Three Truths About the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

It is fitting on Easter Sunday to rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Actually, we commemorate that historic and life-altering event every Lord’s Day.  But Easter marks the specific day in the calendar upon which our Savior rose from the dead and so it receives special observance.  I want to share three important truths tied to his resurrection to add fuel to our rejoicing and stir our contemplations.

The resurrection of Christ confirms that God the Father was propitiated.  Propitiation is an infrequently used word, but important in the matter of forgiveness.  Men, because of their sin, stand separated and alienated from an all-holy God (Isaiah 59:1-2). The only remedy for their sin is death (Romans 6:23; Ezekiel 18:4).  But the Scriptures teach us that God himself “sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (I John 4:10). That is, Christ died for our sins in our place (I Corinthians 15:3-4).  He was “delivered for our offenses and was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4:25; emphasis added). Because Christ was sinless his death had merit before God as an acceptable sacrifice.  God’s wrath was propitiated, meaning satisfied, by the offering of Christ and, consequently, God is able to forgive any and all who believe on him.  The debt of sin having been fully paid, the Father is able to justify the repentant sinner.  We can know our sins have been forgiven because the Father has been propitiated!

The resurrection of Christ confirms that death has been conquered.  When standing at the tomb of his friend, Lazarus, the Lord gave Lazarus’ sister, Martha, great hope.  He made this remarkable statement, “I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosever liveth and believeth in me shall never die” (John 11:25-26).  The believer need not fear death because Christ has overcome death.  He testified to John, the Apostle, “I am he that liveth and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, amen; and have the keys of hell and death” (Revelation 1:18).  There is no such thing as soul sleep for the believer.  When a Christian closes his or her eyes in death, they go immediately to be with the Lord (Philippians 1:23) and when Christ returns “the dead in Christ shall rise first…and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (I Thessalonians 4:16-17). Death holds no power over the believer in Christ!

The resurrection of Christ confirms that he shall one day judge the world.  This truth should put fear in the hearts of those who have rejected the claims of Christ.  Paul was greatly burdened for the men of Athens who worshipped many gods and had even gone so far as to make an altar “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD” (Acts 17:23). He testified to them that God “now commandeth all men everywhere to repent because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead” (Acts 17:31; emphasis added).  Christ will someday judge all men and this promise is affirmed by his resurrection.  “It is appointed unto all men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).  Be assured God will keep his promise!