Resurrection Power by Jimmy R. Price www.jimmyrprice.com Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God. I am a born-again believer and I love the teachings of the Bible concerning Him. His miraculous virgin birth. His wonderful teachings. His awesome miracles. His sinless, perfect life. His shed blood and death on the cross. While each and every one of these are extremely important to the life of each of us as a believer, none of them compare to the power of Jesus’ resurrection! The Apostle Paul declared the Gospel (good news) by stating in Romans 10:9 – “That if thou shalt confess with they mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” However, in Paul’s day, there were some who doubted or even did not believe in the resurrection at all. He addressed this in his letter to the church in Corinth. 1 Corinthians 15:12 says, “Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?” The scenario that Paul then presented to the believers there was designed to get them to think about how important the resurrection is. He presented a list of things to consider. What if there was no resurrection? Vs. 13 – “….then Christ is not risen.” If Christ is not risen, then that would mean that He is dead and He couldn’t be our Savior! Only a living Savior can forgive us our sins and give us new life in Him! Vs. 14 – “If Christ be not risen…” “then our preaching is vain (useless), “and your faith is also vain (useless).” The resurrection gives hope to our preaching, substance and evidence to our faith! Vs. 15 – “We are found false witnesses of God.” As believers, our lives are a testimony to the power of the resurrection of Christ! Vs. 17 – “Ye are yet in your sins.” What a horrible thought to have to come to grips with! Unforgiven? Vs. 18 – “They also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.” How terrible to think the grave is all that there is for our loved ones! Vs. 19 – “We are of all men most miserable.” “If in this life only we have hope in Christ.” How hopeless and helpless we would all be here on this earth without the resurrection! BUT…. Vs. 20 – “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept!” Brothers and Sisters – Thanks Be to God! The Resurrection is TRUE! Christ is RISEN from the Dead! Our Preaching in Not in Vain! Our Faith is Not in Vain! We are Not False Witnesses! We are Not Yet in Our Sins! Those Who Die in Christ are Not Perished! We are Not Most Miserable! Paul concludes by saying, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory?” “The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 15:55-57) We too, some day shall be raised! We will be changed. We will be made like Him. Incorruptible, Immortal! That’s Resurrection Power! This is why we celebrate! He’s Alive…. Forever more!
Happy Easter!! Christian Servant Magazine - Edition II, 2017 - Page 12