What Does the Resurrection Prove?

Christians around the world have celebrated Christ's resurrection for millennia. Though Christ's rising from the dead is  certainly a wonderful event, what does it mean for Christians?

Our faith isn't in a defeated Lord. If Jesus didn't rise, then everything preached about his resurrection is wrong. And if what we believed is wrong, our hope in being raised to new life is also gone. As the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:19 (KJV), "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."

Additionally, Christ fulfilled all the prophecies concerning him. Look at what he said to two discouraged disciples. Luke 24:25 (KJV) reads, "Then he said unto them, 'O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?' And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself."

And because Christ lives, his followers shall live in incorruptible bodies when he returns. 1 Corinthians 15:42 (KJV) states, "So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:" We don't become disembodied spirits floating around forever, as some false preachers teach.

This is such a blessed hope for all of us who trust in Christ, especially for those of us whose bodies are chronically in pain. As Paul aptly put it in 2 Corinthians 5:4 (KJV), "For we that are in this tabernacle do  groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but  clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life."

How wonderful that Christ led the way by being the prototype of resurrection to eternal life. As Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:10 (KJV), "But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:"

Paul also comforted mourners in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 15:54 (KJV) by writing, "So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."

My earnest hope is to expand upon this awesome promise of resurrection to eternal life in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Only Christianity promises new, immortal bodies because of Christ's rising from the dead. How I wish people who condemn the faith would come to accept and embrace it.