Explain why the crucifixion and resurrection are so important to a Christian.

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

Explain why the crucifixion and resurrection are so important to a Christian.

Christians believe that Jesus’ death on the cross was no ordinary death. They explain the importance of his death by comparing it to a sacrifice. Jews sacrificed animals to God as a sign that they were sorry for their sins, and they received forgiveness in return. You could say that their sins were taken and put on the animal. In the same way Jesus was a sacrifice, only his death did not just take away the sins of a few people but the sins of the whole world. This means that Jesus was punished for all the things that people have done wrong so that they could receive forgiveness from God, we must all be eternally grateful for this. We are now put right with God by the sacrificial death of his son and we are now saved from God’s anger!! We must also remember that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son and we must again be eternally grateful!

Jesus died:

1.To save humans from the consequences of sin.

2.Because no-one else was willing or capable of paying the price for the sin of the whole world.

3.To restore humans to a right relationship with God.

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Jesus died:

1.To save humans from the consequences of sin.

2.Because no-one else was willing or capable of paying the price for the sin of the whole world.

3.To restore humans to a right relationship with God.

By Jesus’ death on the cross God defeated all the powers of evil. ‘‘And on that cross Christ freed himself from the power of the spiritual rulers and authorities; he made a public spectacle of them by leading them as captives in his victory procession.’’

Everyone must die once, and after that be judged by God. In the same manner Christ also was offered in sacrifice once to take away the sins of many. He appeared a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are waiting for him.

The resurrection is a public testimony of Christ’s release from his undertaking as surety, and an evidence of the father’s acceptance of his work of redemption. It is a victory over death and the grave for all his followers. The importance of Christ’s resurrection will be seen when we consider that if he rose the gospel is true, and if he rose not, it is false. His resurrection from the dead makes it manifest that his sacrifice was accepted and shows he defeated death. His resurrection is a proof that he made a full atonement for our sins and his blood a ransom for sinners. It is also a pledge and an earnest of the resurrection of all believers. As he lives, they shall live also. It proved him to be the son of God, in as much as it authenticated all his claims.

‘‘If Christ did not rise, the whole scheme of redemption is a failure, and all the predictions and anticipations of its glorious results for time and for eternity, for men and for angels of every rank and order, are proved to be chimeras. ‘But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept.’ Therefore the Bible is tue from Genesis to Revelation. The Kingdom of darkness has been overthrown, Satan has fallen as lightning from heaven, and the triumph of truth over terror, of good over evil, of happiness over misery is for ever secured’’.

Whatever people decide about the truth or fiction of the resurrection,Christians do agree that it proves several important facts:

1.Jesus is eternal and will come again!!

2.Jesus was the Messiah!!

3.There is life after death!!

4.Jesus defeated the power of death and evil!!