If Jesus Did Not Rise from the Dead, Then We Should Be at the Lake Today!

If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. . ., and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. . . .  If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:14-19)

This Sunday we will celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Easter is an exciting day in many churches throughout the world, as Christians gather to recognize the significance of Jesus’ resurrection. But why is the resurrection so important?

First, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the basis of the Christian gospel. We believe and preach that Jesus died for our sins and rose again. This is the basis for our faith and our preaching because in the resurrection God proved Jesus’ claims and that He has authority to judge the world regarding sin (Acts 17:31).

Second, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the basis of the Christian hope. If Jesus was not raised from the dead, then our faith is worthless, and we have only hoped in Christ in this life only (1 Corinthians 15:19). If Christ has not been raised, then we have no hope of a future resurrection either. However, the Bible says that Jesus did rise from the dead and that because He was raised, we too can look forward to our resurrection. “For,” Paul says, “if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection” (Romans 6:5).

Finally, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the basis of the Christian’s conduct (1 Corinthians 15:33-34). How should we live if Christ rose from the dead? We should live a life that is pleasing to God in all respects (2 Corinthians 5:6-10). John reminds us that if we have this hope in us, we will purify ourselves (1 John 3:3). The hope of the resurrection allows us to live with a heavenly focus, living in righteousness because we don’t want to be ashamed at His coming (1 John 2:28-29).

If Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, then we are wasting our time gathering in churches, not just Easter Sunday but every Sunday. Instead, we should be out playing golf on Sundays or enjoying some family time or whatever brings you most earthly joy. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, I have much better things to do with my time than to tell people lies. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, we are still in our sins and have no hope of eternal life. However, if Jesus Christ did rise from the dead, as the Bible testifies he did, then we will all have to answer to him, and those who reject Christ and deny his resurrection are the ones who are to be pitied.

Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day, just as Scripture announced. And for over 2,000 years, Christians throughout the world have been gathering every Sunday (Lord’s Day) to remember Jesus’ resurrection and to sing, pray, read, see, and hear this gospel preached. This is what we believe!

Do you believe – in Christ: his perfect life, his substitutionary death, his supernatural resurrection, and his glorious exaltation as Lord and King to the right hand of the Father? What gives your life meaning? Do you have any hope in life after death? For Christians, the resurrection is the basis for faith, hope and meaning.  If you have no hope, then let Christ give you hope. If you have no purpose, then let Christ fill your life with purpose. Turn away from your sins and turn to Christ in faith! For, he is risen! He is risen, indeed!

Love,