Death is on my mind. In the past few weeks, several friends have died or lost loved ones. I could not have picked a worse time to read a book about the last great war where death is also a recurring theme. In coming to the Bible to hear God speak today, how delightful that He points to the reality of the resurrection.
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:20)
The resurrection is foundation to my faith in Christ. In fact, “If Christ has not been raised, preaching is in vain. . . . Faith is futile and we are still in our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:14,17).
But that is not all. The resurrection also proves the deity of Jesus Christ. The Bible says He “was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4). Moses and other prophets performed miracles, so it could be that Jesus of Nazareth could be seen as only a prophet — apart from the resurrection.
The resurrection also points to Jesus’ sovereignty over all things, including life and death. “For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living” (Romans 14:9). The One who conquered death rightly rules over all things. I can trust Him because His power is a sure thing.
The resurrection has vital implications for other aspects of my salvation. Both justification (being declared free from guilt) and new life are linked to the fact that Jesus rose from the dead. In a discussion about Abraham, Paul wrote,
That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (Romans 4:22–25)
As for new life in Christ, the apostle Peter wrote of the reason why this is our hope. (Remembering that in the Bible, hope is a promised certainty rather than the ‘wish’ or ‘hope so’ that is associated with that word today.)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Peter 1:3)
Paul also repeated this as the promise of God. “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:11).
My eternal destiny depends on the resurrection. Without its reality, I have no hope. However, the promises of God are made sure by this amazing event in history. That is, if Christ did not rise from the dead, then I shall not rise, but because He has risen then all who are alive or asleep in Christ will not perish; we shall step into eternity and see Him face to face.
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Oh Father, while death casts a pall, Your Word calls it a mere shadow (Psalm 23). Faith in You means that those who believe and have gone before me, have passed through that shadow and are now in the light of Your presence. I am sure of this because Jesus came, died, and rose again. He gives life to us who are otherwise dead in our trespasses and sins, and life to those who have died in Christ, yet who will never die. Thank You for faith to believe and thank You that You already live in my heart. Your life is my life because death could not hold You. You walked out of that tomb a winner!
In My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers says our biggest snare is “taking the pattern and print of the religious age we live in (and) making eyes at spiritual success.” He calls it spiritual wantonness.
The pattern of success in this world is bigger, better and more. Full churches, big crowds, many souls saved. The higher the number, the more esteem. However, Jesus says something different about rejoicing in the power and ability to serve God.
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:19–20)
As God’s child, I need to measure my “success” by God’s grace toward me. I cannot fill churches or save souls. In fact, the Bible is clear that Christians cannot “save” anyone. This is the work of God. Instead, we are told to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:18–19).
Making disciples is not a commercial venture. Literally, this verse says, “as you are going, or as you move through life, make disciples.” It didn’t take me very long to realize that this cannot be done without the Holy Spirit. It is a work of God. “Soul winners” are mere gloves on His hands, tools to do His will.
This, and any other work of ministry begins where God’s grace lays a foundation. Salvation and spiritual growth happen because of God’s sovereign grace. Christians are to teach others what He has taught us until together our lives are totally yielded to God. As Chamber says, one life wholly devoted to God is of more value to God than one hundred lives simply awakened by His Spirit.
The proof of this “one life yielded” is in Jesus Christ. God claimed an entire nation as His children and gave them a mandate to glorify Him in the world. They disobeyed and did not accomplish their task. Then God gave one person, His Son, a far more difficult task. He sent Him to die for the sin of the world, the sin of all mankind for all time. Jesus did it. As He yielded His life on the cross, He declared, “It is finished” meaning that our debt for sin was paid.
Yet at that point, to the world and even to His disciples it appeared that Jesus failed. His short ministry touched many lives, but what good is a dead Savior? How can a corpse save anyone from sin? In confusion, the disciples scattered. Then they discovered that the tomb was empty. Hope rose in their heart. Jesus was alive.
The resurrection is key to Christianity. If Jesus is dead, we have nothing to believe. Paul knew this would be an issue when he wrote these words,
Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:12–19)
Without the resurrection, there is no point in “soul-winning” or making disciples. Why ask anyone to follow a dead man who promises life if He Himself does not live? This would make Christianity senseless.
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:20)
This chapter in 1 Corinthians answers several questions about the resurrection, then at the end links it to the ministry God has given His people.
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory (over sin and death) through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:56–58)
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Jesus, because you live, I live also. Your eternal life is my eternal life. For that reason, the work that You gave me is not about ‘success’ in this world valued by using superlatives. Instead, it is about being steadfast, immovable and faithful. It is knowing that whatever I do in Your name and by Your leading has eternal value.
Your obedience to Your Father never matched the standards of success that the world looks for, but by Your obedience all Christians in all parts of this world celebrate two things this Easter day: You died for our sin — and You rose again to give us eternal life! Praise God — it is finished and You are alive!
