Friendship is such a gift. Morning time, with a seminarian friend, brings such precious thoughts each time we connect. She has stretched me as she gently shares and affirms and loves.
One morning the book put the following question before us to discuss:
“The physical resurrection of Christ is a bedrock belief of Christian faith. In fact, the apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:14: “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith,” and we might as well “eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” (15:32). On what basis might people dismiss the Christian claim of the resurrection of Christ? Does it really matter if Christ was raised or not?”
(from Discover Jesus by Dr. Henrietta C. Mears, page 152)
People may dismiss the claim of Christ’s resurrection because of the “impossibility” of it all. Truly it must be accepted by faith, after all, science would never be able to prove it.
Believing in the resurrection of Jesus matters even more so than we may realize at first. The more I thought on this, three truths emerged from the life and death of Christ:
- With His life, Jesus shows us how to live. “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6, NLT). Jesus lived His life here on earth in union with God and showing love to those around Him. And so we should live our days.
- With His death, Jesus shows us the way to salvation. “For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22b, NLT). We gain salvation through the shed blood of Jesus on the Cross. Christ’s death established the new covenant, providing complete forgiveness of sin.
- With His resurrection, Jesus shows us the way to overcome death. “But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
(1 Corinthians 15:57, NLT). He lives forever and therein, lies our hope of living with Him forever.
All three aspects are key to our faith and relationship with Christ.
Jesus, Only Jesus.
In His life. In His death. In His resurrection.
Today I am joining … Porch Stories and Tell His Story and Coffee For Your Heart and Woman to Woman .
Thank you for this beautiful bit of theology, friend! (Are you going to seminary, or just your friend is? 🙂 )
I appreciate these 3 points because I’ve been thinking myself how much I need Jesus, to focus on Him, to stay close, to follow and obey Him. To call others to Him.
Betsy, no seminary for me. But I get the benefits of her education in conversations 🙂
Jesus, Only Jesus. Yes! Amen!
Morning time with a seminarian friend…that sounds heavenly! Wish I could be a part of those conversations, but thanks for sharing a glimpse of them here.
Great truth in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Are you going to seminary?
No seminary for me at this time but I dream of it 🙂
Only Him. He’s more than enough.
Yes and Amen, friend!
I love how you break this down, Joanne. I’ve not thought of it in quite those words. Thanks! “All three aspects are key to our faith and relationship with Christ.” Amen.
Recently, I’ve been in several conversations about the power and nesessity of the Blood. The only life worth living is one that has had a total transfusion of the Blood of Jesus Christ in exchange for ours. Thanks, Joanne, for breaking it down and keeping it real.
Alice, thank you for this. Yes, it is the only life worth living!
Thank you for consistently, lovingly sharing truth!