WE SERVE A LIVING SAVIOUR! AN ARTICLE ON THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD JESUS

Dear Members in Christ,

We serve a living Saviour! An article on the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus:

Today we celebrate and remember the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The resurrection of the Lord Jesus after His death and burial is central to our Christian faith. The Apostle Paul thus writes to the believers in Corinth to remind them of how the death, burial and resurrection was prophesied “according to the scriptures.”

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3,4

The emphasis is that the resurrection event was the fulfilment of God’s Word. It is central to our faith because by His sacrifice, the Lord Jesus redeemed us and purchased the atonement for our sins. Yet in this day and age there are liberal Christian scholars together with atheists and humanists who scoff at the account of the resurrection. Thus, we have today many false theories that dismiss the resurrection as myth of times past, or a product of the over-active imagination of the distraught disciples.

As we rejoice on the Resurrection Sunday, beloved Christians, let us know with certainty that the Resurrection account is true because it is recorded for us in God’s Word. We have the full assurance in the resurrection because the promise comes from God who is omnipotent. 

A. The resurrection was witnessed by many, including the disciples

When we want to have a true account of an event that has happened, we rely upon written testimony. In a court of law, a sworn affidavit is admissible as evidence in a legal case. In the event of an accident, a written statement has to be recorded in the presence of a police officer as a written record of the event for insurance claims or legal proceedings. What about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus? What kind of written records do we have? There are numerous passages in the Bible which attests to the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus. We shall take the example of the testimony of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians. This passage from the Bible tells us of the number of people who had seen the Resurrected Lord Jesus. And the Apostle Paul cites this number of people in writing, for Paul writes,

“And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.” 1 Corinthians 15:5,6

Evidently, there were more than 500 people who have witnessed the resurrected Lord Jesus. Brothers and sisters, as we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, let us rejoice in knowing that we worship a living Savior. As surely as Christ Jesus lives today, He is the anchor of our salvation, our shield and buckler as we fight our spiritual battles. Let our faith be strengthened, and our hearts quickened for the service of our Lord.  

B. The Apostle Paul’s own account of seeing the Resurrected Lord Jesus

In addition to testifying of the number of witnesses (who were still alive in those days), the Apostle Paul recounts his own vision of the risen Lord when he wrote, “After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.” (1Corinthians 15:7, 8). The Apostle Paul is a good example of one who serves a living savior. He is able to say of his own life and ministry, that he serves a living God,

“For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. These things command and teach.” 1 Timothy 4:10, 11

The Apostle Paul was an example of a servant of the Lord who is mindful of His Master, of whom he says, “we trust in the living God.” The Lord Jesus Christ lives today, and we trust in Him for our salvation, for strength to serve Him, and for His bountiful supply for all our needs. 

Dearly beloved, we thank God for the miracle of resurrection. We thank God for the record and testimony in the scriptures, and what assurance we have of this wonderful miracle. Truly we trust in the Living God! We serve a living Saviour! And May His name be praised! Amen.    

In His Service,
Rev. Lim Seh Beng, Pastor