Logic and intellectual honesty permit no other conclusion. If Christ is not risen from the dead, then He has no power to pardon or to save the sinner. But if He is risen, as the Scripture states, then this is logical proof of His power to pardon and to save.
“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them.” (Heb. 7:25)
Christ’s resurrection is an absolute, logical necessity as a basis of God’s offer of salvation.
“And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is vain and your faith is also vain.” (1 Cor. 15:14)
“And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” (1 Cor. 15:17)
The condition of contemporary Christendom abundantly confirms these plain statements of Scripture. Those theologians who reject the personal, physical resurrection of Christ may moralise and theorise as much as they please, but one thing they never come to know in personal experience is the peace and joy of sins forgiven.
Finally, the third reason for the importance of the resurrection is that it constitutes the culmination of all our hopes as Christians and the supreme goal of our life of faith here on earth.
Paul says that the resurrection is the supreme goal and consummation of all his earthly endeavours. Speaking of the motivating purpose of his life as a Christian, he says:
“That I may know Him [Christ] and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.” (Phil. 3:10-12)
Notice particularly the two phrases “that I may know... the power of His resurrection” and “if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Paul did not intend to let anything in this world prevent him from attaining to the consummation of all his beliefs and labours – the resurrection of the dead. In this respect, the attitude of every Christian believer should be the same as that of Paul. If there is no resurrection, then the Christian faith and the Christian life are a pathetic deception.
“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” (1 Cor. 15:19)
On the other hand, if we really believe in the resurrection, our life’s aim and purpose will be like Paul’s: to attain it.
Thank You Lord Jesus, that Your Second Coming is the ultimate high point of our hope here on earth. Make me a vibrant, tireless witness to that wonderful hope that You want to be for all people. Thank You Lord Jesus, for raising me up at the last day! Amen.
