Reflecting on Truth #50
Q: What does Christ’s resurrection mean for us?
A: Christ triumphed over sin and death by being physically resurrected, so that all who trust in him are raised to new life in this world and to everlasting life in the world to come. Just as we will one day be resurrected, so this world will one day be restored. But those who do not trust in Christ will be raised to everlasting death.
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14)
Why does this matter?
Christ’s resurrection is perhaps among the most essential beliefs, if not the most essential, in Christian faith. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:14 that if Christ did not rise from the dead, our preaching is in vain and our faith is futile. Again, in verse 17, our faith is futile and we are still in our sins. And lastly, in verse 19, “we are of all people most to be pitied”. That is how much Christ’s resurrection is central to our faith.
There are plenty of divine truths that are contained in Christ’s resurrection. First, it reminds us that we worship Christ who is truly God in every sense of the word. He has defeated death because, as God, death cannot contain him. Hallelujah! We worship a living God whose word is alive and reliable! On the other hand, it reminds us of his humility. Although Christ is God who is not created, he humbled himself to become truly human that he did die to pay for the penalty due our sins. And because he is truly God and truly human, what Christ says is true and will definitely happen: that whosoever believes in him, he or she shall, like him, be raised to new life in this world and to everlasting life with our Lord in the world to come. Just like Christ’s physical resurrection, our resurrection to everlasting life will also be physical in a physical world that has been “resurrected” (restored and renewed) as well!
What does this mean for us?
We can then share Paul’s confidence in our Lord’s word: “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” (1 Cor 15:20-21) and “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep” (1 Thess 4:14).
All of us are struggling with various afflictions in one way or another. Christ’s resurrection and the promise that comes with it then give us a glorious hope that our struggles will be vindicated when he comes again to renew all things. Physically, whatever physical ailments that we may have will be redeemed and made glorious. Those painful medical procedures will be no more and no longer needed. Mentally, whatever cognitive and hormonal ailments that we may have will be restored. Circumstantially, whatever unhealthy environment that we are currently stuck in and cannot escape will be replaced with the permanent glorious presence of Christ. As Christians, we should not and need not to face suffering and death, both of self and of others, fearfully or hopelessly. For while the pain is real, we can be sure that it is temporary. But on the other hand, this should remind us of the urgency of those who have not trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ, that unless they repent and believe in the Lord, they are heading to eternal misery in the absence of our good Lord.
May Christ’s resurrection delights our hearts with the promised resurrection for ourselves to be with the Lord forever and fills our hearts with urgency to share the good news of Christ’s resurrection to the world.