Hallelujah, what a Savior! Easter weekend at CLF was amazing. But, as we all know, it was amazing because our Savior lives! He is alive forevermore.
Reasons to rejoice in the Resurrection:
The Bible gives us several reasons why the resurrection is important to us, as Christians. To encourage your soul, here’s a list:
- The resurrection, like no other event, proves that Jesus is the Son of God. Romans 1:3-4 says, “concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord…”
- The resurrection proves that the Gospel, the Good News that Jesus lived and died for sinners, like us, is true. 1 Corinthians 15:14 and 17 says, “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain. (vs. 14) “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins. (vs. 17).
- The resurrection secures our standing with God. God declares us righteous and forgives us of all our sins. The resurrection ensures that our standing with God never changes. Romans 4:22-25 says, “That is why his faith was ‘counted to him as righteousness.’ But the words’ it was counted to him’ were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”
- The resurrection defeats the last enemy, death. It no longer holds power over us and is no longer to be feared. 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 says, “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?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
- The resurrection guarantees our future resurrection. Yes, that’s right, one day, our physical bodies will be raised from the dead and made new. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 says, “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.” And 1 John 3:2 says, “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”
- The resurrection gives us power over sin, now. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is alive and at work in us, making us more and more like Jesus. Romans 6:4 says, “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 8:11 says, “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”
- The resurrection brings about Jesus’ ascension (His sitting at the right hand of God) and it ensures that He is interceding for us…now. Wow. Romans 8:34 says, “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” And Hebrews 7:25 says, “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”
- The resurrection gives us boldness and courage to talk to others about Jesus. Acts 4:33 says, “And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.”
- The resurrection is an anchor for our hope. 1 Peter 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…”
- The resurrection ensures that our sorrows will be turned to worship. The resurrection is our reason for marveling and amazement. Matthew 28:8, after Jesus’ resurrection, it says, “So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.” John 20:20 says, “When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.” Do you see how understated this is? How would you respond if you saw Him raised from the dead?
If you’re reading this, my hope is to stir your heart to joy and gladness in your Savior. He is alive! Let these verses wash over your discouraged, disheartened soul. Keep these verses near when those things hit like a flood.
Looking ahead:
This Sunday, we will jump back into our series on the greatest sermon ever preached (The Sermon on the Mount) and look at Matthew 5:7-9. We will look at how we are to treat others and why we’re ‘blessed’ when we do.
Cheap Seats:
- I’m done bragging about my sports teams. A week after talking about the Rangers and their new offensive approach, they go to their home stadium and can’t score runs.
- This at-bat with Jacob DeGrom vs. Cal Raleigh was epic: https://www.mlb.com/news/cal-raleigh-hits-first-home-run-of-2026. And he murdered it.
- A City smackdown of Liverpool is always good. And I’m sure what to make of Mike Malone becoming the North Carolina head basketball coach. The Tarheels have fallen on hard times in the NIL world. My dad cut my teeth on Carolina basketball. I know that surprises some who know that I’m not a big basketball fan. But, I remember watching Jordan’s game-winner versus Georgetown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu0aTFCE1Zc. This video is just another proof that Jordan is the best who’s ever played…
Christ is King!
In Christ,
Dave York
