What Makes Christianity? The Resurrection

This is entry #5 in this series on the doctrines that make Christianity what it is. Admitting that Christianity is a religion among many, I asked, "What makes Christianity unique?" All religions claim that they know the way. Most religions claim to be the only way. There are many beliefs in Christianity that make it unusual, but the really distinctive belief in Christianity is encompassed in this phrase: "Saved by grace through faith in Christ." All other religions offer a works-based method of getting to heaven (or their equivalent). Christianity stands alone in a grace-based salvation apart from works.

Thus far, then, I've explained why it is that we must have a reliable source document for Christianity to be a valid religion. Without a God-breathed (and therefore infallible) Bible, Christianity itself is merely a matter of opinion and your opinion is as good as mine. In other words -- no inerrant Bible, no truth. Secondly, the offer of salvation requires a need for salvation. Thus, the second necessary doctrine is the doctrine of sin. Man is sinful at his core meaning that he has no means within himself to fix the problem or pay the debt. Eliminate that doctrine and Christianity is nullified. Given Man's condition, the next necessary doctrine is the Atonement. If God is just, He requires payment for sin. The only means of that payment being made is either eternal separation from God or someone paying it on our behalf. Enter the Atonement. The doctrine requires first that a man live a sinless life so that the payment made is not on his own behalf, and second that he be more than Man in order to have that payment apply to more than a single man. This leads to the inevitable doctrine of the Trinity -- a triune God who is Father, Son, and Spirit. None of these doctrines can be mitigated without destroying Christianity's core.

One of the most unique things about Christianity is the Resurrection. This doctrine stands out as an obvious problem to skeptics and detractors. I mean, if, indeed, someone rose from the dead by His own power, you have a unique situation here. Thus, the concept has been under fire since the beginning. The religious leaders of the day told the guards to lie about it (Matt 28:11-15). In our day cynics and religious leaders alike deny it. There are even some who are called "pastors" in "Christian churches" who deny the Resurrection. Some scholars gathered as a group called "the Jesus Seminar" and bravely denied the Resurrection. Some say that it's a truth, but not a necessary truth. That is, it's not essential to Christianity. So what is my best argument on this essential?

Now, thus far I've used Scripture and reasoning to explain why it is that the doctrines I've been holding that are essential to Christianity. This one -- the Resurrection -- is an easy one because Scripture alone makes the argument. I don't need a logical argument here. Here's what the Bible says.

¹² Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. ¹⁵ 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. ¹⁶ For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁷ And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. ¹⁸ Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹ If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. ²⁰ But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive (1 Cor 15:12-22).

Paul addresses the very question we are. How important is the Resurrection of Christ? Some in his day denied it. Paul takes their argument at face value and follows it down the logical path. If there is no resurrection, then Christ didn't rise. If Christ didn't rise, then we're liars, our preaching is vain, our faith is futile, and there is no forgiveness of sins. "We are," Paul concludes, "of all people most to be pitied." On the other hand, if Christ was raised from the dead, then we have hope. Being dead ourselves (in Adam), we have confidence of defeating death (in Christ).

This is an easy argument to make because the Bible makes the argument. You can research the evidence for the Resurrection, and you ought to. You can make the arguments that support the truth of the Resurrection, and you ought to. But one thing that we cannot do is offer this doctrine as "optional". Without this essential doctrine, there is no salvation, Christianity has no meaning, and we're all lost.