.
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
47
No comments:
Post a Comment