The death and resurrection of Christ are foundational to the Christian faith. Without the resurrection, the transformative power of salvation—the death of the old self and the freedom from sin’s bondage—would be meaningless. As Paul writes in Romans 6:4-5, just as Christ was raised from the dead, believers are called to walk in newness of life, no longer enslaved to sin.
Romans 6:9 declares that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will never die again. This is a profound statement because it signifies the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. From the beginning, the decree of God’s righteous judgment upon sin led to both spiritual and physical death for humanity through Adam. Without Christ’s resurrection, that condemnation would have remained eternal. However, through His sacrifice, the power of death has been annulled. The curse brought upon mankind through Adam has been overturned by Christ’s victory over the grave, ensuring that those who place their faith in Him are justified and will share in His eternal life.
Without Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, humanity would be destined to return to dust, with no hope beyond the grave.
This truth is what gives meaning to life beyond death. Without Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, humanity would be destined to return to dust, with no hope beyond the grave. But God, in His infinite wisdom and love, did not leave mankind in a state of hopelessness. Instead, He offered Himself through Christ, demonstrating both His righteous judgment against sin and His boundless mercy toward humanity. Through faith in Jesus, what was once an eternal sentence of condemnation has been transformed into a hope of glory.
The Unbeliever’s Reality
For those who reject Christ, the reality remains one of condemnation. The righteous judgment of God upon Adam’s trespass brought pain, physical death, and eternal separation from God. This state of condemnation will continue for the unbeliever unless they come to the saving knowledge of Christ. Jesus Himself warned of the eternal anguish described as “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:50), a fate that mirrors the suffering introduced through sin—from the pain of childbirth to the toil of laboring the land.
Without Christ, even the pursuit of “good” is meaningless because the unredeemed heart remains aligned with depravity. Persistent sin and disobedience define the life of those separated from God. No one can escape the righteous wrath of God, except through the means He Himself has provided—Christ. Only God can satisfy His justice, and He has done so through the sacrifice of His Son, who bore the weight of humanity’s sins. Fully God and fully man, Christ endured suffering and overcame death, triumphing through His resurrection. In this act, God upholds His perfect justice while simultaneously revealing His boundless love and mercy.
Without Christ, even the pursuit of "good" is meaningless because the unredeemed heart remains aligned with depravity
The Call to Compassion
Just as God demonstrates both justice and love, believers are called to reflect His nature by bearing the fruit of the Spirit—compassion, love, and a heart for the lost. Sharing the gospel is not merely an obligation but an act of love, knowing that without Christ, humanity faces eternal separation from God. The reality of eternal condemnation is not one to be taken lightly. As followers of Christ, we must be moved by this truth, striving to bring the message of salvation to all so that they, too, may escape the coming judgment and enter into the hope of eternal life.
The Living Raises the Dead—A Divine Truth
I remember a conversation my wife and I had one evening, reflecting on how sorrow grips the heart when a loved one passes away. The reality of death is undeniable—once someone leaves this earthly realm, they will not be seen again here. As believers, we hold on to the hope of seeing them in their glorified state on the other side. Yet, even with that assurance, the fear of loss often lingers. That is why we, like Hezekiah, pray for extended life, asking God to grant us more time to fulfill our purpose.
Whenever we attend prayer meetings and witness miraculous healings, there is always a sense of awe. When we hear testimonies of the sick recovering or, in rare and glorious instances, people coming out of comas or even being revived after being declared dead, there is an eruption of Hallelujahs! The joy is tangible. We praise the Lord, knowing that these miracles align with His will and divine counsel.
Yet, as we thought through these experiences, one truth became evident—such miracles happen through the intervention of another person. Whether it’s the faith-filled prayer of a believer, the work of a medical team, or divine intervention through a servant of God, the sick are healed, and the dead are sometimes brought back to life.
Christ Alone Laid Down His Life and Took It Up Again
A fundamental truth in both the natural and spiritual realms is that only the living can raise the dead. The dead cannot revive themselves, nor can they resurrect others. Even in our physical world, when a miraculous resurrection occurs—whether through a believer’s prayer or an act of divine intervention—it is always the living, through the power and mercy of God, who bring forth life from death.
Yet, in all of history and eternity, only one person laid down His life and took it up again without the intervention of another—Jesus Christ. As Scripture declares, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again” (John 10:18). His resurrection was not dependent on human agency, nor was it a mere resuscitation. It was an act of the will of God—a demonstration of His sovereign power over life and death.
This truth holds profound implications. If Christ died and rose from the dead by His own divine authority, then He alone has the power to raise others from the dead. This is precisely what Paul affirms in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, where he speaks of the resurrection of the dead in Christ at His return. Because Christ overcame death, those who believe in Him have the assurance that they, too, will be raised to eternal life.
There is no other historical account—no other religious figure, prophet, or leader—who has died and risen again by their own power. Christ’s resurrection was a unique act of divine mercy, restoring what was lost through sin. From the foundation of the world, from Alpha to Omega, His victory over death fulfills God’s ultimate plan—to redeem creation from its bondage to futility and restore His kingdom.
The Call to Believe
If Christ alone has conquered the grave, then belief in Him is not just a matter of faith—it is a response to the most profound reality ever revealed to mankind. His resurrection was witnessed, recorded, and proclaimed by those who saw Him alive. This is why Paul could boldly declare, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17). But because He has been raised, we can trust in the promise of eternal life.
No man in history has ever died and risen again apart from divine intervention—except Jesus. And if He rose, then He has the power to raise all who trust in Him. This is the great hope of the gospel: that through Christ’s resurrection, death has been swallowed up in victory, and those who believe will share in His triumph for eternity.