Is the Resurrection really that important?

1 Corinthians 15

The Letter to the Corinthians church was most likely written around 56 A.D. Many of the disciples and apostles were still alive as Paul was writing this letter. Why is that important? In the beginning of this chapter Paul is reminding people of Jesus life, death, and resurrection. Jesus was seen by the 12 then also seen by over 500 people, most of whom were still alive to read his letter. If this was not true, this letter would have been called into question, label heretical, and never seen again. It wasn’t just his closest 12 that saw Him alive but at least 500 others that we know of, saw the risen Christ.

Why is the resurrection so important? Jesus ministry lead up to two things: 1) our redemption for our sin on the cross and 2) His overcoming power of death, hell, and the grave through His resurrection. If Jesus was not raised from the dead then He lied. If He lied about resurrection then we certainly could not have trusted Him with our salvation. Great news, He did not lie! He rose from the grave and lived on the earth for 40 additional days after He was crucified then He ascended to heaven just like what he will do on the day he returns.

The resurrection impact doesn’t stop there. Because He arose, we know we serve a “living” God. Jesus conquered corruption and death through His resurrection, He was the first to overcome and because he overcame so will we. There will come a day when we will follow Him in resurrection. Like Christ after His resurrection had been made complete, had an incorruptible body so shall we. A perfect body the way the Lord had planned it to be. Paul gives the example of our bodies like a seed, dies and from that dead seed sprouts a whole new plant. So will our new bodies be like that new plant.

Death can’t hold us down. For a true Christian, death is a good thing, a wonderful experience. We leave the pain, sorrow, and corruption of this world for the joy, love, wonder, amazement, and incorruptibility of heaven. Heaven is a very real place, reserved for those who have a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus. I know to some that may not sound fair but after all it is God’s house we are going to. He sent for us and paid the price to get us there. All we have to do is accept the price that was paid, Jesus, and we will be welcomed into His house. Reject the price, and we are rejecting God. If you reject someone will they let you into their house? We all live forever. From the moment we are conceived we will live forever whether it is heaven or hell depends upon what we do with the gift that has been offered.

Share that with someone today! If you love the people around you, ask the Lord to give you clear opportunity to share this amazing story. There is only one way to get into God’s home, through faith in what Christ did on the cross for each of us.

Tomorrow we end 1 Corinthians with reading chapter 16