Oct 13 2008
All Important? You Bet It Is!
Five reasons why the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is of supreme importance:
It is the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights of the Christian faith.
It emphasizes the absolute uniqueness and utter superiority of the Christian faith. The founders of all other religions in human history eventually died. But only the founder of Christianity (who also died) is
alive and active today! Thus, in one sense of the word, the empty tomb, not the cross, serves as the official sign of Christianity!
It is the final side making up the divine triangle of salvation. Thus:
1. Jesus’ birth made it possible.
2. Jesus’ death made it actual.
3. Jesus’ resurrection made it certain.
It serves as the official measurement of God’s power. We are all aware of how man measures power, using such units as candle power, horse power, atomic power, etc., but how is divine power measured? In
the Scriptures there are two such standards of measurement.
1. In the Old Testament it is the power God used in bringing Israel out of Egypt (Exod. 14:26- 31).
Time and again, especially in the Psalms, this mighty event is referred to. Note but a few references:
“For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters … Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers” (Psa. 74:12, 13, 15).
“Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea. Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known. He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness. And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left … Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea” (Psa. 106:7-11, 22).
2. In the New Testament it is the power of God used in bringing Jesus out of the grave.
“And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come” (Eph. 1:19-21).
It is the focal point in regard to both salvation and the Scriptures.
1. Regarding the salvation:
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain” (1 Cor. 15:1, 2).
2. Regarding the Scriptures:
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3, 4).
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