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I Believe in Jesus’ Resurrection

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

1 Corinthians 15:3–4

Watch Week Four Day Three

Scriptural Evidence for Jesus’ Resurrection

Our faith rests on Christ’s resurrection. Paul understood the depth of this truth. In 1 Corinthians 15, he gave a lengthy argument for Christ’s resurrection. He wrote, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). To Paul, Christ’s resurrection was of first importance when sharing the gospel. Jesus’ resurrection fulfilled the Scriptures, proving that He was who He claimed to be. Addressing the church members who doubted this, Paul continued: If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. . . . For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:14, 16–19) Paul was clear—if Christ had not risen from the dead, we would have no hope. But He did rise from the dead, as Scripture clearly portrays in each of the four Gospels.

The Importance of Christ’s Resurrection

On that Sunday morning after the darkest day, Christ walked out of the tomb. Every step declared one truth: He had won. He had taken on the punishment for our sin and defeated both sin and death forever. Christ died at the cross, but so did death itself. Christ rose again; He sealed the verdict on death. While we live in the in-between, Christ promised that a day is coming when death itself will no longer exist.

The Implications of Christ’s Resurrection

Jesus’ resurrection assures us that we will rise from the dead with Him. It is a promise that we won’t be left in the grave but will spend eternity with Him in new bodies, free from disease and death. By rising from the dead, Christ demonstrated that His sacrifice was sufficient for the forgiveness of our sins. Romans 4:25 describes Jesus as the one, “who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” His risen body is an assurance that we have been justified before God. In his book The Reason for God, Tim Keller writes, “If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that he said; if he didn’t rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what he said? The issue on which everything hangs is not whether or not you like his teaching but whether or not he rose from the dead” (2008).

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I Believe

Daily Question

What about you—if Christ rose from the dead, what implications does this fact have for your life?

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Comments (2)

This means since I put my faith in him and believe that he rose from the dead there is a place he is preparing for me to one day to spend eternity in Heaven with him shining in the light of his glory. Even though there will be tribulations Jesus told us he has overcome the world! That is a huge implication for me that one day no more anything just praising Him all the day long. I often think in my minds eye what it would be like to be able to be with him talk with him and see him embrace me in his arms it is truly amazing. It will happen not if but when and when that day comes I hope to turn and see so many people who didn’t want to hear about him but God made a way and we will all be together in Heaven. I hope to see my dad there and we believe he accepted Jesus and I thank you Jesus even if it was on his death bed he found his way home. I saw two cardinals last weekend and they were so beautiful. You know a very dear close friend of mine said to me one day Jesus isn’t on the cross and I stopped and thought so true but why do a lot of people wear the cross with Jesus nailed to it HE is not there HE is risen and seated at the right hand of God. Its a HOPE to hold onto when life gets tough!

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