Articles
Resurrected!
Resurrected
The religion of Jesus is not just a religious philosophy but centers on a historical event. A man named Jesus lived, was a religious teacher, was crucified and buried. If that was the whole story there wouldn't be this things called Christianity.
Each of the four gospels writes of this resurrection. The sermons that were preached in the book of Acts consistently bring up the point of the resurrection. The books of the New Testament mention the resurrection.
The resurrection is at the very heart and center of that which is called the gospel. Paul wrote: "Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word 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 in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
Becoming a Christian involves believing that Jesus was raised and being buried in baptism with him and thus raised as He was (cp. Rom 6:1-4). The Lord's supper that is celebrated by the disciples is done so on the first day of the week - the day upon which He was raised. By the partaking of it the disciples proclaim his death 'until He comes' and thus indicate their faith in the resurrection. The hope of Christians is centered in their being resurrected and gathered with Him. Disciples have such hope in their own resurrection based upon their faith in the resurrection of Jesus.
The very claim of Jesus being the Son of God is said to be vindicated and declared by His being raised from the dead. Paul begins his letter to the Romans: " Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord" ( Romans 1:1-4).
The resurrection of Jesus changes EVERYTHING. Being raised He is the Son of God, the Lord of all, the king of kings. He has all authority. Eternal existence is based upon one's relationship with Jesus. Following Him provides an eternal existence in the presence of God.
On the other hand, if Christ be not raised then your faith is vain and you are still in your sins (1Cor. 15:17). Hugh DeLong
