Morning, May 10
Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
1 Corinthians 15:20
"But now is Christ risen from the dead."
1 Corinthians 15:20
The whole system of Christianity rests upon the fact that "Christ is
risen from the dead;" for, "If Christ be not risen, then is our
preaching vain, and your faith is also vain: ye are yet in your sins."
The divinity of Christ finds its surest proof in his resurrection,
since he was "Declared to be the Son of God with power, according to
the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." It would
not be unreasonable to doubt his deity if he had not risen. Moreover,
Christ's sovereignty depends upon his resurrection, "For to this end
Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of
the dead and living." Again, our justification, that choice blessing of
the covenant, is linked with Christ's triumphant victory over death and
the grave; for "He was delivered for our offences, and was raised again
for our justification." Nay, more, our very regeneration is connected
with his resurrection, for we are "Begotten again unto a lively hope by
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." And most certainly our
ultimate resurrection rests here, for, "If the Spirit of him that
raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ
from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that
dwelleth in you." If Christ be not risen, then shall we not rise; but
if he be risen then they who are asleep in Christ have not perished,
but in their flesh shall surely behold their God. Thus, the silver
thread of resurrection runs through all the believer's blessings, from
his regeneration onwards to his eternal glory, and binds them together.
How important then will this glorious fact be in his estimation, and
how will he rejoice that beyond a doubt it is established, that "now is
Christ risen from the dead"!
"The promise is fulfill'd,
Redemption's work is done,
Justice with mercy's reconciled,
For God has raised his Son."