The resurrection is the heart of the gospel and the believer's guaranteed victory over sin, death, and the grave.
Scripture declares Jesus Son of God with power through the resurrection, and Les Feldick teaches that this same resurrection power quickens believers who were dead in trespasses and sins. Because Christ rose, His life becomes our life, and one day even our mortal bodies will be changed to be incorruptible and immortal. Without the resurrection as the basis of salvation, Les says there is no salvation.
1 Corinthians 15:54 — This verse is the climax of the resurrection chapter: when the corruptible puts on incorruption, death is swallowed up in victory.
Romans 1:4 — The resurrection is the divine declaration that Jesus is the Son of God with power.
The Bible presents the resurrection as the event that declares Jesus to be the Son of God with power. Romans 1:4 says He was “declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” The same resurrection power is what makes spiritually dead sinners alive: “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). Because the believer is united with Christ, resurrection is not only His victory but also theirs. Romans 6:5 says, “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.” At the last trumpet, the dead will be raised incorruptible and living believers will be changed, so that “Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:52–54). The resurrection leaves death without its sting and the grave without its victory (1 Corinthians 15:55).
Les Feldick stresses that resurrection is unique to Christianity and stands at the very core of everything believers believe and everything the Bible teaches. He clarifies that biblical resurrection is not the same as someone being brought back to life, such as Lazarus; it is the entrance into an eternal existence that requires a resurrection body. The gospel, Les says, is based on Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, not on His earthly ministry, miracles, signs, or healings. Because Christ died, paid the sin debt, and defeated death and hell and Satan, His life can be our life. This is why the resurrection stands at the heart of the gospel: if someone does not have the power of the resurrection as the basis of their salvation, they have none. For Les, the resurrection is also the believer's blessed hope. Believers who were dead in trespasses and sins are quickened by the power of resurrection, and at the rapture the dead in Christ will be raised first while living believers are changed into incorruptible, immortal bodies so that death is finally swallowed up in victory.
Les Feldick points out that practically no other religion on the planet has resurrection as the very basis of its beliefs. He says that at the very core of everything Christians believe, and everything the Bible teaches, is the doctrine of resurrection. He also distinguishes resurrection from being brought back to life, as with the widow's son or Lazarus; resurrection means this life does not end at the grave and believers must experience a biblical resurrection to enjoy eternal existence.
Les teaches that believers are saved by Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, and because He arose from the dead, His life can be our life. He connects this to Ephesians 2:1, where believers who were dead in trespasses and sins are made alive by the power of resurrection. He says that if a person has not the power of the resurrection as the basis of salvation, they have none, because it all rests on God raising Jesus from the dead.
Les explains that at the rapture, the dead in Christ will be raised first and will naturally have their new body, then living believers will be changed in a split second. The corruptible body that is prone to death has to put on incorruption, and the mortal body has to put on immortality, because believers will live for eternity and need a body fit for eternity. Only then can they rejoice that death is finally swallowed up in victory, never again facing the prospect of death.
Les says believers are not just living and dying like a dog, nor do they have to face the prospect of eternal doom. Because they have been planted together in the likeness of Christ's death, they shall also be with Him in resurrection. This is the blessed hope that the best is yet to come, even though believers still do not like to face death because of leaving loved ones.
Why the Rapture Is a Secret Most Christians Miss - Romans 16:25 Explained
have to be in the Land of Israel for the culmination of the prophetic Scriptures. And I think I've shared it with you on the program. I had a young Jewish listener out in California several years ago, and he said, Now Les, I know you would love to just see all of us Jews saved according to what you teach, but stop and think.
The Gospel Is Founded on the Resurrection
Les teaches that our gospel is not based on Christ's earthly ministry, miracles, or healings, but on His death, burial, and resurrection. He says because Christ arose, His life can be our life, and believers have already arisen from death spiritually.
Resurrection Is Christianity's Unique Core
Les stresses that no other religion has resurrection as the basis of its beliefs; it is at the core of everything Christians believe. He explains that biblical resurrection is not the same as being brought back to life like Lazarus, but is the entrance to an eternal existence.
Resurrection Power in Salvation
Les connects the believer's hope to the power of resurrection, beginning with salvation. He references Ephesians 2:1, where believers were dead in trespasses and sins and were quickened by the same resurrection power, and Romans 1:4, which declares Jesus the Son of God by the resurrection.
The Believer's Blessed Hope
Les says believers are planted together in the likeness of Christ's death and will be with Him in resurrection. He calls this our blessed hope, because we do not live and die with the prospect of eternal doom.
Resurrection Is Fundamental to Faith
Les says that if we are dead with Christ by identification with His crucifixion, we shall also live with Him. He calls the resurrection fundamental to our faith and expresses concern when preachers can preach about Christ's crucifixion but have trouble with His resurrection.
Resurrection Body and Victory Over Death
Les explains that at the rapture the dead will be raised first and living believers will be changed because the corruptible must put on incorruption and the mortal must put on immortality. Then death is swallowed up in victory, never to be faced again.
The Resurrection Is the Heart of the Gospel
Les declares that the resurrection stands at the heart of the gospel. If a person does not have the power of the resurrection as the basis of their salvation, they have none, because salvation rests on God raising Jesus from the dead.
Romans 1:4: And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
Paul points to the resurrection as the powerful declaration that Jesus is the Son of God.
Ephesians 2:1: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Les uses this verse to show that salvation is an act of resurrection power, making spiritually dead sinners alive.
Romans 6:5: For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
The believer's union with Christ in death guarantees a future likeness in resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:52: In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
This describes the sudden change that gives believers resurrection bodies at the last trumpet.
1 Corinthians 15:53: For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
The present body, which is corruptible and mortal, must be exchanged for one fit for eternity.
1 Corinthians 15:54: So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
This is the promised victory that removes death's power over the believer.
1 Corinthians 15:55: O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
After resurrection, death and the grave no longer have their victory.
Les Feldick says practically no other religion has resurrection as the very basis of its beliefs. He stresses that resurrection is at the core of everything Christians believe and everything the Bible teaches. This makes Christianity distinct, because it means this life does not end at the grave and believers will experience a biblical resurrection into eternity.
Les Feldick says no. He says if you have not got the power of the resurrection as the basis of your salvation, you have none, because it all rests on the fact that God raised Jesus from the dead. He also finds it concerning when preachers or Sunday school teachers have trouble with the resurrection.
When the corruptible body puts on incorruption and the mortal puts on immortality, believers will never again face the prospect of death. At that point the saying is fulfilled that death is swallowed up in victory, and death loses its sting and the grave loses its victory.
Les teaches that the dead in Christ will be raised first with their new bodies, and then living believers will be changed in a split second. The reason is that a body fit for eternity must be incorruptible and immortal, so death is finally swallowed up in victory.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Rapture Is a Secret Most Christians Miss - Romans 16:25 Explained