Thank God for the Resurrection

Scripture:  I Peter 1:3-5 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

For us to be saved, the resurrection is just as important as the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  The truth we spend much of our focus on when discussing and even declaring our testimony of salvation is to reference the fact that Jesus died on the cross for us.  The truth is that if Christ died and did not rise then there is no proof of the victory over death, nor is there visible proof of the acceptance of blood as sufficient for our redemption.   The praise of the Apostle Peter in our present verses for devotion flows from his awareness that without the resurrection of Jesus we have no living hope to count on, and we are stuck with the same delusion of working for salvation that every false religion depends on for salvation.

A person cannot be a Christian without believing in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus (Romans 10:9).  It was not the death of Christ that convinced people He was the Savior, but the fact of seeing, believing and ultimately experiencing the power of the resurrection.  It was the resurrection that changed people’s lives from fear to faith and from hopelessness to a hope that was alive unto eternal life.  

The first and most obvious importance of the resurrection is that it allows us to be certain because it provided proof that the crucifixion accomplished its intended objectives.  It was proof of Jesus’ true identity as the Son of God, or it is more convincing to say, it proved Him to be God the Son.  The scriptures say of Him that through the resurrection He was “Declared to be the Son of God” (Romans 1:4).   It also was proof that His death was an acceptable payment for our sins. It has been said by many that we can liken the relationship of the crucifixion and the resurrection to that of a purchase and the receipt of that purchase.  (Romans 4:25) says that He was delivered over for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.  

The second importance that the resurrection has for us today is that it is the reason that Sunday, the first day of the week became the primary day for the Believers of Jesus to gather corporately to celebrate in worship (Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:1,2).  It was on the first day of the week that Jesus’ resurrection was discovered by Mary Magdalene (Matthew 28:1; Luke 24:1).  It is also significant that the birth of the Church on the Day of Pentecost occurred on a Sunday (Acts 2:1-4).  It is probably of great significance also that all of Jesus’ post resurrection appearance occurred on the first day. Sunday is the Resurrection Day that we gather to celebrate our risen Savior Jesus Christ.

The third consideration as to the importance of the resurrection to us is that it is not only a point of knowledge for our assurance, but it is to become the living reality and benefit of believing on Jesus as our Savior.  When we believe the same power that raised Jesus from the grave raises us spiritually from the state of death to the new life of being born again into the Kingdom of God (Ephesians 1:19-21; John 3:7; I Peter 1:23).   It is not only that it raised us, but it continues to work in us to bring the reality of a new changed resurrected life in our daily living until Christ comes back and totally finishes the resurrection to change us once and for all to glorified bodies just like His (I John 3:2; Philippians 3:20, 21; I Corinthians 15:51-54; I Thessalonians 4:13-18).

This is the living hope we have in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It is not only that He is alive, but we are alive with Him now and shall be forever.

Prayer:  Awesome God, what a privilege You have bestowed upon as heirs of so great a salvation in Christ our Lord.  A hope kept by your power for us who believe -- never to be lost or destroyed.  Hallelujah unto You for doing for us what we never could have done for ourselves. We praise You for it with all of our hearts, in Jesus Name, amen.

(by Pastor Wayne Cockrell)