This Resurrection Sunday, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ—the pivotal moment that secures the future fulfillment of God’s plan: a perfect people living on a perfect earth. This divine plan, disrupted by the first Adam’s disobedience, was restored through the faith and obedience of the last Adam, Jesus. He died, and God raised him to everlasting life. Just as Jesus lives forever, those born of his Spirit will one day be resurrected with new, everlasting bodies.
“Who [Jesus] will transform our lowly body so it will have the same form as his glorious body, by the power that also enables him to subject all things to himself” (Philippians 3:21).
This is the believer’s glorious hope: at Jesus’ appearing, those who have died in him will be raised, and those still living will receive transformed, imperishable bodies (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). In the renewed heavens and earth, sin, grief, and death will be no more (1 Corinthians 15:52), as everything is restored to its original, intended state (Acts 3:21).
If this is our true hope, why does death still devastate us so profoundly? Nothing seems as final as death. In every culture, it signifies the end of life. Yet, many Christians are taught a different concept: that we are spirit beings with souls inhabiting bodies, and upon death, the inner person—soul or spirit—immediately goes to be with Jesus and other deceased believers in heaven.
However, does the Bible truly teach this? Let’s examine the Bible and see what scripture reveals.
The phrase “It’s a matter of life or death” underscores the stark contrast between the two. But does this clarity carry through in much of Christian teaching today? Sadly, no. Many popular teachers echo Satan’s ancient lie: “You will not certainly die” (Genesis 3:4). They claim that only the body dies, while the soul or spirit continues conscious life in heaven, reunited with loved ones and all other believers who have previously died. Yet, the Bible states otherwise: “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything…” (Ecclesiastes 9:5). The dead are not conscious; they are not observing from above, nor are they already with Jesus.
The Bible consistently describes death as a state of silence and inactivity, a state in which there is no consciousness or praise of God. For example, Psalm 115:17 states, “The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence,” and Psalm 6:5 asks, “In death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?”
Along with the Apostle Paul and other Biblical writers, Jesus also referred to death as sleep. When Lazarus died, he said, “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.” His disciples misunderstood, prompting Jesus to clarify: “Lazarus is dead.” For Jesus, “sleep” described the temporary and unconscious nature of death—a concept also reflected when God told Moses he would “sleep” with his ancestors, not that he would join them in heaven. That “sleep,” God made clear, would end for Moses at the resurrection of the just (Luke 14:14). “Sleep,” therefore, is a fitting metaphor for death: it illustrates that it is a temporary state of rest, which will be followed by a future awakening.
Consider David, ‘a man after God’s own heart.’ In Acts 2:29 and 34 Peter plainly states: “David… is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day… For David is not ascended into the heavens.” Job also spoke of this state of death as a “sleep,” saying: “So a man lies down and rises not again; till the heavens are no more he will not awake or be roused out of his sleep. Oh that you would hide me in Sheol (the grave), that you would conceal me until your wrath be past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my service I would wait, till my renewal should come” (Job 14:12-14).
God’s Word consistently reveals that the dead are truly deceased, awaiting resurrection, not consciously existing in heaven or some other place.
While this truth may be sobering, it is far from hopeless. Instead, it sets the stage for the genuine hope God promises: the resurrection of the dead at the appearing of Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13).
The apostle Paul wrote, “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.” (1 Corinthians 15:22–23). If Moses or David were already in heaven, then Christ could not be called the firstfruits. That very term informs us that no one else has ever been risen from the dead to everlasting life before Jesus!
So when are the dead made alive? Not at our death, but at his coming. That is when the dead in Christ will rise, and the living will be transformed. As Paul also wrote, “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump…” (1 Corinthians 15:51–52).
Jesus himself affirmed this: “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth…” (John 5:28–29).
This is the blessed hope of every believer—not immediate heavenly ascent, but resurrection at Jesus’ appearing. Death is not the gateway to glory; resurrection is. Consider this: if death is the actual entry point into everlasting life, then why have a resurrection? What would be the point?
This resurrection hope also reveals the justice of God. In His perfect fairness, no Christian receives special access to heaven before another—no one gets an early glimpse of glory. All Christians—whether they lived thousands of years ago, or are still alive—will be raised together when Christ appears. As it says in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, the dead in Christ will rise first, and then the living believers will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. This collective resurrection is a powerful witness to God’s impartiality, as all are raised together to share equally in His promise. The family of God will enter eternal life together as one body, sharing in one glorious unveiling of heaven’s joy. That is not only a display of God’s power, but of His perfect justice and love.
This truth, however, stands in stark contrast to popular views of death. I once heard a well-known preacher refer to his friend’s death as a “graduation”—a transition to a higher, better existence. But if death is truly a graduation, why does it feel like such a devastating loss? The Bible makes it clear: death is not a graduation, but a temporary sleep.
Using the word “graduation” for when a person dies reveals a deeper theological confusion. It downplays the stark reality of death, treating it as a doorway into conscious bliss, rather than what the Bible consistently describes as a sleep—an unconscious state awaiting resurrection. This false belief traps many Christians in emotional turmoil. They are told to rejoice, yet they naturally feel overwhelmed with sorrow. They are encouraged to celebrate, yet they inwardly yearn for one more conversation, one more hug.
This emotional tension often arises from the false belief that death is not truly death. While many find temporary comfort in the idea of immediate reunion with loved ones in heaven, the Bible presents a different perspective—one that brings both clarity and lasting hope.
This misunderstanding is even present in the teachings of prominent figures in mainstream Christianity. In Billy Graham’s last interview, he said, “Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now.” While this may sound comforting, it assumes that death doesn’t separate us from life, but instead leads to an immediate transition into conscious existence with God. However, this view contradicts the Bible’s teaching that death is a state of absolute unconsciousness, where the dead are awaiting resurrection at Jesus’ return. Resurrection, not immediate life after death, is God’s answer to death.
Scripture is clear: death is not a transition to another realm—it is sleep. The believer’s true hope is not immediate life elsewhere, but resurrection at Jesus’ appearing. This truth confirms the heaviness of what we naturally recognize death to be, and highlights the unmatched power of Christ’s triumph over it. Again and again, the Word of God affirms that the resurrection—not some immediate afterlife—is what we look forward to. That’s the hope that anchors our faith and declares the full victory of the risen Christ.
Jesus didn’t call Lazarus down from heaven. He called him out of the grave. Peter didn’t say David was in heaven; he declared, “David is not ascended into the heavens” (Acts 2:34). Resurrection is only necessary if death is real. And according to the Bible, it is.
Jesus understood this reality. He wasn’t insulated from the pain or detached from death like a mere observer. In Gethsemane, he sweated blood—not just from fear of physical pain, but because he hated what death represented: separation from life and his intimate fellowship with the Father.
Jesus hated death. If it were not so, why would he raise the dead? He saw death as the enemy it is and that’s why he stood outside Lazarus’s tomb and wept. And that’s why he rejoiced when he cried out, “Lazarus, come forth!” It wasn’t just a miracle—it was a glimpse of what was to come. A foretaste of the victory God would win for him… and for us.
After his resurrection and ascension, Jesus revealed the heart of that victory through Paul in the Church Epistles. In 1 Corinthians 15:26 and 54, Paul declares, “The last enemy to be destroyed is death,” and, “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
Not a friend. Not a passageway. An enemy—defeated.
Here’s a powerful truth: our hope is Jesus’ hope too! How much does he miss Paul? How eager is he to finally meet David? How deeply must he long to embrace the countless faithful who lived and died for him? How much does he yearn to look into your face, smile and embrace you with his perfect love that erases all the pain and sorrow of this life? This joyful reunion of God’s family at his appearing is the hope Jesus holds in his heart. It’s the hope he died for and was raised to guarantee.
This truth, however, is often clouded by worldly distractions. Most Christians celebrate Easter, with its pagan roots in ancient fertility rites and diversions like eggs and bunnies. These distractions shift focus away from the true significance of this day—the hope of eternal life through the resurrection of Christ. What should be celebrated is the fact that death was defeated when God raised Jesus from the dead. It was a Resurrection Day signaling the end of death’s reign over all those who follow Christ.
The truth remains: HE IS RISEN.
Imagine the women at the tomb. Just days before, they had witnessed their beloved Jesus die in unimaginable agony. They came to anoint a lifeless body, not expecting to encounter a conqueror. But instead of grief, they met LIFE.
“Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said…” (Matthew 28:5–8).
That single moment changed everything! Since then, the living Lord Jesus has surprised countless others on dead-end paths. He surprised Paul, and he surprises us. And he’s not done yet.
So rise up. Speak boldly. Love fiercely. Live like death has already been defeated—because in Christ, it has.
Romans 1:4 proclaims Jesus was “declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead.” And Acts 17:31 makes it even more dramatic: “He [God] has given proof to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
Resurrection is God’s emphatic declaration of Jesus as His son, marking the turning point in the story of the two Adams. The resurrection is not a footnote. It is the climax. It marks the undoing of death, the validation of the cross, and the unveiling of the new creation. Because Jesus lives, we will live also. When he appears, the silence of the grave will be shattered forever.
From that moment of triumph over death, we can look back and see how, from Genesis 3:15 onward, Satan knew the Messiah was coming and did everything he could to stop him—polluting humanity, corrupting Israel, and orchestrating assassination attempts. When Jesus was crucified, Satan rejoiced, thinking, “I finally got him.”
Until there was a knock at hell’s door.
That moment destroyed the destroyer. The paradox of Jesus’ resurrection is this: through death, Jesus destroyed death. Fifty days later, as tongues of fire fell and the Church was born, the Devil saw the full weight of his failure—Jesus hadn’t just risen; he had replicated. The power that raised him now lived in thousands, then millions… and now, in us.
Because of this, every day holds promise. This makes each day a potentially exciting adventure. We can wake up knowing Jesus watches over us, eager to walk with us, speak through us, and love the world through us. He understands the struggle between our old and new selves and helps us overcome. He endured the cross for the joy set before him—and part of that joy is us.
That’s why we preach JESUS and the resurrection, not mere behavior management or moralism, but a relationship with the one who conquered death and now longs to live through us.
“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9–10).
Not “confess your sin”—confess your Savior. Not “fix yourself”—follow him. Jesus is the only true representation of the invisible God, the way we know and love God. He is the crisis point in every human life. The scriptures declare him as both a “rock of offense” upon which men will stumble or a rock of salvation upon which we can build our lives. How each person chooses to approach him determines our eternal outcome.
Satan’s primary goal is to obscure Jesus. Why? Because confusion about the Son hinders true knowledge of the Father. He promotes lies that distort the truth—like Jesus being merely God in disguise, or the dead not being truly dead. These deceptions weaken the power of the resurrection, dulling the impact of Jesus’ accomplishment.
But we carry that truth forward.
We preach Jesus.
We proclaim life.
We shine the light in the face of death—because he is risen.
So, as we reflect on the day death died, we don’t just look back—we look ahead. Resurrection isn’t solely about Jesus’ past; it’s about our future also.
The grave is not the end.
Death does not have the final say.
The risen Lord Jesus will appear. When he does, the skies will break open, the trumpet will sound, and those who sleep in Christ will rise, incorruptible. We will see him face to face. In that moment, every tear will be wiped away, every sorrow silenced, every grave emptied.
This is the gospel we live for.
This is the hope we die with.
This is the victory we proclaim—until the whole world knows:
He is risen. He is risen indeed.
And because he lives, we will live also.
Let this Resurrection Day be more than a tradition—it’s a declaration. Jesus is risen. Death is defeated. Let’s live like it.
In Christ’s victory,
