“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: (Rev 2:8)
Lord Jesus Christ said that He was dead and came to life. This refers to His death by crucifixion and His resurrection. Christianity is different from all other religions in the world for we serve a risen Lord.
Why is the fact that Jesus Christ is alive central to the Christian faith? Christ’s resurrection is for our justification (Rom 4:25). If Christ was not raised, that means He failed to overcome the power of sin and death. If He was not raised, He would not be able to deliver us from eternal condemnation, and we would still be in sin (1Cor 15:17-19). If Christ has not been raised, our faith is useless. To be raised from dead is the hope for all Christians. If the hope of a Christian is not for the eternal life but for this life only, then it is futile to work and suffer for our Lord Jesus Christ.
Many people try to understand Jesus by studying Him as a mere historical figure who lived thousands of years ago. They regard Him as one of the great men of the past. But the Lord Jesus is alive today, and He works in the life of His believers. Only with faith in the Resurrection can we experience Christ’s life-changing power and gain a true knowledge of Him.
Because of Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples transformed and became a new creation – from fear to joy; from unbelieving to believing; from being worried to having a burning heart; from eyes restrained to eyes opened; from no fish to having fish, as recorded in the Gospel books. Are you willing to believe in and to accept the resurrected Lord such that you will have a changed life and become a new creation?
The chorus of hymn “He lives” reads, “He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me, along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives: He lives within my heart.” Lord Jesus Christ lives today. He lives in us. No matter how chaotic this world may be, He is always in control because He is a risen God.