.
The second argument for why you should place your hope in Christ is found in verse 21:
He promises that you will rise. (21)
V. 21 - “For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.”
Adam brought death into the world by his rebellion and sin – and Jesus brings resurrection into the world for all who will believe.
And this is truly good news. That resurrection is not just a Jesus thing – it is promised for all who trust in him. This is our eternal hope – that we will one day be raised imperishable.
Easter Sunday is not just looking back to Jesus’ resurrection, but looking forward to our own. He promises that you will rise again. Imperishable. Immortal. Eternal.
The Third argument is this - He gives eternal life. (22)
V. 22 - “In Christ, all will be made alive.”
Unless Christ returns – we will all one day face death. But the great hope for the Christian is that death is not final. In fact, in 2 Corinthians Paul says that for the Christian, to die is actually to be swallowed up by life.
Place your hope in Christ – because he gives eternal life.
The fourth argument that our text makes for why we should hope in Christ is this:
He is the conquering king. (24-25)
V. 24 - “Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.”
Jesus is not just a teacher and friend of sinners. He is also the one true eternal conquering king. He is the true “dictator perpetuo.”
He is reigning on the throne today, and he will reign forever.
As we just sang a few moments ago:
Now to the Lamb upon the throne
Be blessing, honor, glory, power
For the battle You have won
Jesus is NOT in the grave. He IS the conquering king. At his name, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that he is lord and God and king of all.
Think about these arguments that Paul is making – inviting you to place your hope in Jesus:
He is alive.
He promises that you will rise.
He gives eternal life.
He is the conquering king.
And finally, one more argument. One more glorious promise. One more invitation to you, imploring you to look to him for hope. And it’s found in verse 26:
He will destroy death. (26)
V. 26 - “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”
In a sense, when Jesus rose from the dead, the verdict was rendered – death was defeated. But in another sense, death still reigns over us as we await our savior to return and finish all that he has started.
We anticipate that great day when he will make all things new. When he will make everything sad come untrue.
Jesus will abolish mortality. He will send death to hell forever. And his resurrected people will live forever.
This is expressed so beautifully in Revelation Chapter 21:
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Or, we might say, “Place your hope in the Risen Lord Jesus Christ.” He alone is the source of hope.
Hope not in princes or politicians. Hope not in bank accounts or human ability. Hope not in health or children or any human being.
Place your hope, find your hope in Jesus. Run to the risen and conquering king of the universe for true and lasting hope.
He has defeated death - and he invites you to come to him for hope that transcends this life. For hope that is eternal.
This sermon is offered as a resource by Living Word Lutheran Brethren Fellowship in Dickinson, North Dakota. It has been lightly edited for the website, but the original tone remains unchanged, and no grammatical revisions or style adjustments have been made.