1st Corinthians 15:13-14, “But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.”
A person absolutely must believe in Jesus' bodily resurrection to be
saved. Christ's bodily resurrection is part of the very Gospel. Jesus
died on the cross for our sins; He was buried; and after three days
Jesus physically resurrected from the dead.
There was a disturbing article that appeared on April 9, 2017 in the BBC newspaper in London, reporting that a quarter of all Christians in Great Britain don't believe Jesus' resurrection ever happened. May I say with all Biblical confidence that NOT ONE of those professed Christians are saved! No one is saved who denies Jesus' bodily resurrection, because it is part of the Gospel (i.e., the Good News) by which we are saved. Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” The Gospel is the key that brings salvation, to them that BELIEVE it!
I have a helpful booklet in front of me by Dr. John R. Rice (1895-1980) titled: “WHO IS A FUNDAMENTALIST?” (©Sword of The Lord, 1982). On pages 12-13 Dr. Rice accurately states:
“I am not talking about a spiritual resurrection; I am talking about a bodily, physical resurrection. Jesus Christ came out of the tomb with a body of flesh and bones. That is a fundamental of the Christian Faith. The one thing that distinguishes Christianity from all religions of the world is the resurrection of Christ. Every religion had a founder who lived and died and was buried; but Christianity has a Founder who lived, died, was buried, and rose again.
According to I Corinthians 15:1-4 the death, burial and resurrection is the Gospel. And that is 'the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth' (Rom. 1:16). The doctrine of the resurrection of Christ is the keystone in the arch. Remove it and the arch of doctrinal truth collapses.
There are some doctrines that stand or fall together. For instance, disprove His resurrection and you destroy His deity. Romans 1:4 says He was 'declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.' Disprove His resurrection and you destroy His substitutionary death. The resurrection of Christ is a declaration of God that He is satisfied with the payment Jesus Christ made for our sins. The fact that God raised Him and took Him back to Heaven shows that His atoning work was complete, the job was finished, the sinner's debt was paid. Disprove the resurrection of Christ and our faith is vain; we are still in our sins, and our hope of a resurrection is perished. First Corinthians 15:17, 18, 'And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.'
No resurrection, no salvation. Romans 10:9 says, 'That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.' The literal, physical, bodily resurrection of Jesus is a fundamental of the Faith.
A small girl was talking about Jesus. A skeptic who overhead the conversation said, 'Little girl, there are many christs. Which one do you believe in? She replied, 'The One who rose from the dead.' If Jesus Christ was not raised from the dead, there is no salvation. The resurrection is a fundamental.”
SOURCE: Dr. John R. Rice: “WHO IS A FUNDAMENTALIST?,” pages 12-13 (©Sword of The Lord, 1982)
Amen and amen! The Gospel of John is God's Gospel tract according to John 20:31, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” A person absolutely must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the only begotten Son of God. We read about Jesus' crucifixion and burial in John chapter 19, and His literal physical resurrection in chapter 20. John said “THESE ARE WRITTEN” that ye mighty believe!!! I believe. Do you friend?
When
I got saved at age 13, I did not know that Jesus was God. I didn't learn
that truth until I was 18 years old at Bible college; but when I was
taught this truth, the indwelling Holy Spirit confirmed that it was true
(John 16:13). Someone once asked Dr. Bob Jones Sr. (1883-1968) if a
person can be saved and deny the virgin birth. Dr. Jones wisely replied
that a person who is saved WILL believe in the virgin birth. Yes, I
agree fully. I KNOW that those 25% of professed Christians in Great
Britain who deny Jesus' bodily resurrection are not really saved,
because you cannot be saved unless you believe Christ raised up from the
dead (1st Corinthians 15:13-14, 17-18). What saith the Scripture? ...
1st Corinthians 15:13-18, “But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.”
We serve a risen Savior!!! Jesus is alive and up in Heaven, seated on the right-hand of God the Father (Colossians 3:1-3). Muhammad is still dead in his grave. Zoroaster is still dead in his grave. Buddha is still dead in his grave. Confucius is still dead in his grave. Jesus' mother Mary is still in her grave. All the Catholic popes that have gone before are still in their graves. Every religious figure who ever walked this earth throughout human civilization is still dead in their graves. Ah, but the tomb of Jesus Christ is empty!!!
