Posted by
ValiantForTruth on Monday, July 30, 2007 12:51:53 AM
There is but one question necessary: If Christ is not risen, then why be a Christian? If He is risen then His word is truth and calls for our allegiance, since it is through His word and Spirit that He rules His people.
In I Corinthians 15 the apostle tells us that if we have hoped in Christ in this life only, then we are of all men most to be pitied. If the dead are not raised then Christ is not risen; if He does not have power over sin and death, then our faith is vain; let us eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.
Even though the Bible declares that the things of this world are passing away, the men of this world continue to mock the crucified Savior of men, and those who believe on Him are considered foolish. Men continue to think that the tiny sliver of time that they draw breath is the only reality. The things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are unseen are eternal. Compared to eternity this life is but a vapor, here today and gone tomorrow. The reality is the spiritual kingdom of God where Christ reigns seated at the right hand of God [Colossians 3:1] with all authority in heaven and earth given to Him at His resurrection [Matthew 28:18] and His coronation ceremony in heaven [Revelation 5].
The problem of unbelief is not in the evidence but in the nature of men. Christ said that though a man rise from the dead, they will not believe. Some say that Christ is not risen; that His tomb is not empty; that His word cannot be trusted. They underestimate the great power exercised by God when each believer enters the kingdom. The apostle compares regeneration of the believer to the resurrection of Christ [Ephesians 1:18-20].
The righteous shall live by faith. We know that Christ is risen because He raised us and many others from spiritual death that we might know Him and testify of the riches of His grace. He rules the nations in the interest of His church according to His own will. Redemption from the bondage and guilt of sin and reconciliation with our Creator is the unseen reality. Eternal condemnation and judgment is the other reality. The focus of all history is the cross of Jesus Christ, because it is at the cross that God dealt with sin. God made good on the promise of grace through the acceptable sacrifice. He invites all who will to come to the wedding feast [Matthew 22:1-10].