Dear Aebi, Christ died for our sins; if He had
not been resurrected, would our sins still be forgiven? Dear Aebi, Christ died for our sins; if He had
not been resurrected, would our sins still be forgiven?
No. Paul says faith in the resurrecti "12
Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead,
how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the
dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then
Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then
our preaching is empty and your faith is
also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of
God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ,
whom He did not raise up-if in fact the dead do not rise.
16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not
risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is
futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who
have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this
life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable."
Read verse 17 again! The ASV reads, "And
if Christ hath not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet
in your sins." Again, Paul says in Romans 4:25, speaking
of Jesus, "who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was
raised for our justification" (ASV). Both the NASB and the
NKJV translate this, "because of our justification,"
but the KJV, ASV, RSV, NRSV, and NIV all translate it, "for
our justification." The point being made in Romans 4:25 is
that Jesus died in order to forgive our sins, and he was resurrected
in order to go into heaven as High Priest with his own blood as
the offering to justify us or make us righteous. (Justified and
made righteous are synonyms used to translate the same Greek word,
dikaios).
The resurrection of Jesus proclaims Him to be
the Christ; had He not come forth from the tomb, He would
have been he just another man, even though a prophet. (Actually,
He would have been a false prophet, for He said that He would
be resurrected). The resurrection proves him the Son of God: Romans
1:4 "who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection
from the dead ..." Saul of Tarsus was persuaded that Jesus
was the Christ by seeing Jesus on the Damascus road and knowing
that He had arisen from the dead. Acts 9, 22, 26.
The resurrection of Jesus assures us of our resurrection
(1 Cor. 15:20-26). It is a vital part of the gospel that Paul
preached everywhere (1 Cor. 15:1-8). The apostles were selected
to become witnesses of His resurrection, and they said His resurrection
proved Him to be both Lord and Christ (Acts 1:22; 2:32-36).
The resurrection of Jesus is portrayed in baptism
by which we are buried or immersed into Christ and resurrected
with Him to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-4). It is in this
death and resurrection baptism that we are cleansed of our sins
and become servants of righteousness (Romans 6:17-18). Notice
that 1 Peter 3:21 points out belief in the resurrection as vital
to our being saved by baptism.
Christ's resurrection is just this vital to Christianity:
without His resurrection there would be no Christianity. It is
essential to believe in His resurrection to be saved, according
to Romans 10:9. His resurrection enabled Him to offer His blood
in heaven for our atonement. His resurrection declares Jesus to
be the Christ, the Messiah, God's Son, and our Savior. 2660 Layman
Rd., Vincent, OH 45784-9730. cjandi@juno.com