“But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance” – Hebrews 9:11-15
LIGHT FOR NOW: The resurrection of Jesus from the dead gives authenticity to his death.
It was clearly seen in a previous study that the reality of redemption is in the resurrection of Jesus. Hence, Paul will say in verse 17 of 1 Corinthians 15 “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins”. The word “vain” here means futile; worthless. The Passion Translation renders 1 Corinthians 5:17 this way “And if Christ is not alive, you are still lost in your sins and your faith is a fantasy”. Notice, the statement “If Christ is not alive” here speaks of life from the dead; that is, his resurrection life. In essence, he is saying “If there was no resurrection (if Christ was not risen), you are still lost in your sins, and your faith is a fantasy”. He calls your faith a fantasy without the resurrection of Jesus.
In essence, the reality of Christianity itself is enshrined in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. So, redemption wouldn’t have been completed if Jesus had not risen from the dead. We see the complete work of redemption in the resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus is the hallmark of Christianity. Take away the resurrection of Jesus from the gospel, and the gospel is no more authentic; it is no more validated. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead validates his dead in the first place. We believe that he died because he rose from the dead. So, the crux of the gospel; the crux of redemption; the crux of Christianity is in the resurrection of Jesus. Glory!
INSTRUCTION: Know the gospel.
CONFESSION: Thank you, Lord, for your resurrection life at work in me. I am redeemed eternally by your eternal price paid on my behalf, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
QUOTE: The resurrection of Jesus is the hallmark of Christianity.
DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: HEBREWS CHAPTER 5; EVENING: HEBREWS CHAPTER 6
LIGHT FROM THE WORD 