The significance of the resurrection

With the passing of Resurrection Sunday, it is time to reflect on Christ’s resurrection apart from the gospel accounts, and for this we turn to the book of I Corinthians and ask, “What if there is no resurrection of the dead?” Not only is this a question dealt with by the Apostle Paul, but Jesus dealt with it just prior to his crucifixion, yet it still remains in our day.

Notice that I did not ask if Christ rose from the dead; that he did is beyond dispute. Science can neither prove it nor disprove it because it is beyond the reach of their capabilities. It is a historical event and as such needs to be weighed in the balances of historical inquiry and tried by a court of records. Once this is done, it will be found that our institutions of higher learning, not to mention those at high school level and below, teach as fact events in ancient history with scant documentation, especially when compared to the plethora of written documentation available for Christ’s resurrection.

No, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is simply beyond dispute. But the resurrection of the dead is something altogether different, and it was put forward in Jesus’ day by a group of religionists known as the Sadducees. Their belief was that there was no resurrection of the dead, physical or spiritual; like a candle that is blown out, when death comes all life ceases, just like any dog or cat. No doubt they were more than just a little embarrassed when they questioned Jesus in Matthew 22 about the resurrection and were rebuffed when he told them that God is the God of the living, not the dead.

Let me make this clear: It is one thing for those who are lost to reject the possibility of a resurrection after death, but quite another for one who claims the mantle of Christianity. It is the lost whose minds have been blinded by the god of this world, lest they should see the glorious light of the gospel of Christ.

This is what the lost must believe in, for in the day they can no longer reject it they must deal with their sin and hell, and because of that they will most ardently resist.

But why should anyone even remotely connected to Christianity take this posture? The implications are huge. Paul said in I Corinthians 15 that if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Jesus is still dead. And to believe this, you must also believe that God is powerless when it comes to death.

He who created life, and then predicted death as the price of disobedience to Adam and Eve, sorely overestimated his own abilities when it came to their redemption, for their redeemer was supposed to crush the serpent’s head, which he did not if Christ is still dead.

And if Christ is not risen, Paul goes on to say that the preaching of the gospel is in vain. Think about it: The whole purpose of Christianity is to give hope beyond the grave, yet what separates Christianity from every other religion of the world is that our savior conquered death. Every other religion is feverishly trying to earn their way into a better eternity; Christianity alone offers it as a gift because of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. But if Christ is still dead, all our preaching is in vain.

And if Christ is not risen, then you faith is also vain. Vanity means empty. It means there is really nothing there. The truth is that while the forgiveness of sins is based on Christ’s blood, eternal life is based upon his resurrection. In other words, no matter how many sins were forgiven you, it just doesn’t matter without a resurrection unto everlasting life.

Without a resurrection, Christianity is only good for this present life. And if this is true, Paul says that we are of all men most miserable. We are miserable because Christianity is about taking up a cross and following Christ. It is about self-denial rather than the licentiousness and hedonism of our day. It is about persecution, tribulation, scoff and scorn because God’s word runs counter to all that our present society wants to believe, experience, and even call Christian. Who in their right mind would do such a thing unless there was hope beyond the grave?

But now, as Paul says, is Christ risen from the dead. He is alive. And as we have already concluded, there is no other event in ancient history for which we have more credible documentation. None.

Therefore the dead will be raised. Go ahead and let the lost scoff, because the day will come when they stand before Christ in their resurrection, but it will be too late.

Theirs is the second resurrection, but for those who truly believe in Christ, ours is the first, and Revelation says, “Blessed are they who have part in the first resurrection….”

Ron Hamman is pastor for Independent Baptist Church of Wasilla. Contact him at 357-4229.