APRIL 7 & 8, 2007
In today’s installment of my Messages About Purpose and Strategy, I want to communicate about the importance of the resurrection. Since our purpose is to glorify God by leading people to follow Christ, we should consider just what this involves. One non- negotiable is belief in the resurrection of Jesus. People who view the doctrine of creation differently than I do may still be saved. People who vote the other ticket can still go to heaven. People who differ on their eschatological view can still be Christians. But the Bible teaches that all the people who are saved will have one key doctrine in common. We will accept the identity and accomplishment of Christ. Rom 10:9 says, "if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
The resurrection is not a periferal teaching. It is central to the Christian faith. If Jesus did not rise then we have no basis to believe that God the Father accepted Christ’s sacrifice for our sins. There are legitimate differences of opinion on a variety of matters among devout Christians, but if Jesus didn’t rise again, Christianity doesn’t exist and “we are still in our sins” (1 Cor. 15:17). Praise God that Jesus did bear our sin, conquer death and save our souls!
The resurrection is not a periferal teaching. It is central to the Christian faith. If Jesus did not rise then we have no basis to believe that God the Father accepted Christ’s sacrifice for our sins. There are legitimate differences of opinion on a variety of matters among devout Christians, but if Jesus didn’t rise again, Christianity doesn’t exist and “we are still in our sins” (1 Cor. 15:17). Praise God that Jesus did bear our sin, conquer death and save our souls!
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