This quote (from 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, verses 12-20) shows that the death and resurrection are absolutely crucial to the Christian faith because of many reasons. Christians believe that he died to save them and the rest of the world from their sins, which, therefore, would enable them to be right with God. Also, if Jesus Christ did not die, and then rise, then everything that Christians believe in is futile for many reasons.
The first reason is, if Jesus did not die and then rise, then there is not much evidence that he was the Son of God, and therefore, would go against what the New Testament says, and would therefore go against all of Christian belief, and teaching, which is based on the new testament.
Another reason is that it is fundamental to the Christian faith that their saviour has come, and that he has died, and that he has taken our sins, and that he has been resurrected, and has risen again. This in fact, is the message of Easter, which is the most important event in the Christian calendar (even more important that Christmas). It is important because it means that they can have a chance to meet God, and become righteous in his eyes. They believe that Jesus has ridden them of their sins, so that they can be put right with God. If Jesus did not die and then rise again, then technically, they will never be able to be seen as righteous with God, and therefore, will never go to heaven because of their original sin. The main goal of the Christian belief is to reach heaven, and therefore, to meet God their creator, whom has saved them, loves them, and has made them, and if Jesus Christ has not given them the opportunity to rid them of their original sin, then this will never be possible
There is another very important reason for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is again to do with original sin. If Christ did not rise from the dead, baptism is pointless. This is because if he has not died and taken away our original sin, then there is nothing we can do to take it away, and we are eternally damned. Even baptism will not rid us of this sin, and therefore man can never reach heaven.
The Christian idea is as follows. Christ’s death and resurrection help Christians to keep faith and live with the thought of life to come. The spiritual body corrects the faults of the body. Resurrection comes through baptism. Through Christ, death is overcome.
Therefore, I conclude that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is of high importance to Christians because of 4 main reasons:
- He is their saviour and their hope in gaining righteousness with God relies on his existence, death, and resurrection.
- If he did not rise and die, then everything that they believe is futile, and their faith is meaningless.
- If Christ did not rise, then baptism is pointless.
- His death and resurrection help Christians to keep faith and live with the idea of eternal life with God.