What Difference Does Easter Make?
This is just a week after Easter or better yet, Resurrection Sunday! So what is this all about? The Apostle Paul knew that the key to Christianity is the resurrection. In fact, he wrote one long treatise on the subject. This is found in I Corinthians 15. He gives an historical, logical, theological and experiential explanation. This is so important because Paul knew that if the physical, bodily resurrection didn’t happen, the Christianity is not real.
Paul said, “if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” (15:14) Later, he said, “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, you are still in your sins.” (15:17) What a horrible place to be! This is why the resurrection of Jesus Christ is so crucial. If Christ did not physically rise from the dead, we are totally hopeless. The resurrection proved that Christ is who He claimed to be - God. Thus He is the only acceptable and perfect payment for our sin. That’s why Christ said on the cross “it is finished.” That means “it is paid for completely. Paul said in Romans 5:8 “God demonstrated His love to us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” He died in our place and because of the resurrection He proved He was God and the perfect and complete payment for our sin. So, when we accept Christ’s payment for our sin we are no longer still in our sins, but in God’s family, completely forgiven.
At the end of the I Corinthians 15 Paul said “God gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” We see that because Christ is alive, by faith in Him, we have victory over death. We have life eternal. Have you accepted Christ's payment for your sin?
If you know Christ personally look at the last verse in the chapter. “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm, let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” This means to stand firm in the teaching of the resurrection. Some, at that time, were denying the resurrection. Some today deny it, but the evidence it’s the resurrection of Christ is overwhelming. So thus when we work for Christ, we are serving a risen Savior. He’s alive. He spoke to Paul after he arose from the dead and ascended to heaven. He’s alive!
So, this next Sunday, realize why we worship on Sundays - because Christ rose from the dead on the first day of the week. Do you know Him? Do you have a relationship with Him? Do you know you serve a living Savior? What great news!
Paul said, “if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” (15:14) Later, he said, “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, you are still in your sins.” (15:17) What a horrible place to be! This is why the resurrection of Jesus Christ is so crucial. If Christ did not physically rise from the dead, we are totally hopeless. The resurrection proved that Christ is who He claimed to be - God. Thus He is the only acceptable and perfect payment for our sin. That’s why Christ said on the cross “it is finished.” That means “it is paid for completely. Paul said in Romans 5:8 “God demonstrated His love to us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” He died in our place and because of the resurrection He proved He was God and the perfect and complete payment for our sin. So, when we accept Christ’s payment for our sin we are no longer still in our sins, but in God’s family, completely forgiven.
At the end of the I Corinthians 15 Paul said “God gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” We see that because Christ is alive, by faith in Him, we have victory over death. We have life eternal. Have you accepted Christ's payment for your sin?
If you know Christ personally look at the last verse in the chapter. “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm, let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” This means to stand firm in the teaching of the resurrection. Some, at that time, were denying the resurrection. Some today deny it, but the evidence it’s the resurrection of Christ is overwhelming. So thus when we work for Christ, we are serving a risen Savior. He’s alive. He spoke to Paul after he arose from the dead and ascended to heaven. He’s alive!
So, this next Sunday, realize why we worship on Sundays - because Christ rose from the dead on the first day of the week. Do you know Him? Do you have a relationship with Him? Do you know you serve a living Savior? What great news!
Ken Muck, Interim Lead Pastor at Sturgeon Bay Community Church
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