Because of the Resurrection
The resurrection of Jesus Christ stands at the very center of Christian faith and practice. It is not merely an event in history but a living reality that shapes every aspect of the believer’s life. The resurrection confirms Christ's victory over sin, death, and the grave, and because He lives, Christians are invited into a new way of life marked by hope, holiness, and mission.
First, the resurrection infuses the Christian life with unshakable hope. In a world often marked by suffering, injustice, and death, the resurrection proclaims that death does not have the final word. Paul reminds believers that "if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins" (1 Corinthians 15:17). But because Christ has been raised, Christians live with the assurance that their present struggles are not meaningless. Their future is secure, anchored in the promise of their own resurrection. This hope fuels perseverance, allowing Christians to live courageously and joyfully even amid hardship, knowing that one day all things will be made new.
Second, the resurrection calls Christians to a life of holiness and transformation. In Romans 6:4, Paul writes, "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." The resurrection is about Christ’s triumph and the believer’s participation in His new life. Christians are no longer enslaved to sin but empowered to live in righteousness. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in believers, enabling them to put the old self to death and grow in Christlike character. Holiness is not a burdensome duty but the natural outworking of resurrection power in the believer’s life.
Third, the resurrection compels Christians toward mission. After Jesus rose from the dead, He commissioned His followers to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). The resurrection validates His authority as the risen King and fuels the urgency of the Gospel. Christians are called to be witnesses of the resurrection, proclaiming through word and deed that Jesus is alive and that forgiveness and eternal life are available through Him. The resurrection gives ultimate significance to the work of evangelism, service, and justice—it is participation in God’s ongoing work of resurrection life in the world.
The resurrection is not a distant historical fact but a present spiritual reality that fundamentally reorients the Christian’s life. It brings hope that sustains, holiness that transforms, and a mission that sends. The empty tomb assures believers that God's promises are true, that sin’s chains are broken, and that their lives are now hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). Every act of faith, love, and service finds its meaning in the living Christ. Because He lives, Christians live differently—boldly, joyfully, and purposefully—until the day when they too are raised to everlasting life.
