Reason #10: Jesus rose from the dead to guarantee the future resurrection [life] of believers
The resurrection must be established as true and credible event before it can have implications and applications for us. And one we establish it as a true event the implications and applications start flowing out!
The implications are both public (for the world) as well as personal (for each follower of Jesus).
One of the staggering personal implications of Jesus' resurrection for Jesus followers and discples is the promise that we too will one day rise from the dead. As we do we follow in the dying-rising pattern of Jesus Himself!
The Heidelberg Catechism speaks of this in the following words:
A. First, by his resurrection he has overcome death, so that he might make us share in the righteousness
he obtained for us by his death. Second, by his power we too are already raised to a new life. Third, Christ’s resurrection is a sure pledge to us of our blessed resurrection.
The following verses speak to this incredible promise:
“Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:19).
"And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you" (Romans 8:11)
"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive" (1 Cor. 15:20-23).
"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body" (Philippians 3:20-21).
Death could not hold Jesus. And one day, death will not be able to (ultimately) hold me.
What a promise! What a future! What a gift!
For now we say: "He is risen! He is risen indeed!"
And, because of Jesus, one day, I will be able to say: "I am risen! I am risen indeed!"