The Significance of the Resurrection

Last week we discussed the importance of the crucifixion. This week we are going to explore the importance of the resurrection. There are many different reasons that the resurrection is important from validating Christianity and the deity of Christ to enabling Christ’s union with believers. As we continue on this journey through theology together let’s dig deeper into the significance of the resurrection of Christ Jesus.

            First, we see that his resurrection validates his deity. Only God is able to undo death. “and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 1:4). It is only through the power of God that one is able to be raised; therefore, only God himself is able to raise himself from death. This raising from the dead is the ultimate proof that Jesus is indeed God.

            The resurrection validates our justification. “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” (Romans 4:25). Without the resurrection there would be no justification. Death would’ve won if Christ could not overcome it. His death would have been no different than any other person dying for a good cause. It would have been noble, but it would not have had any lasting value. However, Jesus did rise from the dead! Because of this reality, we are able to rejoice in the fact that we can be justified before God.

            Christ’s resurrection from the dead validates our proclamation. “But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:12-19). Seeing Christ raised proves the reality of the resurrection from the dead. If Christ was not raised, then we could not be raised. However, we can be reassured of the reality of being raised into a new life. When we are saved, we can trust that we are raised into new life. We can also trust when we die we will be raised in new resurrection bodies. If Christ wasn’t raised then all of this would be for nothing. However, Christ was raised!

            We see that the resurrection of Christ enables our union with Christ. “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once and for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.” (Romans 6:5-10). We have died with Christ and have been raised with him. This is the reality that baptism portrays. Christ lives in us after the moment of our salvation. That is how we are able to begin the fight against our flesh and have victory in that fight. Without his resurrection, we could not be raised with him and have him live in us. This important union with Christ that we have as believers would not be able to happen without the resurrection. Because Christ was raised from the dead we are able to successfully war against the flesh.

            There are many other realities that come from the resurrection, but we do not have the space here to fully discuss every reality. We can have confidence in our salvation because Christ was raised from the dead. It is because he rose from the dead that we are able to experience many of the realities that we do as believers. Without the resurrection, there would be no hope. We need both the death and resurrection of Christ in order to have justification and sanctification. How would we be raised into a new life if Christ could not be raised from the dead? As we enter the Easter season let us remember the significance of the resurrection!