Devotional #45

Question 45. What does the “resurrection” of Christ profit us?

 Answer: First, by his resurrection he has overcome death, that he might make us partakers of that righteousness which he had purchased for us by his death (a); secondly, we are also by his power raised up to a new life (b); and lastly, the resurrection of Christ is a sure pledge of our blessed resurrection (c).

(a) 1 Corinthians 15:16: For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 

1 Peter 1:3: 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

(b) Romans 6:4: 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.

Colossians 3:1, 3: If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Ephesians 2:5-6:  even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus

(c) 1 Corinthians 15:12; 20-21: 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 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.

Romans 8:11: 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.

For your further reflection:
Dead men (or women, for that matter) coming back to life is no easier to believe today than it was 2000 years ago.  And, yet, this is the central and definitive claim of Christianity.  If Jesus really got out of the grave (and He did) death has been overcome.  For those whose lives are hid in Him, He promises that they, too, will share in His resurrected life.

Why is the physical resurrection of Jesus essential to Christianity?

What difference, if any, has the resurrection of Christ made in your life?