Because Our Savior Lives

At the end of this month, we celebrate a precious and important holiday—the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! The Apostle Paul, when explaining the essential message of the gospel, describes it in this way: 

“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, and then to the twelve” (1 Cor. 15:3-5, ESV).

Paul then goes on to explain that if Christ has not been raised from the dead, we have no hope and “are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Cor. 15:19).

But the truth is that Christ IS raised from the dead! As our risen Savior, he promises to be with us “always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20).  

But how does this encourage us to share the gospel? How does knowledge of our risen Savior give people the courage to make their homes in foreign lands, do the challenging work of learning other languages or share the gospel with the neighbors on their streets and in their communities?

The glory of the resurrection turns our eyes from ourselves to our all-powerful, death-defeating God! Peter wrote to the churches of Asia Minor that they “were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God" (1 Pet. 1:18-21).

Because our Savior lives, we have hope in God who raises from the dead! Because our Savior lives, we are changed! Because our Savior lives, we can take the good news that has been given to us and share it with the people God brings into our path. This news of forgiveness of sins powered by our all-powerful God is the only news that changes lives—how can we keep it to ourselves?  

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20).