Resurrection Reality: What Happens When You Die?

Pastor Eric Bucci
Main Text: 1 Corinthians 15 (ESV)

1. Without the , life is meaningless.

1 Corinthians 15:12–14, 17–19 (ESV)

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain… And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins… If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.”

My Notes:

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2. The Resurrection is historically .

1 Corinthians 15:3–8 (ESV)
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time… Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared also to me.”

• Jesus appeared to Peter, the Apostles,  people, James, Paul

My Notes:

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3. Jesus is the of our future resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:35–44 (ESV)
“But someone will ask, ‘How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?’ You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. …What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.”

Key Thought:
Your resurrection body will be imperishable, glorious, powerful, and spiritual.

My Notes:

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4. Which Are You Following?

1 Corinthians 15:21–22, 45–49 (ESV)
“For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive… ‘The first man Adam became a living being’; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit… As we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the Man of heaven.”

My Notes:

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5. What Happens When You Die?

A. We remain conscious after .

Luke 16:22–26 (ESV)
“The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes… But Abraham said… ‘Between us and you a great chasm has been fixed.’”

• • Believers experience 
  • Unbelievers experience 

My Notes:

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B. Believers go immediately to be with .

2 Corinthians 5:8 (ESV)
“Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

Luke 23:43 (ESV)
“And He said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise.’”

My Notes:

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C. We all die , and then comes judgment.

Hebrews 9:27–28 (ESV)
“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time… to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.”

• • No reincarnation
  • No purgatory
  • No second chances

My Notes:

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D. When Jesus returns, believers receive bodies.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 (ESV)
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them… and so we will always be with the Lord.”

My Notes:

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E. Believers will Christ for rewards.

2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV)
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

My Notes:

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6. Your matters .

1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV)
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What verse today most strengthened your hope in the resurrection?
2. How does knowing you will be with Jesus immediately after death change your life now?
3. What does the seed analogy teach you about your future body?
4. What stood out to you about “Adam vs. Christ”?
5. What is one area where you need to live more “eternity-minded”?

What is your next step in your faith this week?

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