The Consequences of Denying the Resurrection
Posted By Joe on October 26, 2009
"He has risen!"
On an early Sunday morning in April 32 A.D., Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead. This is the heart of the Christian faith. Without the resurrection, there is no Christianity.
There are many that deny Jesus' earthly existence 2,000 years ago, let alone that He rose from the dead.
But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did no raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. --1 Corinthians 15:13-15.
You can call me an idiot or even a credulous fool, but just don't call me a liar or a false witness!
For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. --1 Corinthians 15:16-17 (Emphasis mine.)
No resurrection of Christ = you will pay the penalty for your sins on your own behalf. This isn't the same thing as a parking ticket! Paying for your own sins has eternal consequences!
Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. --1 Corinthians 15:18.
For those that have already left us and have physically died, they truly are dead: physically and spiritually/eternally. Their sins were never paid for by Christ and so they died in their sins and will spend eternity apart from God.
If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. --1 Corinthians 15:19.
The Christian hope is based on the faith that Jesus rose from the grave and conquered death and sin once and for all. That means that no matter how tough this life gets at times, we know that our eternity is secure with God. We can endure all things because Jesus has gone before us to prepare our place for us in our Father's Kingdom (John 14:2-3).
May He Increase!
About the author
Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. John 19:41
"It is not without meaning that the tomb in which the body of Jesus was laid was a new one. It was thus impossible to affirm that any other than He had opened a way out of its dark recess, the conqueror of death."
James Dodds, Exposition of The Apostles' Creed, page 52.
Amen. God knew what He was doing by preparing a new hewn tomb for Himself. Thanks Ike!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzqTFNfeDnE (Editor's Note: "That's My King," sermon by Dr. S.M. Lockridge).
Nice one, Joe!
We too, will be rasied with Him!
Hey, Ike!
Hey Steve! Welcome back.
Thanks for stopping by.
[...] other day, my dear brother Ike posted a link to a YouTube video. I thought it was quite wonderful, so I wanted to make sure that people saw [...]