“I remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand…
“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… I am… unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me…
“If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain… And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins…
“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead…
“What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body…
“For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“’Death is swallowed up in victory.’
‘O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?’
“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:1,3-4,9-10,14,17,20,42-44a,53-55,57
When Jesus foretold His death, he included being raised. The two together composed the gospel of grace He would enact. Paul understood this mystery, experienced it spiritually, and was compelled to make it known. Without death there was no resurrection, and without resurrection, no new life. The gift of God- faith- enables His children to receive and apply His grace unto salvation and purposeful, victorious living. (Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23; Mark 9:31; Luke 24:7,25-27; Ephesians 2:8-10)
Christ’s resurrection is the crux of the gospel. Without it there is no victory over sin or death, no power to endure, no eternal hope. The empty cross and the empty tomb make way for fullness of life. The better we know Christ and share in His death to self, then partake in His resurrection life, the more real and effective the joys of His gift becomes. (Psalm 16:8-11)
“You’re my safe place, my hide away
You’re my anchor, my saving grace
You’re my constant, my steadiness
You’re my shelter, my oxygen.” ~Lauren Daigle (2023)
What graces of Christ’s costly death and powerful resurrection am I experiencing today? Is there deep peace in sharing the fellowship of His sufferings? Is there palpable hope in the bleakest of circumstances? Is there victory over besetting sins? Is there zealous vitality in the Spirit, the will to put to death what belonged to the old body? Christ’s being raised is whole-life- affirming. (Philippians 3:10; Colossians 3:1-17; 1 Peter 4:13)
“Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!” ~Charles Wesley (1739)
Lord Jesus, may I ever marvel at the graces of Your resurrection!
As the rain and snow 