Does the Resurrection change anything?

by Pastor Dave

“If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if, in fact, the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.”

1 Corinthians 15:13-19

This Easter, I briefly preached on this passage during the Sunrise service, and it reminded me that everything hinges on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. There are many things in this passage that are difficult to swallow when thinking of life without resurrection. But the hardest for me is verse 17, where Paul says that you are still in your sins. Wow! If Jesus didn’t conquer death, then His death meant nothing more than a kind man giving up His life for His friends. I am still chained to my sins with no way out.. Hopeless, empty, sad, condemned to hell. 

But, verse 20 says, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead”! He has risen! He did conquer death! And I am not living in my sin. He has broken the chains of sin that hold me down. Galatians 5:1 says,” It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”  You and I are free from sin! Hallelujah! There is no greater joy than to know that my sin is not held against me and that I can choose not to sin. I don’t have to sin! 

So, in answer to the initial question, Jesus' resurrection changes everything. It is our forever hope! It is our Joy! We are Free! We are allowed free access to the Throne of God and are called to reign with Him in Heaven forever! 

What do we do with this? We must tell everyone that we know! This is not a secret! We should shout this from the mountains and in the valleys. Don’t be shy or embarrassed. Jesus did it all so we could be free and live forever with Him. However, He does command us to share this with others!