Christianity for People Who Aren't Christians, Part 1Sample

The Resurrected Life

If the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus happened—as revealed in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—it validates Jesus and everything he taught. If true, two thousand years ago the power of God was reflected in a single life with such a clear demonstration of might and energy that all of human history was forever changed—culminating in raising that life, physically, from the dead.

And through the resurrection of Jesus, God demonstrated his ultimate power, because there is no greater power on earth than power over death. Then the Bible says something equally radical—the very same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available for your life: “[You need to] understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead” (Ephesians 1:19–20). 

And the Bible says that power can be there for you. Think about that. That means the power that resurrected Jesus can resurrect your life too. Not just after you die a physical death, but here and now! God can take your life, and, no matter where you are or where you’ve been, he can bring you to life from any place you feel lifeless. He can give you whatever new beginning you need. 

The Bible says that if there was no resurrection, then there’s no hope for life after death. And if that’s true, then life has no purpose and no meaning. 

Twentieth century playwright, Samuel Beckett, once put forth a play titled, Breath. The curtain opens to a stage littered with nothing but garbage. A soundtrack begins, starting with a baby’s first cry and ending with an old man’s last, dying gasp. Then the curtain closes. Beckett’s point is clear—life is absurd, man is meaningless, existence is pointless. But Christianity maintains that the resurrection did happen, and the Bible says that “because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven” (1 Peter 1:3 NIV).

And that means hope. But that hope involves embracing a message—a message unlike any ever given.

The resurrected life means we were made for more, but more of what? 

Part Two of our reading plan, Christianity for People Who Aren’t Christians: Uncommon Answers to Common Questions invites further examination of hard questions and open discussion. I hope you’ll join me there.