DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE REALITY OF EASTER

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE EASTER

"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?" (I Corinthians 15:12)

Although the Apostle saved this question among the Believers in Corinth until toward the end of the letter, it is arguably the most important because it concerns the bedrock of the Christian faith – the resurrection of Christ from the dead.

He began this discussion with a clear presentation of the Gospel – that Christ died, was buried, and rose again, and then proved that He was indeed risen from the dead by appearing to over 500 people (vss. 3-6). Without the resurrection of Jesus, Christianity is just another religion on the same level as Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, or any other belief. Christianity stands alone is this regard.

But there were some who were teaching that there is no resurrection from the dead. How they could believe this in light of the evidence is a mystery, as is their motivation for promulgating such a teaching. Perhaps they were influenced by the Jewish sect of the Saducees who did not believe in a future resurrection. They were Sad, you see. But the importance of correcting this teaching is of prime importance because if there is no resurrection, our faith is vain – empty thinking.

The life and teaching of Jesus was not the motivation for His disciples to take the Gospel into the far reaches of the world and sacrifice their lives for that cause. It was the fact that He was risen from the dead. Easter was real.

Even now, 2 millennia latter, the doctrine of the resurrection is just as important as it was then. Our faith in Christ's resurrection is the bedrock upon which the faith and future of Believers is founded. The Bible, including the Old Testament prophets, Jesus, and the Apostles, is clear in its declaration that there will be a future resurrection – both of the just and the unjust (Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2; John 5:29; Revelation 20:5. 11-14). To reject this teaching of Jesus and of the Apostles is the undermine our faith in Christ and of the Bible in general.

If we only have faith in Christ in this life – that He will make this life better – then we are of all people most to be pitied. To base our lives on Christ's resurrection and our eternal life on a lie would indeed make us deluded people.

But He is risen and alive today, and He has a plan for our future including our eternal life and resurrection. Let no one disabuse us of our faith. As we often say on Easter morning: Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.

Love, Dad