Why the Resurrection Matters...

I am struck here in Paul's sermon at the synagogue, how he focuses so much time on the resurrection of Jesus! After a quick history lesson of the children of Israel, He weaves in Christ as God's promised Messiah, and then clearly preaches Christ's death without cause. But, then Paul focuses half of his sermon on how Jesus was raised from the dead!

Why focus on the resurrection? Maybe it's hard for us to understand in our culture which, for the most part, has already heard the whole account many times. But, for those who haven't heard the whole story of God, the resurrection is key! For later in 1 Corinthians, Paul teaches that if Christ has not been raised from the dead, then our faith is futile...we are still stuck in our sins! What? If Christ was not raised from the dead, then we would still be stuck in our sins? Yes, and this is why Paul focused so much of his teaching and preaching on the resurrection...and so should we.

Think it out with me...the curse of the law is sin and the result of sin is death. So, since all man has sinned, he has been subject to death. But, when Jesus came, He not only fulfilled the whole of the Law perfectly...but, He also took our sins upon Himself totally, becoming a curse for us. Galatians 3:13 says, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

So, if Christ wouldn't have been raised from the dead, then sin and death, which He took upon Himself would have been victorious. But, the fact that Jesus was resurrected means that sin and death have been defeated...death couldn't hold Him down! 1 Corinthians 15 continues, "For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."

So, because Jesus has destroyed sin and death through His cross and resurrection, we who believe in Him by faith will also be made alive just as He is alive! He is the first fruits of all who would follow in faith!
That's why the resurrection is important and that's why we need to be reminded of it! Jesus' resurrection makes the good news possible. Without His resurrection, we are still stuck in our sins, because He would still be under the curse of them. But, He has risen, and His resurrection proves that God was pleased with His sacrifice for sins, and that He defeated death...for all of us!

So, praise God today for His awesome plan! Thank God today for the resurrection of Jesus Christ...because without it, we would still be stuck in our sins! And, let's make sure that we are preaching and teaching the resurrection and why it is so important to believer and unbeliever alike!

"The enemy has been defeated! Death couldn't hold Him down! I'm gonna raise my voice in victory, I'm gonna sing my praises loud!"

Created over 2 years ago