Or “Why we need the Resurrection!”
Jesus’ death on the cross is not sufficient to provide the abundant and eternal life God has 
promised us. Does that statement shock you? The cross is not enough. A dead Savior has no power. But our Savior is not dead – He lives today and reigns as King over all creation!
The apostle Paul made it very clear to the Corinthian Christians:
And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. 1 Cor 15:17-19, NLT
Peter also knew that our eternal hope depended on the resurrection of Christ:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 1 Peter 1:3-4, NIV
So why do we so often leave out the Resurrection when we share the Good News of Jesus? We don’t forget to talk about the Cross. And yes, praise God, the death of Jesus on the Cross of Calvary provided the payment that my sins – and yours – had earned. Our sins deserved the death penalty. Our sins brought us spiritual death and separation from our holy God. But Jesus Christ took that penalty on Himself. The perfect, sinless God who became man died so we could have forgiveness. But that is only part of the Gospel message.
Paul never forgot the resurrection. He knew that without it the Gospel was incomplete. In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul succinctly expresses the Good News. He boils down the message to its most important components.
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 Cor 15:3-4
Yes, Jesus’ death paid the price of our sin, but His resurrection provided our hope for life – both now and eternally. Don’t miss these important truths:
- Jesus’ resurrection proves that everything He said and did on earth was true. See John 14:20
- Jesus’ resurrection defeated death! That victory was His and ours! See Romans 6:9
- Jesus’ resurrection provides us with new life in God. See Romans 6:10, Col 3:1
- Jesus’ resurrection guarantees our physical resurrection. See Rom 8:11, 1 Cor 15:20-21
- Jesus’ resurrection gives us power for this life. See Philippians 3:10, Romans 8:11
Have you forgotten about the resurrection? It is the power of God for those who believe! Because Christ has been raised, we will be raised! Believers, we have the same power living in us that raised Christ from the dead! Let’s shout it out!
“Because Christ has been raised, we will be raised!” Yes. Amen.
Thank you, Kathy, for reminding all of us of this vital truth.
I think this is why Resurrection Sunday is my favorite celebration of the year. It gives meaning to everything else. Without the resurrection, you are so right .. it would be incomplete and insufficient. Many people worship dead man around the world, but I have a relationship with a Lord who lives!
Kathy ~ I could hear your heart as you typed the last words of this post. I’m on shouting ground with you, my sister. He has risen from the grave! Hallelujah!
I really love how you said, “Jesus’ resurrection defeated death! That victory was His and ours!” The victory is His and ours! Amen & Amen!
What a sweet reminder that the cross without the empty grave held no power. But He is risen, yes indeed!
The price for sin & hope for life- praise Him! So thankful our story doesn’t end with Christ in the tomb!
Amen, amen, amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We were just discussing this in Bible study this morning – the cross is vital, but Resurrection Sunday changed EVERYTHING! Praise Him!!!!!!!!
Thank You Kathy for this today; I know it in my head; I have read it many times with my eyes; I have talked about it with my lips; ……… reading your study has brought it to where it should be …. within me.
Thank you again ….. and thank you for your prayer for me .
Val < Oxfordshire UK
What blessed truths!!!
Hey its the cross jesus cried its finished john 19:30 nothing else needed to be done and the cross is the power of God 1 cor 1:18 and people who say the cross is not enough are enemies of the cross phil 3:18
Daril, you are right. The cross is the power of God. Jesus’ death alone is what provided our forgiveness. But Paul also made it very clear that without the resurrection we have no hope for the future.
And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. 1 Cor 15:17-19
Christ’s resurrection paves the way for our resurrection and eternal future.