“KUA ARA A TE KARAITI”
“CHRIST HAS RISEN!” Read in your Bible Luke 24 1-8 and Acts 2, 22-24. Also there are other references to look up through this study that will help you to understand this important subject. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the one great fundamental truth upon which the whole edifice of the true Christian Faith and the Gospel of Christ stands. It sets the Christian faith apart from all other religions. The physical remains of the founders of other religions are still in their tombs, but the tomb of Christ is empty! Paul stated it clearly in 1 Corinthians 15:20, “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead . . .” Without Christ’s resurrection there is no Gospel. There is no forgiveness of sins. There is no hope of Heaven. There is no way for us to have a personal relationship with God. If Christ did not rise from the dead believers who have passed on before are lost, the death of Christ was futile, and the Christian faith is just another worthless religion. Along with the truth of the deity of Christ, His resurrection has always been the subject of Satanic attack beginning right from the time the event took place when the religious leaders concocted the story that His disciples had stolen the body while the guards were asleep (Matthew 28:11-13). Its acceptance is necessary for our personal salvation – “If you confess with your mouth ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved’.” (Romans 10:9). It is the guarantee to every believer that because He lives we shall live also (John 14:19). Furthermore, it is an important motivation for the genuine Christian for it is the guarantee that the believer serves and belongs to a risen, living Saviour who has the power to fulfil every promise He made -- to save, empower and keep those who put their trust in Him. Serving Him is therefore not a futile exercise (1 Corinthians 15:58).
THE FACT OF THE RESURRECTION First of all, it was foretold in the Old Testament (Psalm 16:10): “You will not abandon Me to the grave, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay”. This Psalm was quoted by Peter on the Day of Pentecost, showing that it actually applied to Christ (Acts 2:27).
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