The Resurrection is a Really, Really Big Deal (Part 4)

In my first post of this series, I said that while we have selected the cross as the symbol of Christianity, I think the earliest Christians would have selected the empty tomb. Now don't get me wrong. The cross is a really, really big deal too. One of the core beliefs of Christianity is that at the cross, our sins are forgiven. In other words, Christ's death on the cross is the once-and-for-all sacrifice that removes our sin. The apostle Peter says that Christ himself "bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed" (1 Peter 2:24). By his death, our sins are forgiven!

But listen to what Paul says. He tells another group of early Christians that "if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins" (1 Corinthians 15:17). So let me get this straight. Christ's death on the cross is what provides forgiveness of sins, but according to Paul, if Christ had not been raised, then that forgiveness would never have gone into effect. This is a bit confusing so let me explain it this way.

A few days ago, I planted some grass seed in some bare spots in my yard. To state the obvious, the grass seed is what causes the grass to grow. Grass simply would not grow without seed. However, the seed never fulfills this purpose without a very special ingredient: water. The bag of seed declared, "The key to success is the initial watering." Water is what activates the seed. Now, make the leap with me. As the seed makes the grass grow, the cross of Christ is what causes our sins to be forgiven. However, the cross never fulfills that purpose without the Resurrection. The Resurrection is the water. Without it, the Cross can't do its job. The victory of Jesus over death is what activates the power of the Cross to forgive sins!

And so, yet another reason the Resurrection is a really, really big deal is that it gives us assurance that we can have forgiveness from our sins. The Cross is what produces it; the Resurrection is what activates it. So praise God that the reverse of Paul's scenario is the true statement: since Christ has been raised, your faith is worthwhile and you have forgiveness of sins!