From the Pastor’s Desk

The Resurrection

Back in the early 90s, there was a prominent liberal theologian who denied the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible.  He also denied the resurrection of Christ. When someone asked him what happened, then, with Christ’s body, he shockingly stated that it was probably dumped outside Jerusalem somewhere. I remember thinking at the time, “Well, if you believe this, why do you bother studying theology? What’s the point?”

St. Paul made the point that if the resurrection is not true, then our faith is futile and in vain. In 1 Corinthians 15, he wrote: “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born… But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?  If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.  And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.  More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.  And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.”

Paul first establishes the facts of the crucifixion, and how Christ appeared to many after his resurrection. He even appeared to more than 500 people at the same time, many of whom were still living when Paul wrote 1 Corinthians and could testify to the truth of the resurrection. He then makes the point that if there is no resurrection, then Christ was not raised either. And if Christ was not raised, then we are dead in our sins and we are lost.            

But Christ has been raised from the dead, testifying to the truth that our sins have been atoned for and we are at peace with God. It also testifies to the reality of our own resurrection when Christ returns. We too shall be raised from the dead, to join Christ in heaven with all the those who have died in the faith, where we shall praise God forever.

In Christ,

Rev. David L. Putz, Pastor
Holy Cross Lutheran Church (LCMS)
Crawfordsville, Indiana

Good things are happening at Holy Cross!  Praise God for that.  When we keep Word and Sacrament ministry at the heart of what we do, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is sown.  As we share the Word, God gives the growth and we rejoice as humble stewards of the God who changes lives and hearts.  Help us always, Lord, to keep Your Word at the center of our life together under your Holy Cross!

Please continue to pray for our congregation and each other.  Don’t forget to visit our church website www.holycross-crawfordsville.org to find links for all our services on YouTube.