Resurrection

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

And [as to His divine nature] according to the Spirit of holiness was
openly designated the Son of God in power [in a striking, triumphant
and miraculous manner] by His resurrection from the dead, even
Jesus Christ our Lord (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
Romans 1:4 Amplified Bible

Is it Necessary to Believe in the Resurrection, or only that Jesus Died for Us?

Recently a documentary was shown on the Discovery Channel in which archaeologists (I assume they
claimed to be) claimed to had discovered the bones of Jesus Christ. The statement was made “what will
this do to Christianity if this discovery proves to be true?” In response I heard some people (who claimed
to be Christians) say that it would not affect their Christianity at all – if it were proved Jesus was
indeed dead.

Let’s see what the scriptures say:

1 Cor 15:1-6
15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and
in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--
unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died
for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day
according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was
seen by over five hundred brethren at once,

1 Cor 15:12-14
12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there
is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14
And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.

1 Cor 15:17-19
17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have
fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the
most pitiable.

In these scriptures the Apostle Paul makes it abundantly clear that the Resurrection of Christ is the
foundation stone of all of Christianity.

If Christ is not risen, your faith is empty.

If Christ is not risen your faith is futile, you are still in your sins.

Yes, Jesus’ death on the Cross was essential. Yes the shedding of His BLOOD was essential,
but His resurrection was the COMPLETION of our redemption. Without the resurrection, the
virgin birth matters nothing, the miracles matter nothing, His teachings matter nothing, even the
Cross matters nothing, without the resurrection.

After Paul makes this strong assertion of the absolute necessity of the resurrection, he then declares with
total confidence and absolute conviction the Good News:

1 Cor 15:20-22
20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die,
even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

The Apostle John had a dramatic vision of the Risen Christ in which he records:

Rev 1:17-18
17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be
afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.
Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

Eternal life was made available to us when Jesus Christ bore our sins and died on the Cross. His
blood paid the penalty for our sins, and on the third day He arose victorious over death!

You can receive this eternal life right now, simply by calling on Jesus Christ to save you:
"If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him
from the dead you will be saved" Romans 10:9

"For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" Romans 10:13

Pray This Prayer Now to Receive Christ into Your Life:
"Dear God, I come to You in the name of Your Son Jesus. I believe that You raised Him from the dead.
I confess that Jesus Christ is my Lord. I turn from sin, and I receive Your life right now. Lord Jesus, come
into my heart, take away my sin, and be the Lord of my life today. Thank You for saving me!"

JESUS IS RISEN!!!