As we enter into the month of April, we will be celebrating the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. These are really the core events of all that we believe and hold onto in our Christian faith. If Christ didn’t rise, we are still in our sin. If Christ didn’t rise, we are fools and most to be pitied. If Christ didn’t rise, we have no hope.
In 1 Cor. 15, the apostle Paul reminds us of what the gospel is all about and how the resurrection is an essential element of what we must believe:
12 “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…. 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 bore witness 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,
Did you notice that Paul says this is of first importance? In other words, this is THE essential issue for us as Christians. Christ died—He was the perfect sacrifice that took our sins upon Himself. Christ was buried—He experienced the way of all people and took God’s punishment for sin. Christ was raised—He defeated the final power of death and now gives us life! If any one of those elements was missing, our salvation would be incomplete, or as Paul says, “your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins…. we are of all men most to be pitied.”
This especially impacts us in ELI. If the resurrection never happened, our preaching is in vain. Our teaching is in vain. Our travels and conferences are in vain. We are wasting incredible amounts of time and money to perpetuate a great hoax and deception.
But, since Christ did rise, we have been forgiven of all of our sins. We have hope and a message of reconciliation. We have the ability to change the world by making disciples who can make disciples. We have a true story to tell to the nations. Christ will build His church and those of every nation, tribe, people and tongue will gather around His throne, declaring “Worthy is the Lamb!” But only because He rose!
Michael Green in his book, The Day Death Died, reminds us of the importance of the resurrection to us in our walks with Christ.
“Consider the issues that hang on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
“If it is true, then we can be sure that God exists. And He is at once seen to be who Jesus proclaimed Him to be: one who not only made us but loves us, and cares for us so much that He came to be one of us.
“If it is true, then there is life after death. Jesus, who told us that in His Father’s house were many resting places can be believed. He came back from death and demonstrated the truth of what he had taught.
“If it is true, then Jesus Christ really is the Way, the Truth, the Life. No other religion has been able to make, let alone substantiate, a claim that its founder rose from the dead and is alive today. Jesus has every right to be considered the bridge between God and man — if He rose from the dead.
“If it is true, then there is a future for mankind. His resurrection is a first installment of the better world we all want but seem incapable of producing. If Jesus Christ is not alive, I see no hope for the human race.
“If it is true, it puts suffering and death in a new light. It tells us that this life with all its pain and anguish is not the end. On the contrary, this life is a training school for eternity. The first Easter was the day death died.”
The resurrection of Jesus guarantees that His death paid for my sins. If Christ has been raised, then all my sins are forgiven. And if all my sins are forgiven, then God is not against me but for me.
Rom. 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. (Romans 8:31-34).
That’s how a 2000-year-old resurrection gives me hope: it guarantees to me that because Jesus bore my sins on the cross, God is for me and not against me, and it declares that this Jesus who loved me and gave himself for me is alive and present. It declares that He is praying for me and caring about me at every moment of my life. It is what helps me handle the difficult, horrible events of life. It is what gives me hope!
We serve an awesome God who loved us and died for us and rose from the dead for us. But now the challenge will be whether we will continue to live in the power of the resurrection for the rest of the year. What difference will Easter make in your life this month and this year and the rest of your life? Will His triumphant power change you and your attitudes and your actions or will you continue to live in the same old way? Will you be transformed or continue to be conformed to this world? Will you live with hope? Will you take this message of hope to the nations? Jesus has broken every chain that binds us–sin, death, discouragement, habits, attitudes—so we don’t have any excuse not to preach, teach, give, and go!
I pray that the truth and reality of the resurrection will overwhelm you in its importance.
- God exists.
- There is life after death.
- Jesus Christ is the only way to God.
- There is a future and a hope for us.
- Suffering and death are not the end.
He is Risen!! Alleluia!!
