How important is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead? The apostle Paul sees the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead as being the peg upon which the gospel hangs. “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures: and that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, He was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all He was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.” (1 Corinthians 15:1-8)
Because the resurrection of Jesus was being questioned, Paul launches into a lengthy discourse about the importance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the Christian faith.
“Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. (1 Corinthians 15:12-20)
On the Day of Pentecost, after quoting from the 16th Psalm, Peter connects the outpouring of The Holy Spirit with the resurrection. “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.” (Acts 2:32-33) Further on in Acts we read: “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.” (Acts 4:33) Our justification before God depends upon the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Romans 4:25 tells us that Jesus “was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”
Six words that rocked the universe are: “It is Finished” (John 19:30) and “He is Risen” (Mark 16:6). There you have the gospel from A to Z. Jesus told the mourning Martha these words: “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?” (John 11:25-26) Reader, how do you answer that question from Jesus? Jesus declares that He IS the Resurrection and the Life. There is no salvation apart from belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul writes in Romans 10:9-11: “if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”
