He Is Risen-Why Is It So Important?

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8

He is risen, our Lord and Savior is risen. Hung on a cross He suffered, an innocent man who took away the sins of the world. A God who loves us so much He sent His only Son to die for us. Tonight, this most Holy of Holy day’s, we look into the importance of Christ’s resurrection.

Why is the resurrection of Jesus Christ important?:

1) It is a witness to the immense power of God. Believing in the resurrection is believing in God. If God exists, if He created the universe, and has power over it, He has power to raise the dead. If He doesn't, He’s not a God worthy of our faith and worship. Only He who created life can resurrect it after death. Only He can reverse death. Only He can remove the sting that is death and the victory that is the grave’s:

1 Corinthians 15:54-55 “When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

In Jesus’ resurrection, God reminds us of His absolute sovereignty over life and death.

2) The resurrection of Jesus is a testimony to the resurrection of human’s. Christianity alone has a founder who transcends death and who promises that His followers will do the same. All other religions were founded by men and prophets whose end was the grave. As Christians, we take comfort in the fact that our God became man, died for our sins, and was resurrected the third day. The grave could not hold Him, He lives, He sits today at the right hand of God the Father in heaven.

The Importance As Told By Scripture:

In 1 Corinthians Chapter 15, Paul explains in the importance of the resurrection. Some people in Corinth did not believe in the resurrection of the dead.

Paul gives six consequences if there were no resurrection:

1) Preaching Christ would be senseless (vs. 14)
2) Faith in Christ would be useless (vs. 14)
3) All the witnesses and preachers of the resurrection would be liars (v. 15)
4) No one would be redeemed from sin (vs. 17)
5) All former believers would have perished (vs.18)
6) Christians would be the most pitiable people on the earth (vs. 19)

Christ has risen from the dead and “has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (vs. 20). Assuring that we will follow Him in resurrection (vs. 23). The Word of God guarantees us (believer's) resurrection. This will be at the second coming of Jesus Christ, when He comes for His Body (the Church) at the Rapture. Such hope and assurance results in a great song of triumph as Paul writes in: 1 Corinthians 15:55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

Paul tells us the importance of the resurrection: (vs. 58) “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

He reminds us that because we know we will be resurrected to new life, we can suffer persecution and danger for Christ’s sake just as He did: (vs. 29-31) “Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? I die every day--I mean that, brothers--just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The resurrection is the triumphant and glorious victory for every believer. Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose the third day according to the Scripture. He is coming again! The dead in Christ will be raised up, those who remain and are alive will be changed and receive new, glorified bodies.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.”

Why is the resurrection of Jesus important to salvation? It demonstrated that God accepted Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. It proves that God has the power to raise us from the dead. It guarantees that those who believe in Christ will not remain dead, but will be resurrected to eternal life. That is our blessing through Christ Jesus. I pray that you all had a Blessed Resurrection Day.