Christianity and the doctrine of the resurrection of Jesus Christ

The doctrine of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is of vital importance. In fact, if there is one doctrine, one belief that sets Christianity apart from all other religions and belief systems in the world. It’s the doctrine of the bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

Everything we believe and hold sacred stands or falls on the fact of the resurrection. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then the Bible is a lie and we have no hope. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then we have no gospel to preach and no Savior to preach about; we are of all men most miserable, If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then He Himself was guilty of a great deception. Five times He said that He would get up out of the tomb. Destroy the resurrection and Jesus is reduced to the status of being an ordinary man, He is no longer God (Romans 1:4). Destroy the resurrection and you have destroyed the reason our justification (Romans 4:25). No wonder the Devil hates the doctrine of the resurrection like no other. If he can convince the world that Jesus is dead, then the world will never believe in salvation.

The resurrection was not an event about which men knew nothing. It had been predicted before it took place. The Psalmist told about it (Psalm 16:10) and the Jesus told about it (Matthew 12:38-40; John 2:19; Mark 8:31). The apostle Paul wrote, “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4),

The purpose of the resurrection is simple. It activates the gospel. A dead Savior saves no one. It authenticates our faith. The resurrection says that what we believe has power and gives hope and peace. It arranges our justification. Because Jesus lives, God had accepted His death as payment for the sins of all who will put their faith in Him. Therefore, He sees us not as sinners but as saints through the blood of Jesus. Finally, it anticipates our future. Jesus is our guarantee. Because He lives, we shall live also. Praise the Lord.

Thank God, He lives. I praise the Lord for Matthew 28:6, "He is not here, for He is risen as He said. Come see the place where the Lord lay." Because He lives, we live. Because He lives, we can have everlasting life. Because He lives, life itself is worth living. Thank God for the resurrection.

The Rev. J. Patrick Street is the lead pastor of Redeemer Church in Marion. He can be reached at coachpatstreet@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Christianity and the doctrine of the resurrection of Jesus Christ