April 2023 Pastor’s Corner — The Only Difference That Matters

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
— 1 Cor. 15:12–19
 
There are a lot of things about the Christian faith that are unique and special, that differentiate it from all of the other religions and philosophies throughout history. But nothing is more important than what we celebrate on Easter Sunday. It is the resurrection of Jesus Christ that makes all the difference. As Paul writes in the passage above, if Jesus Christ wasn’t bodily raised from the dead on Easter, then everything we believe as Christians completely falls apart. Even more, our eternal hope disintegrates. It’s easy to become complacent about our Easter celebrations, but we should make the effort to avoid falling into that trap.
 
In the fifteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul explains so well how essential the resurrection of Jesus Christ is to our faith. As quoted above, he first says that if Christ wasn’t raised from the dead, then our faith is futile. He then points out that Christ has, in fact, been raised from the dead so that “as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Cor. 15:22). It is because of the resurrection that we are baptized, which is a symbolic dying and rising again. It is because of the resurrection that we are able and even willing to endure hardship, persecution and suffering for the sake of Christ.
 
Paul then describes what the resurrected body will be like: a very real body, but also a spiritual body. All of the weaknesses and imperfections of the natural body replaced with the perfection and strength of the spiritual body. It is because of the resurrection of Christ that the power of death has ultimately been broken. What causes fear for the unbeliever is the source of our greatest hope.
We are all looking for God to restore and redeem our lives. What we’re looking to have restored varies from person to person. It might be mental, physical, or emotional restoration, but it’s certainly spiritual as well. Christ’s death on the cross provided for our spiritual redemption. Christ’s resurrection from the grave promises our eternal restoration. Sometimes, God brings restoration to us while we’re on this side of glory. Whether He does or not, because of Easter Sunday, we can know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that one day our restoration will be full and complete, because if Christ rose from the dead, so shall we. Praise the Lord!
 
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.
— 1 Cor. 15:54–57
 
Blessings,
Rev. David Garrison

One Response to “April 2023 Pastor’s Corner — The Only Difference That Matters”

  1. Nancy Homlitas says:

    Thank you for your emphasis on the critical relevance of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The verse you chose “as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22) emphasizes the points you made quite well!

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