The resurrection of Jesus is a non-negotiable belief of the Christian Faith: Paul said, without it, all the preaching is empty and futile. So is your faith in Christ. Further, we are still under the curse of sin (death). In one short sentence he gets his point across:

And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty, and your faith is also empty…And if Christ has not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!

1 Corinthians 15: 14, 17

Paul then states that everyone, including those who have died (fallen asleep), is forever gone (perished), and we are pitiable (worthy of pity).

Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable

1 Corinthians 15: 18, 19

The understanding of the teaching and reality of the resurrection is an all-or-nothing situation for the follower of Christ.

The New Testament alone uses the word “resurrection” (anastasis) 51 times. It means “rising from the dead. ” But it is also described in the Old Testament as well. Other related words such as “rise,” “risen,” and “raised ” double the number of times this topic appears in the Bible. Here are a couple of examples.

“Martha said to Him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.’”

john 11:24

She had her theology right.

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 6:44

John’s theology was also correct. In the 6th chapter, John uses the phrase “raise him up’” three times in connection with those who “believe Him,” those “drawn to Jesus by the Father,” and those who symbolically “eat his flesh and drink his blood.” Just as daily food and drink gives life, a daily relationship with Jesus gives eternal life.

A pastor should be able to preach a sermon on this topic of resurrection every week for two or more years! So why is it, basically, only taught once a year at Easter?

It is because the focus of Easter programs are on the resurrection of Jesus only. Just as important, but rarely taught correctly, is our hope of being resurrected just as Jesus. This is our only hope of living forever.

The resurrection occurs at the literal return of Christ. Paul said this was His hope.

“…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and ^[the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;  if somehow I may attain (achieve at succeeding) to the resurrection from the dead.

Phil 3: 10-11 (NKJV)

At another time,, Paul said this was not only his hope but also for those who look for His appearing (second coming):

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

2 Timothy 4:8

The Cross and the Resurrection are the bedrock of the Apostle’s teachings because they had seen both events with their own eyes. They were eyewitnesses.

… if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:9

The resurrection has been watered down by pagan beliefs that the soul is immortal and will live somewhere forever. The picture of the soul floating away at death to its reward is highly unbiblical and, quite frankly is for ghost stories and Halloween, not for the reality or resurrection of the body and the soul at the time of Christ’s return. The immortal soul teaching negates the need for a resurrection or even the second coming of Christ.

Probably, the most desperate attempt to make sense of the importance of the resurrection and an immortal soul flying away to heaven at death is the teaching that we all come back for our bodies. This contradicts Paul’s discussion on receiving immortality and changed bodies at the return of Christ (1 Corinthians 15: 51-55).

The Bible plainly teaches that death is exactly what the word means and is an enemy to both the body and soul. Jesus said,

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10: 28

There is no such thing as an immortal soul on this side of the return of Christ. It does not appear in the Bible. The person who sins is subject to the death of the soul:

“The soul who sins shall die.”

Ezekiel 18: 4, 20

We are not given immortality at death but at the resurrection. Paul describes it very clearly in the entire 15th Chapter of 1 Corinthians.

“The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.”

1 Corinthians 15: 16

When is death destroyed? At the Second Coming of Christ! When the trumpet will sound, and the dead are resurrected. It is then that we receive new bodies not subject to corruption, decay, or death.

 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 

1 Corinthians 15: 51-52

It is at this point that we receive immortality of both body and soul, and death is never more for the redeemed.

So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

1 Corinthians 15: 54

What a great thought! When Jesus returns, we all go to meet Jesus in the air. A spectacular family reunion of all those who sleep in Christ! Angels delivering long lost loved ones, babies returned to the arms of mothers and fathers!

How important is the resurrection? It is everything to the Christian. Jesus has the keys to death and the grave and one day He will unlock it!

Jesus demonstrated the possibility and the hope of our resurrection when He returned by His own resurrection. We become the fruits of His resurrection. He was the First Fruit!

“But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.”

1 Corinthians 15:23

Until next time, blessings as you consider these things. May it bring comfort to your soul. Comfort one another with these words as Paul instructed the disheartened people of Thessalonica:

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Thess. 4: 16-18