The resurrection as the foundation of our faith. The cross and the empty tomb are fundamental for the Christian faith. They stand and fall together. The resurrection permeates every aspect of the Christian life. The Christian is a new creation..he/she lives a new life – the resurrection life. The new life – the resurrection life comes both as a gift (Ephesians 2:6) and as a daily intentional dedication (Romans 6:11)
The resurrection energizes our hope for the future.
No matter how good life is…it comes to an end. And that is the problem. The end is the problem, mainly because it is an unknown
A bend in the road is a potential problem because you don’t know what’s around the corner.
To address the “end” problem, two solutions are being offered.
-the end is the end. Everything revolves around “this life”…therefore, “Let eat, drink and be merry…”
-the end is the beginning. The beginning of eternal life. “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26)
We, as Christians live in the hope of the eternal life promised by God. The resurrection event energizes our hope for the future by
Validating Jesus’ statements and promises. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Giving us hope for the eternal life. This validation opens the door for the hope in the eternal life..the beginning after the end. This particular hope comes as a gift from God. Peter affirms that, through Jesus’ resurrection, we were born into a living hope…” (1Peter 1:3).
This living hope has a solid foundation. The main/solid/unmovable “thing” that makes its foundation solid is “God’s grace” (v.3).
The living hope is not the result of a moment’s decision, kind of, “I decided today to have hope…” Rather, the living hope comes bundled in the new life…a life into which we have been born.
Jesus’ resurrection gives birth to a living hope that at the end of this life, there is a new and eternal beginning awaiting for those who believe in Him.