The resurrection of Jesus Christ is central to the Christian, which is why it is mentioned in almost all of the books of the New Testament, and why the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth:
If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 1 Co 15:13-14
From the Gospel of Matthew…
They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. Mt 27:53
…through to the Revelation of John…
I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Rev 1:18
…there is testimony to the resurrection.
Yet, in many cases, many did not realise at first what was going on. When Jesus first appeared to Mary, she thought he was the gardener. On the road to Emmaus, a couple of disciples talked with the risen Christ, without realising who he was at first. The disciples had problems believing Jesus was sitting with them eating broiled fish, even though they could talk with him and touch him. In each case, people eventually realised what had happened and testified to his resurrection.
Today, the resurrection is as important as ever, but many people dispute it, even prominent churchmen and theologians, despite the clear teaching of the bible. If we do not hold the bible as the word of God, and so give it the authority appropriate to God’s word, we are in danger or losing touch with the Gospel. For the Gospel is not just about what Jesus did on the cross, but also what he did in his resurrection.
In Ephesians 6:14, when Paul talks about the breastplate of righteousness, he is not talking about our own righteousness. For we have no righteousness of our own, we are all sinners. As such, our own righteousness is of no use in a spiritual battle against God’s enemies. Even our righteousness worked out in us by the grace of God is insufficient for the task, as it is weak and prone to fail. Only the righteousness of Jesus Christ, put on in faith can help us in spiritual warfare, for only this righteousness can keep us safe through to the end.
For the battle is not a physical, temporal one, but in the spiritual realm. It is against our own sinful nature, that it might eventually be destroyed by sanctification, by the work of the Spirit through Jesus’ righteousness. It is against the forces of this world and the prince of this world, Satan, who would seek to destroy us, for they cannot destroy God, and will go for what they think they can destroy. Yet, if we are Christ’s, he will defend us through to the end.
Ultimately, we must remember our hope is in nothing but the righteousness of Jesus Christ, for nothing else can wash away our sin, and defend us until the end.
