The crucifixion
of Jesus was not enough to save God’s people. That may be a shocking statement.
How could anything be lacking in Christ’s work on the cross? Didn’t Jesus
announce “It is finished!” before He died? But the Bible is clear in affirming
the necessity of the resurrection, not just in proving the truth of
Christianity (Rom. 1:4) but also in securing the redemption of God’s people
(Rom. 4:25).
Christ’s resurrection
is a necessary part of His making atonement for believers’ sins. Paul is
explicit, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are
still in your sins” (1Cor. 15:17). No resurrection, no forgiveness of sins.
Both the death and resurrection of Jesus are necessary. They are a package in His
redemptive work (1Cor. 15:3-4; cf. Acts 2:22-24; 3:14-15; 10:39-41).
The resurrection
demonstrates the Father’s acceptance of the propitiation made by the Son. Jesus
died for our sins, but what if He was not, in fact, sinless? What if He died
and was judged for His own sins? What if we are not really redeemed, our sins
were never atoned for? What if we are lost and simply do not know it? These are
questions we never have to worry or wonder about, because the resurrection of
Jesus assures us His death was
accepted by the Father and His wrath has
been propitiated on our behalf by Christ.
We could not be saved
without Jesus’ death, but neither could we be saved without His resurrection.
Both are required for our full redemption. Because Jesus died, I will never
experience the second death for my sins (John 5:24; 2Cor. 5:17; Rev. 20:14-15).
Because Jesus rose, I am assured of a place in glory with my Lord and the
Heavenly Father (John 11:25-26; 1Cor. 15:20-26, 35-58). Moreover Christ’s
resurrection empowers me to live apart from sin, a life sanctified by and to
the Father’s glory and will (Rom. 6:1-13). This is what I am assured of by the
resurrection. I am assured that in life and death I am not my own, but Christ
lives within me (Gal. 2:20; Heidelberg Catechism Q1). –JME
