Your Faith Is Secure

It is entirely possible to preach a gospel of the cross while functionally ignoring the empty tomb. We love to talk about the sacrifice, the blood, and the payment for our sins, but as Pastor Steve reminds us, the crucifixion is only part one of the story. If the story ends on Friday, then Jesus is just another tragic martyr, and as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15, "your faith is futile and you are still in your sins". The resurrection is not just an inspirational epilogue to the Easter story; it is the absolute, foundational core of the Christian faith.

Jesus never spoke of His death without also promising His resurrection. The Great Exchange—Christ taking our sin and giving us His righteousness—is only fully realized because the Savior conquered the grave. Because He lives, our faith is sound, we possess the power of the Holy Spirit, we have a continual Advocate before the Father, and we are guaranteed eternal life. As you work through these questions, challenge yourself to not just appreciate the cross, but to live daily in the triumphant reality of the resurrection.