The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 15:12-22, “Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised;
14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.
15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.
16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;
17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.
18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.
21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.”

“Do you mean to tell me that someone could die and then come back to life?”

It was a question asked by an inquisitive, four-year-old boy. Thankfully, his mother was up for the answer. She replied quite positively, “Well, Jesus did!”

Jesus’ death and resurrection has been proclaimed around the world. Thousands upon thousands have trusted in Him and have come to know Him as LORD and Savior of their lives. I was scheduled to speak to a school group in Australia, and I asked the principal, “How much time do I have?” His reply was, “I know why you’re here; and that is more important than anything any of our children will do the rest of the day. You take all the time you need.” That principal had come to know Christ Jesus through the first Billy Graham Crusade in Sydney.

Paul’s argument is simply that if Christ did not arise from the dead, then no one has any hope of a life after death. What’s more, since everyone living and dead has sinned, there is no hope of forgiveness. Your faith in anything or anyone is useless if Christ did not rise from the dead. Oh, there is advantage to believing in Christ’s loving manner of life; but if He did not arise from the dead, there is no hope or value in anything for anyone. No hope of Heaven; only Hell awaits.

But, don’t despair! Christ did arise from the dead! He was seen alive by more than 500 people –lives now in the Heaven He has prepared for all, who will trust Him as their LORD and Savior. Paul was right! “…as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” Jesus is the only hope for all mankind. There is no other way to be free from sin; no other way to be raised from a grave and live forever with Him. What have you got to lose by trusting in Jesus? He loves you and you are in my prayers.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom