The Power of the Resurrection

And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! I Corinthians 15:17

I took the opportunity this afternoon to listen to C. J. Mahaney's Ligonier conference session on the resurrection of Jesus. I always look forward to hearing him speak, and during this session, Mahaney reminded us that Easter is not only a time to celebrate Christ's resurrection, but it is also an annual reminder of the harsh reality of death. Even though we work hard to keep it at bay, we will all most certainly encounter death. Maheney addressed this question: Why death? Why did God choose death as the just judgment for our sins? He quoted D. A. Carson from his book How Long, O Lord, "Death is God's limit on creatures whose sin is that they want to be gods." By experiencing death, we learn that we are not God for, ever since Adam and Eve, we have been contending for supremacy with Him. "Death is God's determination to limit our arrogance." But physical death is not the only judgment for our sins. For those who have not experienced the sovereign grace of God, physical death leads to eternal death in the form of eternal punishment.

Mahaney stated that we must not approach the resurrection of Jesus apart from the purpose: it is the Divine solution for the curse of our sin, death, and judgment. The resurrection announces forgiveness of sin, every person's greatest need. God's righteous wrath has been satisfied. The cross secured our salvation, and Christ's resurrection assured our salvation. The resurrection also announces our freedom from the fear of death and future wrath. It has redefined death for the Christian. The resurrection provides hope in the midst of grief, and it helps us face our own death to the glory of God.