Easter is the holiday that celebrates and commemorates the central event of the Christian faith: the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the oldest Christian holiday and the most important day of the church year.
It is clear that if the resurrection of Christ is not true then all of Christianity must be suspect. As the Apostle Paul stated, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” (I Cor. 15:19). Why did Paul write this and what did he mean?
Context defines this very well.
But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; we are yet in our sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (I Cor. 15:13-19).
Of course, the virgin birth of Christ as well as His sinless life and substitutionary death are absolutely important biblical and historical facts, and they too are central to the Christian message but without His resurrection the value of each of these facts is minimal at best.
In this same chapter, Paul clearly states the Gospel message of Christ:
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. (1 Cor. 15:13-15).
This is the Gospel message and central to this message is Christ’s resurrection. HAPPY EASTER.
Folks, as I jotted these notes it was with the consciousness that this is my final blog for the Journey Church. Thank you for allowing Barbara and me to be part of this church family these past three years. I have appreciated your love, support and great ministry even through times of trial, and once again…
I’ve loved being Pastor of the Journey church!
Pastor Jim Day
It is clear that if the resurrection of Christ is not true then all of Christianity must be suspect. As the Apostle Paul stated, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” (I Cor. 15:19). Why did Paul write this and what did he mean?
Context defines this very well.
But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; we are yet in our sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (I Cor. 15:13-19).
Of course, the virgin birth of Christ as well as His sinless life and substitutionary death are absolutely important biblical and historical facts, and they too are central to the Christian message but without His resurrection the value of each of these facts is minimal at best.
In this same chapter, Paul clearly states the Gospel message of Christ:
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. (1 Cor. 15:13-15).
This is the Gospel message and central to this message is Christ’s resurrection. HAPPY EASTER.
Folks, as I jotted these notes it was with the consciousness that this is my final blog for the Journey Church. Thank you for allowing Barbara and me to be part of this church family these past three years. I have appreciated your love, support and great ministry even through times of trial, and once again…
I’ve loved being Pastor of the Journey church!
Pastor Jim Day