This Sunday, we come to one of the great Easter texts as we consider the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  This is both appropriate and an important thing to do at a time when Christians around the world are celebrating this glorious event.  We live in a day and age which is very unfriendly to the truth of the resurrection, and so we need to be doubly sure why we believe in the resurrection and to understand its significance for us.  The doctrine of the resurrection was central in the teaching and preaching of the apostles.

Imagine if you woke up in the morning to discover this breaking news on your social media feed and across every major news network.: “the body of Jesus Christ has been discovered in a tomb near Jerusalem.”   If somehow this news could be verified, it would mean the end of the Christian faith and a complete repudiation of the Bible’s claim to divine inspiration.  In our passage this week, 1 Corinthians 15:12-34, the Apostle Paul examines the ramifications of this.  He defends the doctrine of the future resurrection of believers from the vantage point of Christ’s resurrection.

The resurrection gives us confidence to receive Jesus’ great teachings and to believe the Gospel.  That Christ’s work is complete and redemption is accomplished gives us assurance.  That He died manifests His love and willingness to save.  That He rose again demonstrates His power and His ability to save.  It is fundamental to our expectation of rising from the dead ourselves.  We’ll think about these things this Sunday.  On Easter.  See you there, Dr. Dave