Why The Resurrection Is Essential to Evangelism

Why is the resurrection necessary? Some Christians may scratch their heads and say “duh,” but there are other self-proclaiming Christians who believe the resurrection did not happen. (See Dr. Albert Mohler’s article) One must believe in the Resurrection in order to be saved. No resurrection equals no salvation and no hope. The resurrection is our sign that God has accepted the sacrifice that Christ made on the cross for those who repent and believe. The apostle Paul writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and left no room for doubt, when he declared that those who are saved are those who confess with their lips that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in their hearts that God raised him from the dead [Romans 10:9]. If you don’t believe in the resurrection you, my friend, are not a Christian.

So why is the resurrection necessary in evangelism specifically? When we share our faith we must tell the whole Gospel. We must explain to others that we are all sinners that we have offended a holy and righteous God. What is sin? 1 John 3:4, says that “sin is transgression of Gods Law”, the Ten Commandments. If you have ever told a lie, taken God’s name in vain, not always placed God first in your life, you have broken his law and are a sinner. So why does the resurrection matter? Since we are sinners and deserve God’s wrath there is no way that we can stand before a Holy God on the Day of Judgment. Ten out of Ten people die, Hebrews 9:27 says that it is appointed a man once to die and then judgment.

But there is hope! the Bible says that before the foundation of the world God determined to save some and he knew that while he was creating this world. He knew man would fall and sin. In his predetermined plan before the foundation of this World the Cross was in sight. As Christ was creating this world he knew that in order to glorify his Father, he would have to live a holy life as a man, born of a virgin. He would have to keep God’s Law in its entirety. He would then, by the hands of sinful, man be handed over to be crucified. This death was not a normal death. It was the Son of God, nailed to the cross as a sacrifice. He was the perfect lamb of God, nailed to the cross by sinful men and then God the Father put our sin upon his perfect Son, and the Bible says that it pleased God to do this. God the Father then turned his head separating himself for the first time in eternity past from his Son. His perfect Son was seen as sinful because of our sin, and Christ uttered three words that have echoed through time "It is finished."

Three days after the crucifixion, God the Father, in order to bring Glory to himself and to Honor to his Son’s sacrifice, breathed life into the dead God-man, his only Son. When this happened, God the Father was showing his acceptance of the Sacrifice that Christ made for those who repent and believe in him. The resurrection has everything to do with evangelism because it is the very gospel that saves, and we are to be the most pitied of all people if we forsake telling sinners of sin, Christ crucified, and Christ raised from the dead. God the Father has elevated our Lord and Savior to sit at his right hand to receive all the glory and honor he deserves forever and ever. Go and share your faith today, he’s Alive!

Danny Allen