The Resurrection is More Important Than You Think
With Resurrection Sunday just around the corner (I just can't bring myself to call it Easter), it's a great time to reflect on why Christians observe it. Yes, Jesus rose from the dead on that day; but what does that really mean for us?
Paul tells us in 1 Cor 15:1-4 that the resurrection is part and parcel of the gospel itself:
"Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures ."
The gospel is not encapulated in "Christ died for our sins." If Christ died for our sins but did not rise from the dead, his death avails nothing:
"But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. . . . and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins." (1 Cor 15:13-17).
The emphasis the NT witnesses placed on the resurrection as absolutely essential to the gospel is striking:
"If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved" (Rom 10:9).
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Pet 1:3).
"And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you-- not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience-- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet 3:21)
"He who was delivered up because of our transgressions, and was raised because of [for] our justification" (Rom 4:25).
Indeed, this "gospel to be believed" requires belief in the physical resurrection of Christ; and no one who denies it can be saved:
"Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain" (1 Cor 15:1-2).
Why such an emphasis on belief in the Resurrection? Because if Christ died for our sins but was not raised from the dead, then redemption is incomplete. Man consists of more than his just immaterial part (soul, spirit, psyche)--he has a physical body, and that body needs to be redeemed; and if he has not risen from the dead, he has not redeemed the body. And if Christ has not redeemed the whole man, he has redeemed nothing.
Paul tells us in 1 Cor 15:1-4 that the resurrection is part and parcel of the gospel itself:
"Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures ."
The gospel is not encapulated in "Christ died for our sins." If Christ died for our sins but did not rise from the dead, his death avails nothing:
"But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. . . . and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins." (1 Cor 15:13-17).
The emphasis the NT witnesses placed on the resurrection as absolutely essential to the gospel is striking:
"If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved" (Rom 10:9).
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Pet 1:3).
"And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you-- not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience-- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet 3:21)
"He who was delivered up because of our transgressions, and was raised because of [for] our justification" (Rom 4:25).
Indeed, this "gospel to be believed" requires belief in the physical resurrection of Christ; and no one who denies it can be saved:
"Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain" (1 Cor 15:1-2).
Why such an emphasis on belief in the Resurrection? Because if Christ died for our sins but was not raised from the dead, then redemption is incomplete. Man consists of more than his just immaterial part (soul, spirit, psyche)--he has a physical body, and that body needs to be redeemed; and if he has not risen from the dead, he has not redeemed the body. And if Christ has not redeemed the whole man, he has redeemed nothing.
posted by NA at 5:28 AM
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