Ten Reasons Why The Resurrection Matters

On January 30, 1995 I received the kind of phone call that everyone dreads. My mom had a heart attack and was hospitalized in Ohio where my parents lived. Concerned and fearful, I listened as they spoke of her possibly going home in a few days once stabilized.

That’s my mom, dad and me in Corinth, Greece standing in front of the Roman bema (judgment) seat

Later that evening I received another call that rocked my world. Doctors had told family members to come now if we wanted to see our mother alive again.

After pacing the floor in anguish for an hour, I finally called for an update. But the news was grim. My father informed me of her death. I was overcome with grief and tears. It was crushing, and terrible grief was my companion for months and months.

Thankfully, the fact that Jesus is alive and I will see my mother again tempered my sorrow.

Because Jesus is Alive…

1. I Have God’s Promise of a Reunion with Christian Loved Ones.

My mom was a follower of Christ and I know that He received her with open arms.

1 Corinthians 15:53, 54 promises: “For our earthly bodies, the ones we have now that can die, must be transformed into heavenly bodies that cannot perish but will live forever. When this happens, then at last this Scripture will come true – ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’”

(Please see my previous article on “Four Powerful Proofs Jesus Lives.”)

2. I Have Assurance of Eternal Life.

Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection has defeated death. He has the power to save us and He gives us the assurance of eternal life.

1 John 5:13 says: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (Note the word “know” in this verse!)

3. I Have Strength to Face Life’s Challenges.

We can enter God’s presence with confidence. He is waiting to pour out mercy, grace and strength to face life’s challenges.

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

4. I Have Meaning in my Life.

As Christians we find meaning and significance as we serve and impact lives for eternity. We are members of God’s household and fellow citizens with our brothers and sisters in God’s Kingdom.

5. I Have a Purpose for Living.

We are not here by accident. What we do has eternal consequences. Our mission for the Almighty is winning and discipling the world for His sake. We have purpose as we proclaim forgiveness and eternal life in Christ.

6. I Have Joy!

We can have His joy in us! Not like the happiness of the world which is based on circumstances and fluctuates like a roller coaster ride. But there is joy for the believer that withstands the ebb and flow of life’s difficulties.

Jesus said in John 15:11, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

7. I Have Forgiveness of Sins.

The Apostle Paul wrote: “I want you to know, my very dear friends that it is on account of this resurrected Jesus that the forgiveness of sins can be promised.” (Acts 13:37)

God and sin cannot coexist. God is holy and sin has tainted our blood. Jesus took our sins upon himself on the cross so that we can be forgiven.

8. I Have a Personal Relationship with God.

Jesus died for our sins so that we can have a personal relationship with God. We can know Him and even call Him Father!

9. I Have a New Life.

Have you ever wanted to have a fresh start in life? Your life can be brand new.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here!”

10. I Have Freedom from Fear.

Faith in God helps us conquer our fears and with Him we can face them head on–including the fear of death.

“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:13)

The issues are huge–many of the biggest issues in life. All are answered by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Four Powerful Proofs Jesus Lives

Thomas Arnold, Oxford University professor and author of the three-volume History of Rome stated:

“I know of no one fact in the history of mankind which is proved by better and fuller evidence…than Christ died and rose again from the dead.”

the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem (probably not the actual tomb of Christ but a beautiful spot)

Harvard law professor and author of A Treatise on the Law of Evidence Dr. Simon Greenleaf wrote:

“All that Christianity asks of men is that they would be consistent with themselves; that they would treat its evidences as they treat the evidence of other things…the result will be an undoubting conviction of their integrity, ability and truth.”

Four convincing proofs Jesus lives:

1. The Empty Tomb

The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee “…found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.” (Luke 24:2, 3)

Why didn’t the enemies of Jesus retrieve His body from the tomb, disproving the resurrection and thereby nip the Christian faith in the bud?

Because His body wasn’t there!

2. The Changed Disciples

Prior to the resurrection the disciples ran in fear during Christ’s arrest, trial and beating. Peter denied Him three times.

Luke 22:56, 57 states: “A servant girl saw him (Peter) seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, ‘This man was with him.’ But he denied it. ‘Woman, I don’t know him,’ he said.”

The disciple’s personal witness of the risen Lord dramatically changed them. They became passionate advocates for Christ.

If the disciples hadn’t seen Jesus alive would they have suffered persecution, and hardship? Would 11 of the 12 disciples have died for their faith?

Of the 12, 6 were crucified, 2 died by sword, 1 by arrows, 1 by spear, and 1 was stoned to death.

(Some try to argue that many have died for false beliefs. The difference is that the disciples knew whether or not the resurrection was true—they saw the evidence personally.)

3. Our Calendar

In Revelation 21:5 Jesus said, “I am making everything new!”

Remarkably, our dating system and calendar are based on the starting point of Jesus Christ’s life. Every time you write the date, you declare His resurrection!

AD is short for Ano Domini; Latin for “In the year of the Lord.” BC stands for Before Christ.

Before the resurrection, Christ was an obscure Jewish teacher with a small band of followers.

After the resurrection, He became the focal point of history with millions of followers.

History is his-story.

4. Transformed Lives

The most exciting of these proofs Jesus lives is countless transformed lives. Jesus overcame death and empowers people to overcome constraints and burdens.

The Bible says when a person becomes born again they are raised from spiritual death to spiritual life.

“When someone becomes a Christian he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same any more. A new life has begun!” (1 Corinthians 5:17)

Hundreds of thousands testify to the power of Jesus to transform lives.

• Drug addicts and alcoholics reformed

• Gang members turned peaceful and law abiding

• Depressed and suicidal people receive joy

• Families restored

The 2,500 inmate, Carcel Bellavista prison in Medellin, Columbia, is one example.

This was previously a place of unspeakable and violent brutality, where men were routinely butchered and visiting women raped. Guards had to smuggle drugs and weapons or lose their lives.

Until inmate Oscar Osario, a self-taught reader using a Bible, converted to Christianity. He and his family’s lives were changed.

He returned to work in the prison that once confined him and held Bible studies under constant threat. Through his ministry, a miraculous reduction occurred in the monthly murders from 50 to zero!

In two years 300 men became Christians, including 30 guards and the warden.

Bible verses now cover the walls and prisoners loudly proclaim “Viva Cristo” or “Christ lives.”

If you liked this article, check out a similar article I wrote on Ten Reasons Why the Resurrection Matters

Why Your Sincerity Can Be Deadly

Once I went dirt bike riding in the desert with my two older sons. When the time came to leave we drove our vehicle through some deep sand and got stuck.

Yep, that’s me and that’s the four-wheel drive vehicle

Some park rangers came by and offered to help us. They asked if I was in four wheel drive. I sincerely believed I was and said “yes.” They showed me that I wasn’t in four wheel drive since I had not locked the hubs on my front wheels. Once I followed their direction, I easily drove out of the sand.

I sincerely believed in something untrue and it got me stuck. In the same way, people sincerely believe in the wrong way to heaven and are stuck with the consequences.

Here are Two Inaccurate Ways to Determine Truth:

Sincerity of Belief

Some think that sincerity of belief should determine salvation. They feel that God shouldn’t exclude sincere believers in faiths other than Jesus, leaving people out of His family, eternal life and heaven.

Just because people sincerely believe something doesn’t mean they are saved. They have to believe in the right Way: Jesus Christ.

Jesus said; “Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

The problem is that sincerity is not an accurate determination of many truths, including spiritual truths.

For example:

Hitler and the Nazis sincerely believed in the superiority of the Aryan race and extermination of Jews. But sincerity did not make them right.The 9/11 terrorists sincerely believed they were doing the right thing sacrificing their lives along with others. But that did not make it right.I have taken exams and sincerely answered questions believing I was correct. But the answer was marked wrong. Unfortunately, my sincerity did not make me right!

Another inaccurate way to determine truth is:

Tolerance of Personal Preferences

We live in a day when personal preference is often valued above everything. Therefore the difference between right and wrong has been blurred.

“Tolerance” is politically correct; including the personal preference to make immoral choices.

Christians are viewed as “intolerant” for expressing a different opinion.

Therefore, many try to say Christianity is right for some but not for all—it all depends on one’s personal preference.

But there is a problem. Yes, we have free will from God and in America to choose our own beliefs. But, have we confused our American freedoms with the false assumption that we can dictate to God what faiths He must accept?

Our freedom doesn’t mean that we can have our way in all matters.

For example:

Our freedom does not mean we can tell a gas station owner what price we will pay for his gas.Our freedom does not mean we can tell the Federal government how much income tax we will pay.What if I did not want to drive on the other side of the road because I thought one side too restrictive? My freedom does not mean I can drive on the wrong side of the road.

We observe the traffic signs for our own safety and they protect us. In the same way God is the Higher Authority, determining laws of Eternal Spiritual Truth that are non-negotiable.

God’s laws are given in love for our protection and guidance, just as traffic laws are given to guide and protect us.

Just as we tell our children:

don’t step in front of traffic.don’t touch the stove when it is hot.

We wouldn’t say anything if we didn’t know best and love them. In the same way our heavenly Father loved us enough to show us the right way and tell us the way of salvation found in the person of Jesus Christ.

Here is the clear teaching of God’s Word: “So you will be saved, if you honestly say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and if you believe with all your heart that God raised him from death.” (Romans 10:9 CEV)