The Importance of the Resurrection

If someone asked you to explain the Gospel to them, you'd be at a good starting point with Paul's summatory explanation in his first letter to the Corinthians,

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

And that is an excellent starting place, a solid introduction, but Paul doesn't stop there. Starting with verse twelve, he begins what you could call a Gospel deep dive. And what does he zero in on? What does he use pen and ink to fill the rest of chapter fifteen with? His explanation centers around the resurrection, the third part of his foundational introduction to the Gospel.

In Paul's mind, as an apostle called to bring the message of salvation to the Gentiles, the truth that Christ rose from the dead and that we will rise from the dead is of key significance.² And as it is and has been with many of the cornerstone truths of Christian doctrine, opposition against this truth finds itself present. The truth stirs up trouble - like it did with some of the first century religious leaders in Jerusalem,

These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead. ³

Peter and John had just given a man who could not walk a miraculous healing in Jesus' name and with this healing came an opportunity for Peter and John to bring the Gospel message to the mesmerized crowd that had witnessed this powerful miracle. The leaders who were stirred up by this message of the resurrection were the priests and Saducees. This sect of religious leadership did not believe in the resurrection. But the reason for their disturbed state goes deeper than a differing of doctrine or an opposing opinion.

The resurrection, a core component of the Gospel, cut to the core of what their hearts truly loved, and it wasn't a love for God, it was a love of this world. They believed that their worship, their adherence to religion, would bring with it material prosperity. Many of the Saducees successfully lived this belief out.⁴ Their hope was in this life only.⁵

Even today, the resurrection - the belief that there is a life beyond the death of our physical bodies - stirs up resistance. Why? Because if the dead are raised, it is implied that there is a judgement, and to many the idea of appearing before God as judge and giving account of all that one has done (good and bad) during this life stirs up some pretty strong emotions. And questions. And fears.⁶ Accountability is not generally a well-loved thing.

For the believer, the thought of judgement should evoke a reverent fear. And a joyful hope.⁷ But for the unbeliever, no such hope exists. If you've received Jesus Christ - God's free gift of salvation - you can rejoice in the hope of the resurrection. If you have not, there is still time to receive God's offer of forgiveness through Jesus and find peace with Him with no fear of the coming resurrection.

For more on the hope held out in the Gospel for facing that final day, you can read 1 Corinthians 3:12-15.

References

¹ 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

² Romans 8:34 - Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

³ Acts of the Apostles 4:2

⁴ Tyndale Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, The Gospel of Luke / Acts, ©2006, pp 408-409.

⁵ 1 Corinthians 15:19 - If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

⁶ Hebrews 9:27 - Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment ...

⁷ 2 Corinthians 5:10 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (This scripture refers to the judgement of believers, those who trust in Jesus. For the unbeliever there will be a judgement as well, but a judgement that will lead to condemnation, not eternal salvation).