Our Assurance: The Resurrection

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve” (1 Cor. 15:3-5 ESV, emphasis mine).

Every year around Easter, some major media platform will run headlines like “Jesus’ Bones Discovered in Ancient Cave!” Or “Was the Tomb Really Empty?” Or “Archaeologist’s Find Casts Doubt on Jesus’ Resurrection.” Why is the world so set on disproving the resurrection of Jesus?  What is so fundamental about the resurrection that it comes under constant attack?

I think the answer is clear from Scripture. These verses above from Paul in 1 Corinthians establish the resurrection of Jesus as a matter of first importance. In other words, this belief in the bodily resurrection of Jesus stands as a foundational truth of Christianity. Remove it and the Christian faith unravels (cf. 1 Cor. 15:12-19).

Satan knows that. So he inspires demonic attacks on the doctrine time and time again. We must fix our minds on what the Bible says so we don’t fall captive to the enemy’s tactics.

It begins with the substitutionary nature of Jesus’ death on the cross.  Consider the following verses (again, emphasis mine):

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed (Isa. 53:4-5).

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross (Col. 2:13-14).

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person – though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die – but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:6-8).

Time and time again, Scripture affirms the fact that Christ died for us. We could not live a righteous life, try as we might (Rom. 3:23). We needed a Savior. We needed a substitute.  After living a perfectly obedient and righteous life, Jesus willingly went to a cross, took our sins upon himself (2 Cor. 5:21), and died.

But when Jesus died on that Friday and his body was placed in the tomb, the question remained: Was his sacrifice enough? Was the punishment Jesus bore on the cross enough to satisfy the righteous indignation God had toward sinners? When Jesus uttered those words, “It is finished” (Jn. 19:30), was that true, or was there more to be paid?

We would never know the answer to those questions…except, Jesus rose from the grave! As one pastor famously said, “The resurrection was God’s ‘Amen!’ to Jesus’ ‘It is finished’ on the cross.” When Jesus came out of that grave, that was God’s answer: “Yes, Jesus’ payment was enough!  I am satisfied!”

Today, when sinners repent of their sin and by faith believe on Jesus Christ, they can be assured of the full payment for their sin because of the resurrection. Remove the resurrection and doubt enters the picture. Satan would like you to think there is more that you need to do to earn your salvation.

No, friend, Jesus’ payment was enough. Rest in his work on your behalf. The price has been paid and the resurrection is proof of that! Stand on the truth of God’s Word this Easter season!