From “Unto the Hills” by Billy Graham

“God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by His own power.” – 1 Corinthians 6:14

Upon that great fact hangs the entire plan of the redemptive program of God. Without the resurrection there could be no salvation.

It is strange that historians will accept thousands of facts for which they can produce only shreds of evidence. But in the face of the overwhelming evidence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, they cast a skeptical eye.

The resurrection meant, first, that Christ was undeniably God. He was what He claimed to be. Christ was Deity in the flesh.

Second, it meant that God had accepted His atoning work on the cross, which was necessary to our salvation: “Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.”

Third, it assures mankind of a righteous judgement: “For as by one man’ disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”

Fourth, it guarantees that our bodies also will be raised from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” The Scripture teaches that as Christians, our bodies may go to the grave but they will be raised on the great resurrection morning. Then will death be swallowed up in victory. As a result of the resurrection of Christ the sting of death is gone. He says, “I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” And Christ promises that “because I live, ye shall live also.”