#DailyDevotion The Forgiveness Of Sins Is Not The Only Good News
Friday Easter 1
1 Cor. 15:1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
Now what is this gospel that Paul preached to the Corinthians? Well he tells us. Christ died for our sins as the Scriptures said he would. Now that’s a big deal. I hope we hear that often from our pulpits across the land and in the churches across the world. If Christ did not die for our sins then we’re in big trouble. We’re in trouble because no amount of good works we do can ever make up for the bad works we did. The judgment isn’t, well did his good works outweigh his bad? God does not give us his grace because we did a lot of good works and on account of the good works he excuses the bad ones. No, the question in the judgment is does this person have my righteousness? And by our fallen nature the answer to that because of our sins is a resounding no.
But Christ did die for our sins. That is good news. But that isn’t the only good news, it is just part of it. The gospel that saves us also includes this most important factor—Jesus is resurrected from the dead. Jesus was raised from the dead in accordance with the Scriptures. In fact so important is this facet of the gospel that St. Paul says, if Jesus isn’t raised from the dead, our sins remain with us and we are to be pitied amongst all the people of the earth. However, Jesus is risen from the dead.
The women saw Jesus risen. The disciples going to Emmaus saw him. Peter and the twelve saw Jesus and even touched him and had breakfast with him. Five hundred other brothers in Christ saw Jesus risen from the dead and lastly St. Paul himself saw Jesus risen from the dead.
Jesus risen from the dead means our sins have been atoned for, his sacrifice has been accepted. Jesus risen from the dead means our sins, our guilt, our shame has been nailed to the cross never to accuse us before God again. Jesus’ resurrection means death has been defeated. The darkness has been overcome. Jesus has brought life and immortality to light. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead means God is reconciled with us in Christ and his great love for mankind has been made known. This too is part of the gospel message.
Because Jesus is risen from the dead, all the dead will rise from the dead on the Last Day. His life awakens all who have returned to dust and we, if we are still alive will be transformed instantly. All who believe this good news, that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead for our justification have the righteousness of God, the righteousness that avails before God’s throne of Judgment. That is truly good news.
Almighty God, heavenly Father, you sent your son Jesus Christ into the world to die for our sins and raised him from the dead for our justification. Grant us your Holy Spirit that we may believe this good news, be clothed with your righteousness and be raised to everlasting life on the Last Day. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.