The Resurrection is the Cornerstone of the Faith

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a historical fact. If you remove this fact from Christianity you no longer have Christianity. You have a dead religion. But I am here to tell you today that we have a risen savior. He is risen! I don't want to spend my time dealing with those who are skeptics today about the resurrection. I want to dwell on the truth of the resurrected Christ that you might be encouraged and take heart.

First of all there are three aspects to the exaltation of Jesus Christ. First is his coming back from the dead which we mark today. But then there is his ascension, which means his rising to be with the Father, and also what is called in theological terms, his "session", which is his current ministry at the right hand of the Father.

I want to touch on each of these aspects this week and their significance. First of all ....

I. THE RESURRECTION IS A CORNERSTONE OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AND MESSAGE

A. The Resurrection was the ultimate Declaration that Jesus was the Son of God!

Rom 1:3-4 regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus was always the Son of God. But to those who doubted, this was the ultimate affirmation of his deity. The resurrection of Jesus Christ was the final evidence that Jesus Christ indeed was the Son of God. Moreover, it is not an ordinary Resurrection because if there were any doubt about his being the Son of God before, it was dispelled. Even Doubting Thomas when he saw the Resurrected Christ could only say My Lord and My God!

The amazing thing about Jesus resurrection is that Jesus raised himself--proving His divine power.

John 2:19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."

B. The Resurrection was the Consummation of our Salvation.

1 Cor 15:14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

Look how the Apostle Paul links our justification with the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. He states that if Christ was not raised, then we are still in our sins. In other words, without Jesus triumphing over sin, death, hell and the grave, our faith would be useless.

Even though Jesus died on the cross for our sins, if he had stayed locked up in the grave, there would have been no life and no salvation.

Rom 4:24-25 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness-for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

The Resurrection completed out salvation, because sin was not the only problem. Jesus had to conquer death itself.

2 Tim 1:10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

By rising from the dead, Jesus won the victory over both sin and death. Through his death and resurrection, He broke the power of sin and death that the devil used against us. Blessings!