Why is the Resurrection Important?

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QUESTION:

What changed with the resurrection of Jesus?

The resurrection confirmed Jesus' claims about himself, that he was the Son of God in the flesh, the fulfillment of God's dealings with humankind.  No longer would people have to follow a set of rules to find salvation. (see Colossians 2:20-23) The old covenant was replaced by the new covenant and the proof was in the resurrection. Because Jesus lives, he is the Messiah.  He is the one to trust.  He is the one whom we can have a personal relationship with. Another way to look at this question is to ask what would be different if Jesus had not risen from the dead.  If there had been no resurrection, Christianity as we know it would not exist.  At most, Christians would be following the teachings of just another popular rabbi. His words simply would have been the same as countless words of other religious writings. People would be left with no other option for salvation than to strive for absolute obedience.  But the resurrection changed everything.  People follow Christ's teachings, not to become saved, but because they are saved. We have discovered something far better than knowing words; we have found what it means to know Him. Because He was raised from the dead, we can be too. We can live -- really live -- both now and through all eternity.

RELEVANT SCRIPTURE:

In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; he has risen!  Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'"  Luke 24:6-7

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What if the Truth is Rejected?

Лосенко Антон Павлович (?). Десять заповедей Моисея (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

QUESTION:

My son, a bright educated person, knows the truth of Jesus but rejects it. What is in store for him?

Scripture makes it clear that it is not enough simply to know the gospel. The gospel must be believed and obeyed. 2 Peter 2:20-22 is a warning to those who know the way of salvation and still reject it. The only hope for anyone is that they embrace God's commands and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. It appears that there are degrees of punishment for the lost. (see Matthew 13:11-14) Those who reject the gospel are accountable for more than those who never knew and so never consciously rejected it. (see Matthew 25:16-28) Yet, those who never heard the gospel are judged because they don't live up to what little they know through nature and their own conscience. (see Romans 1:18-20 & 2:12-15) It appears that judgment will be less severe if a person rejects God out of ignorance than out of rebellion. In any event remember that God has a perfect plan and perfect timing. Don't give up on your son. Keep praying.

RELEVANT SCRIPTURE:

If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and they are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.

2 Peter 2:20-21

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