Describe Him: Risen

Christ is risen.

He is Risen, indeed.  

This deceptively ordinary greeting, most commonly heard on Resurrection Morning as believers greet each other at church, is the decisive hope for our faith.

I think we should use this greeting more often, for “if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.  We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.” (1 Corinthians 15:14-15)

When I think of Scripture's discussion of the resurrection, no other chapter  speaks more clearly about the resurrection than 1 Corinthians 15.   

With that said, go read 1 Corinthians 15, and then come back here.  

Did you read it? 

Ok then, here are a few thoughts: 

Had Christ not risen from the dead, we see here some direct consequences:

1. There would be no resurrection of the dead (vs. 13)

2.  Our preaching is in vain. (vs. 14)

It is ineffective, hopeless, futile, useless, worthless. Don’t even bother preaching Christ and Him crucified, for He died in vain!  

3. Our faith is also in vain.  (vs. 17)

This is a cause-and-effect situation here, for our faith is in Christ crucified, buried, and risen again. 

      

If none of that is of any consequence, then yes, we might as well place our faith in a god fashioned after our own image, just as the heathens do. 

4. We are still in sin (vs. 17)

The end result of no bodily resurrection, a futile death on the cross, and a vain faith means every human being is still being under the eternal condemnation of a righteous God.  We remain under the death-penalty for our sins and are still living under Sin as our slavemaster. 

That is what it means to be "still in sin."

5. We are in the most pitiable, wretched, miserable, contemptible state of any creature on this planet earth.  (vs. 19) 

There is no purpose in life and there is no hope of obtaining a purpose for this life.  

But HE IS RISEN!!!

HALLELUJAH!!!

So, because He is indeed risen, forget everything that you just read: these things are not true for the believer.  They are all dreadful hypothetical situations for those who are in Christ!  For the unbeliever, however, he does still remain in his sins.  He still is pitiable. 

 But because He is risen, the following list is the true and faithful account of the results of the resurrection, according to 1 Corinthians 15:

1.  Christ rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures (vs. 4)

2.  He was physically seen of many witnesses: first Cephas, then his twelve disciples. 

Christ also appeared to over five hundred men at once.  Finally, after appearing to James and then all the apostles, the risen Christ appeared to Paul. (vss. 5-8)  These are all legitimate witnesses to the physical, bodily resurrection of Christ, the Son of God! 

3.  Christ's bodily resurrection is the certain link to the future resurrection of all who have died (vs. 13)  

4.  Christ is the firstfruits of the dead, thus, there is a resurrection of the dead!  (vs. 20-21)

5. As risen, Christ gives life to all. (vs. 22)

6.  Because He is risen, we, of all people, have an unsurpassed hope beyond this life! (inverse of vs. 19) 

Hallelujah. 

Christ is Risen. 

He is Risen Indeed!