Thank God for the Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:12-19 (KJV)
¹² Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
¹³ But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
¹⁴ And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
¹⁵ Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
¹⁶ For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
¹⁷ And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
¹⁸ Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
¹⁹ If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

The cross and the resurrection are two sides of the same coin. In other words, both are equally important and each depend upon the other to be effective. The blood of the sinless lamb was necessary to be shed so that the ransom of sin’s debt could be paid in full. However, what ultimately enacted the power of the cross in it’s effectiveness was the resurrection. The rising from the dead was the proof that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ was accepted by the Father. If Jesus would not have raised from the dead, the blood would have been dormant in it’s ability to save one from sin. When the Lord arose, he unleashed the power of the blood and made forgiveness available to all. 

According to the above scriptures, if Jesus would not have raised from the dead then the following would have been useless, vain, pointless, and to no purpose.

• Our preaching would be in vain.
• Our faith would be vain.
• We would be false witnesses.
• Believers would still be in their sins.
• Those that have died would perish.
• We would be of all people, most miserable.

The good news is – he did raise from the dead!

1 Corinthians 15:20 (KJV) But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

Therefore the opposite becomes true:

• Our preaching is effective
• Our faith produces
• We are true witnesses
• Believers are NO longer in sin’s bondage
• Those who died in Christ are alive with him in Heaven
• We are NOT miserable but full of hope

Resurrection implies a new beginning. Something has to be dead before it can be raised. According to Romans 6, at the moment of salvation we die, and are buried with Christ and then raised to newness of life. It’s a new beginning, life, and purpose.

My prayer for this Easter season is that many people will experience what Jesus has accomplished for every person. Like a sponge, he absorbed all of our sins and took them all away. Then, he resurrects his own nature in us through regeneration by the Holy Spirit’s miracle in our lives.

Go and live this experience and watch how God will affect others through you for his glory. God bless you this Easter season!!!