What value is Jesus’s death if he did not rise from the dead? What is the cross without the resurrection?
Sin, Evil, Death, Dying, and What Happens After We Die
This series addresses the concerns we all have: the concern for sin, evil, death, dying, and what happens after we die. Is there hope after death? When God created us, humans, he intended for us to live forever in a loving, peaceful relationship with him. But this relationship has been broken by sin.
Here, we address the origin of sin and look more closely at death and dying.
But, instead of looking at death negatively, we look at it in the context of hope, the promised hope based on what Jesus did for us when he died and came back to life again.
From the Sabbath School Adult Bible Study Guide 2022 Quarter 4: Sabbath.School (See also Hope Sabbath School and 3ABN Sabbath School)
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Inviting God’s Presence
Holy Father, Thank You for the cross, and thank you that Jesus came out of the grave. Give us a better understanding of the value of his resurrection. In Jesus’ Name Amen (Split)
John in Revelation 1:17 and 18 reveals that Jesus rose from the dead and he holds the keys to death and the grave:
“When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. He put his right hand on me and said, ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the One who lives; I was dead, but look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys to death and to the place of the dead’ ” (Rev. 1:17, 18, NCV).
Central to the Christian faith is the resurrection of Jesus. Christians maintain that Jesus did wake up from the dead.
As a matter of fact, Paul in 1 Cor. 15:16–18 offers a great reason for the Christian’s hope in the resurrection. He points out that if Jesus did not wake up from the dead, our faith is useless and we are still in our sins: (Split)
“16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.
17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!
18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. (1 Corinthians 15:16–18, NKJV).
What are the Cross and the Resurrection to humanity? The Cross and the Resurrection go hand in hand.
The Cross is Christ’s victory over sin, death, and the devil. Jesus’ resurrection is the closing triumphal event to save us, humans.
Know that there is no way that Death could keep Jesus in the grave because He never sin. He was sinless in all his ways.
The central point of Jesus’ accomplishments was His death on the Cross, nevertheless, the Cross without the resurrection would become only a “beautiful philosophy of unselfish service” that has no significance in saving us. Furthermore, the Cross without the resurrection would be a mere demonstration of sacrificial love with no power to transform lives and bring about a solution to the problem of sin and death.
For, it would not be able to provide eternal life to those who believe in Jesus as their Savior (Romans 3:21–26). Sabbath School Teacher Comments, Friday, November 11 (Split)
The point: no matter how much emphasis has been placed on the crucifixion, Jesus’ death on the cross has no value if He did not rise from the grave.
Paul talks a lot about Jesus’ death and how important it was. He goes as far as saying in I Corinthians 2:2 :
“For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2, NKJV).
Yes, we believe Jesus died and there is historical evidence to attest to this. But, aside from his death, is the fact that Jesus woke up from the dead.
Why is it important for Christians to believe that Jesus woke up from the dead?
Jesus waking up from the dead assures us He will wake us from the dead as well.
Therefore, we will look at Jesus’ resurrection and examine all the convincing evidence that shows that he in fact woke up from the dead.
After Jesus died, he was placed in a tomb. What evidence is there that he came out of this tomb alive? Find out: Day 2, A Sealed Tomb
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