There has been much
discussion in recent generations about the possibility of removing the
teachings and ethics of Jesus from the life and divine claims in order to
preserve a version of Jesus that feels acceptable to those who discount the possibility
of miracles. When Paul wrote to the
church in Corinth, he reminded them of the original message of the Gospel that
he had taught, and they had believed, which contained a clear understanding
that Jesus Christ had risen from the dead three days after his
crucifixion. The people of Corinth had
evidently believed Paul’s word initially but had later succumbed to or been tempted
by doubts arising from cultural problems with the idea of a bodily
resurrection. In the end, the modern
skeptic and the ancient Greeks of Corinth have the same problem; they doubt
that the resurrection of Jesus could have taken place. What is the response of the Word of God to
both groups? Without the resurrection
there is no hope.
The entirety of the Church and the Christian faith are
built upon the historic fact of the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Without this foundational truth, the whole
structure built upon it, from ethics and charity to prayer and worship, will
come crumbling down. Paul was not
willing to accept a “diet” version of Christianity in his day any more than the
Church should be willing to listen to calls to leave out the miracles in
ours. Without the resurrection, our
faith is meaningless, our purpose is lost, and our sins remain.
The problem faced by those who refuse to believe in the
resurrection is that they have then no answer for the problem of evil in our
world. Without the resurrection as a
means to obtain forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation from God, we have no
hope of a better tomorrow and certainly no hope in any life beyond this
one.
“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead”. Hope is available because Jesus did conquer
sin and death, forgiveness is available because Jesus’ payment for your sins
was accepted by the Father and his sacrifice was vindicated by the power of his
return from the dead to new life. From
this central truth, all of Christianity flows, and from it we offer God’s love
to the world.
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