RESURRECTION

How important is the resurrection? It is crucial. Here is what Paul says:

1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,
2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you-unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

How important is the resurrection? It is crucial. Here is what Paul says:

1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,

2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you-unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.


9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. (1 Corinthians 15)

Notice that Paul said he taught the resurrection as first importance. It is not a secondary doctrine. It shows that Christ is God the Son, that the Father accepted his sacrifice on our behalf, and that we will follow him in being raised after our deaths.



And, if you are already a believer, today is the perfect day to rejoice in Christ's resurrection. You rejoice that he proved his deity by conquering death, that he is alive to help you day by day, and that he proved he has the power to keep his promise to raise you as we'll.

Rejoice! He is risen!

Paul also said the resurrection is part of the Gospel. It is part of what we must believe to be saved. You cannot say you believe the Gospel if you deny the resurrection of Christ. Romans 10:9 says if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. If you have not believed in Jesus and confessed him as Lord, today is the perfect day to do so and be saved.

And, if you are already a believer, today is the perfect day to rejoice in Christ's resurrection. You rejoice that he proved his deity by conquering death, that he is alive to help you day by day, and that he proved he has the power to keep his promise to raise you as we'll.

Rejoice! He is risen!