What God Would Brag About!

Its not enough to say that Christ was a good man. Most will profess He
was the best that ever lived. Its not enough to ascribe to Him
miracles. People say that He did all these things and was crucified.
Others will admit that He was the son of God and came to show us the
true light. Some focus on the redemption and forgiveness He taught as His most eventful legacy.

These are all true yet these attributes alone do not begin to define
Him. Often the most compelling fact goes unstated. The basis that elevates
Him to the name which is above every name is frequently ignored. Its corrupt to
neglect the summum bonum in which all of Christianity hinges.

Imagine a Doctor were to write a letter of commendation to the Nobel
committee for a fellow Surgeon. This Surgeon is the first to
successfully perform a heart transplant. A historical medical milestone that has
transformed cardio vascular medicine.

In this letter the colleague writes about how wonderful the Doctor is.
He states supreme qualities that make him a cut above the average
Surgeon. He also makes mention of his unique ability to comfort
patients in their affliction. In conclusion he makes the case for his
fellow Doctor that he possesses the most noblest character and should
be afforded the highest prize in medicine.

Did the friend do his colleague justice? The fact that he omitted his
most crowning achievement would be a travesty.

This maximum pinnacle of
achievement of our Lord is of course
His resurrection.

There are over 45 references to His resurrection in the new
testament alone.

Jesus announced "I am the resurrection and the life."
The Apostle Paul stated in Romans 1:4 that He declared to be the son
of God by His resurrection from the dead.

Rising from the grave validates his work and seals our redemption.
Again Paul said in Colossians that He is the first born from the dead.

Without the resurrection we have no atonement.
Without the resurrection we have no victory
Without the resurrection we have no Christianity.
If there is no resurrection, there is no need for a virgin birth, no
"why do you seek the living among the dead?," no Lords day, no
celebration.

On the cross, sin was punished,
by the resurrection sin was defeated.
Because of this...We live.

I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and
ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
- Revelation 1:18 (NIV)
The promise and hope of our faith is pinned on the risen Lord. Without
this all hope is lost...because of it the pillars of our faith were born.

1 Peter 1:3 (NIV)

... God has given us new birth into a living hope through the

resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

The desire of every believer is not to be just another good person in

history or to posses divine wisdom that moves mountains. But rather....

"...to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead".

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