--1 Corinthians 15:20
The whole system of Christianity rests upon the fact that
"Christ is risen from the dead;" for, "If Christ be not risen,
then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain: ye are
yet in your sins." The "divinity" of Christ finds its surest
proof in his resurrection, since he was "Declared to be the Son
of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the
resurrection from the dead." It would not be unreasonable to
doubt his Deity if he had not risen. Moreover, Christ's
"sovereignty" depends upon his resurrection, "For to this end
Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord
both of the dead and living." Again, our "justification", that
choice blessing of the covenant, is linked with Christ's
triumphant victory over death and the grave; for "He was
delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our
justification." Nay, more, our very "regeneration" is
connected with his resurrection, for we are "Begotten again unto
a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the
dead." And most certainly our "ultimate resurrection" rests
here, for, "If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the
dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall
also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in
you." If Christ be not risen, then shall we not rise; but if he
be risen then they who are asleep in Christ have not perished,
but in their flesh shall surely behold their God. Thus, the
silver thread of resurrection runs through all the believer's
blessings, from his regeneration onwards to his eternal glory,
and binds them together. How important then will this glorious
fact be in his estimation, and how will he rejoice that beyond a
doubt it is established, that "now is Christ risen from the
dead."
"The promise is fulfill'd,
Redemption's work is done,
Justice with mercy's reconciled,
For God has raised his Son."