By Robert L. Olsen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
Assurance of the Resurrection
John 20:3–9; 1 Corinthians 15:20–28
Believing in the Resurrection (John 20:3–9)
As we approach Easter, we should remember that each of the four gospels has as its focal point the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There is an important reason for this; the Christian faith is nothing apart from these events.
The Gospel of John recounts how Peter and John ran to the tomb to find that it was empty because Jesus had risen. The disciples were confused by this event because they did not yet understand the Scriptures regarding Jesus rising from the dead. But the Gospel makes it clear that Jesus was in fact raised from the dead.
Made Alive through the Resurrection (1 Cor. 15:20–22)
Not only do the Gospels focus on the resurrection, but Paul makes this the crux of his message as well. As Christians it is crucial that we affirm the resurrection of Jesus. While it may seem strange to say that we need to affirm this since it is clear in the Bible, there are some who would call themselves Christians and yet deny the miraculous because of the influence of science and modernism. Paul shows us in verses 13–19 that without the resurrection of Jesus we are still dead in our sins.
In verses 20–22, Paul says the sin of Adam which has impressed itself on all of creation and infected all of humanity is undone by the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus becomes the second Adam, the perfect man who fulfills the law that Adam and his offspring were unable to. Therefore, Christ has become the firstfruits of all who will be raised to eternal life.
Death isn’t the final word for Christians — Christ’s resurrection proves that He has defeated death, and if He has defeated death then surely He is able to fulfill all of the promises made to us which include receiving eternal life.
Future Found in the Resurrection (1 Cor. 15:23–28)
All of this will happen in due time. We must wait patiently for Christ to return at which point all believers who have died will be brought back from the dead and given new resurrection bodies while those who are still alive at Christ’s return will meet Him in the air (1 Thess. 4:13–18).
In the meantime Christians need to live with confidence in Christ’s defeat of death. All around us we see the results of sin in our world. There are catastrophes, sickness and death of people that we know — but for those who are Christians we know that Christ has overcome sin and will bring about a new earth free from sin. This is the hope Christians have which allows us to persevere in the midst of trials. It also is the hope that is lacking from the rest of the world.
Secularists believe that getting rid of religion is the way to a bright future. But in reality atheism leads to a lack of hope. The hope of eternal life in Christ should permeate our lives so much that it is evident to all that we have a real living hope, one that is worth living for and worth dying for.
As the United States becomes more and more antipathetic toward Christianity, Christians will bear the brunt. In other parts of the world Christians are assaulted on a daily basis and threatened every day, yet they persevere because of the hope within them.
The Bible gives us examples of those who have persevered to the point of death because of the hope within them. This should give us a confidence to do the same as the culture continues to turn against Christ.
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