What is the significance of the resurrection within the Christian community?
Jewish tradition spoke of a Messiah who would conquer death (Psalm 118:17-18, Isaiah 25:7-8). When Jesus was resurrected, he conquered death as “being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him” (The Holy Bible, Romans 6:9, ESV). Christianity, therefore, fulfills Judaism (Gundry, 2012). The Old Testament is full of prophecies regarding the Messiah’s death and resurrection (Jesus Film Project, 2021) which is why Paul preaches the gospel and reminds the Corinthians in a letter that “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (The Holy Bible. 1 Corinthians 15:3, ESV).
If Jesus had not been resurrected, he would not have been the Messiah, and “our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain” (The Holy Bible, 1 Corinthians 15:14, ESV). In other words, without both Christ’s death and resurrection, Christianity fails to fulfill Judaism and is therefore not accurate, nor defensible, nor relevant. A simple survival fails to fulfill Judaism.
In his letter to the Romans, Paul writes “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Gather, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his” (The Holy Bible, Romans 6:4-5, ESV). Christ’s resurrection is both a literal conquering of death, and a symbol of our hope for our own future as described by Paul when he writes “if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you” (The Holy Bible, Romans 8:11, ESV). His death served as the final sin offering, and his resurrection revealed his victory. This opened the blessing of God to all people – including gentiles as promised to Abraham in Genesis. It also relieved believers of circumcision and of salvation by the law (Romans 8:2, Acts 15).
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. (2001/2011). Crossway.
Jesus Film Project. (2021). 55 Old Testament Prophecies about Jesus. Cru Ministries.
Gundry, R. (2012). A Survey of the New Testament. Zondervan.