So here is a paper a wrote for my theology class. its a bit all over the place and its my first attempt at writing a paper in like 3 years so....cut me slack.

“For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”
I Corinthians 15:16-17

After being a Christian for several years, one would think it would be easy for me to grasp the power and significance of the resurrection. People seem to look to the crucifix as the focal point of the Christian faith, and yes it was an important part, but as John Mumaw points out in his book The Resurrection Life, “It is amazing that the New Testament, message has been so largely represented as holding the primary focus upon the cruciality of the crucifixion.” As Mumaw continues he points out that “The bright hope in the Christian faith is directly related to the knowledge that Christ is alive.” My goal is to point out the effects and significance of the resurrection.

First things first, I will give the Biblical account of the resurrection, given to us by many different characters in Scriptures. Three writers from the New Testament tell of their account and eye witnessing of the resurrection, John, Peter, and Paul. Paul writes in I Corinthians 15:6 that over 500 had witnessed the resurrected Christ! Perhaps the most descriptive passage of Christ’s resurrection comes from Matthew.

And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
Matthew 28:2-8

Here the events are written in detail from the beginning to the end. You can almost feel the earthquake and see the bright, white garments. I cannot even imagine arriving to the mouth of an empty tomb and being told your most beloved friend was no longer dead, but had risen and would meet up with them soon. What an amazing turn of events! Although Matthew writes this Gospel, he does not claim to be there when it happen. He most likely hears if from Peter as he is collection the account of Christ’s life.
Paul also has an account of seeing the resurrected Christ on his way to Damascus in Acts 9. Also in I Corinthians 15:8 he writes, “Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” Paul was so sure of the resurrection of Christ that he proclaimed it throughout the known world; from the poor at Ephesus and Jerusalem to great leaders like Felix, Festus, and Agrippa (Acts 24-25). Why else would he be so adamant unless it was true?
All these accounts which are documented in the Bible, proving that Christ dies, and rose, giving the reason and purpose of the Christian faith as we know it. Although Christianity was technically not introduced until the descending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in Acts 2, the resurrection was what is was based on. Christ’s death and resurrection opened the door and paved the road for the Holy Spirit to fill the world. This, in turn, had two different effects. Those that effected the believer, and those that effected the church.

1. Believer Effected
The resurrection moved people from the Age of Law into the Age of Grace. No longer were sacrifices needed because the ultimate One was offered. This is all classic Bible stuff, but I feel it can be quickly forgotten among other issues that spring up, such as, abortion, evolution, capitol punishment, etc. The resurrection was also important because we know we serve a living God. As Dr. Mililgan points out, “Living, present communions can only be maintained with One who is Himself present and living: it would otherwise be no more than a recollection of the past (italics added).” If Christ never rose, it would make religion futile, like Paul said in I Corinthians 15 (see above).
Milligan also picks out “That our Lord did not simple live in the spirit after death, but that he rose from the grave in a human body, is the truth which most of all reminds us of the high destiny of our bodies, and most of all impresses upon us the importance of seeing that we discipline and train them now.” This is a challenge to the believer that because of the resurrection we are not to remain idle, sitting on the sidelines, but to conform ourselves daily to the image and likeness of Christ. As Paul writes in I Corinthians 15, “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
Ultimately, the resurrection defines who we are as Christians. As Mumaw puts it, “The walk in the resurrection has a continuing effect upon the formulation of character.” Because Christ rose, we too can live again. Our sin was crucified and we became new. All of human salvation and preservation rested on that fateful Sunday in the Garden. Only Christ could do it, and he did!

2. Church Effected
Through the resurrection, the door was opened for Gentiles to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. That is not to say Gentiles could not be saved before the resurrection, but because of the rejection of Christ but the Jews, God’s program was going to switch from the Jews, to the Church.
Technically the church was not introduced until the Day of Pentecost, but the foundation was laid 50 days before in a quiet garden outside Jerusalem. Christ in those 40 days He remained on earth after the resurrection went about teaching the disciples the Christian principles He wanted them to carry on to the people (Acts 1:3). It was a new concept; a dramatic switch from the legalistic way of Judaism. John Mumaw describes it likes this, “the church is the church of the resurrection.” I do not think it can be worded any better. Christ is the chief cornerstone (Matthew 21:42) on which the church was built. If He never rose of the dead, on what would it be built?

In conclusion, I hope that my goal was accomplished. I know it has effected my thoughts on the power of the resurrection and has shifted more of my focus onto the empty tomb rather than a bloody cross. I would like to finish the paper with a single quote from Dr. William Milligan’s book The Resurrection of Our Lord.

We live in a Risen Savior, His life in us is our life, and in Him our life is a risen life.