Does it matter if Jesus actually rose? Can I be a Christian and not believe that Jesus actually rose from the dead? Does it matter if I do not believe that Christ’s resurrection was bodily? What difference does it make if Jesus’ body rose or not? If Jesus did not literally rise from the dead, is Christianity still a viable belief system?
This weekend, churches all across the globe will gather to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. For over 2,000 years the church has gathered to celebrate Christ and his empty tomb. Historically, resurrection Sunday has been the celebration of the cornerstone of the faith.
But do we believe it?
According to recent studies, many in the western church are questioning the literal and bodily resurrection of Christ. This is seen clearly in a recent study conducted in England where it was determined that 28% of Christians do not believe in the literal resurrection of Christ as the Bible teaches.
So, although they are found in churches all across the globe celebrating Easter, many are beginning to question His resurrection. And more than that, many are beginning to question if it even matters whether or not the resurrection was historical and/or literal.
What is a Christian response to this? Can we be “Christian” and not hold to the belief that Jesus rose from the dead? Let us think about three scriptures that help us answer these important questions.
The Resurrection is Validation
And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
1 Corinthians 15:14-19 (ESV)
The resurrection of Christ is validation to all of His claims. In other words, if you cannot trust what He said about his resurrection, then why should you trust what He said about your salvation? Furthermore, if Christ did not raise, then all preaching and Christian living is in vain. Paul calls it futile. More than that, Paul further defines this futility in that we would still be dead in our sins.
Christ’s death and resurrection are crucial to our salvation in Christ. Without it, Paul makes it very clear, Christians are to be the most pitted people on earth. This is strong language, and yet it is the language that rightly expresses the importance of the bodily resurrection of Christ.
The Resurrection is the Source of Strength and Power in our Lives
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.
Romans 6:4-11 (ESV)
We live this life in a constant battle with sin. As Paul says in Romans… we constantly do the things that we don’t want to do, and we regularly fail to do the things that we know we ought to do. This is an ongoing war, and without the literal resurrection of Christ, Paul is clear that we would lose.
Christ’s death and resurrection have granted us freedom and victory over sin. Jesus conquered sin and death, and we have been promised that our hope for the victory over sin is through the resurrection of Jesus.
Paul says that “we too might walk in newness of life.” Our walk with Christ is possible through the resurrection. If He was not victorious over sin through his resurrection, then we would not have the victory over sin in our lives either.
Listen as Paul elaborates…
Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 6:4-11 (ESV)
But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Romans 8:10-11 (ESV)
Can we just take a moment to meditate on these verses? “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.” Christ is victorious over sin, death, hell, and the grave!
And now, Paul goes on remind us that not only is this true about our Savior, but he adds, “he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”
We are promised, through the resurrection of Christ, that the same Spirit of power indwells us! This promise would be void of power if Christ had not been raised. In a very real sense, the resurrection of Christ is the power we have in our life.
The Resurrection is the Source of Hope for our Resurrection
Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.
2 Corinthians 4:13-14 (ESV)
The Christian faith is not only about living our most full and rich life in this present life. It is not simply a means to abundant life. Instead, the Christian faith is about our eternity. It is about life abundantly and life eternally.
Paul is very clear that our future hope of resurrection is secure in the literal, historical, and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave. As assuredly as Jesus Christ raised from the dead, so also will we be raised to meet him in His presence.
Without a belief in the literal resurrection of Jesus Christ, our belief and hope in the future resurrection of our bodies would have no ground of assurance.
All of this to say, it matters. It matters that He actually came. It matters that He actually lived. It matters that He actually died. And, it matters that He actually rose.
The foundation of our Christian faith is the work of Jesus Christ, and His resurrection is an irreducible part of His work. To deny the resurrection is to deny the gospel, and a denial of the gospel is fundamentally not Christian.
He rose and it matters!