The Importance Of The Resurrection Of Christ

The resurrection of Christ is of the utmost importance because if Christ was not raised from the dead then there is no Christianity (1 Corinthians 15:12-19).  Anyone who denies the bodily resurrection of Jesus is not a Christian.  

The Resurrection Proves                        -Christianity is true (1 Corinthians 15:1-28)  -Christ's sacrifice for the sins of his people was accepted by God the Father. (1 Corinthians 15:17, Romans 4:25).                     -Jesus is the Son of God (Romans 1:4).         -Assures believers of their own future resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).         -Through the resurrection believers have newness of life (Romans 6:4).                  -Jesus was victorious over sin, death, and the devil (1 Corinthians 15:20-28).

The resurrection of Christ was an actual historical event that was witnessed by over 500 people (1 Corinthians 15:5-11).  We should believe that the resurrection actually happened because God has revealed it to us in Scripture (1 Corinthians 15:1-11).  The Bible is totally reliable because it is the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16).   

(Romans 10:9)"because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."  (ESV)

Luther And Calvin On The Genesis Creation Account

 Martin Luther (1483-1546) and John Calvin (1509-1564) were the two most prominent leaders of the Protestant Reformation.  We will take a brief look at their views on creation.  

Martin Luther believed the world was created about 6,000 years ago by God out of nothing.  He rejected the idea that the world was eternal.  He also rejected allegorical interpretation, holding to a literal interpretation of the Genesis creation account.  Luther said, "We assert that Moses spoke in the literal sense, not allegorically of figuratively-i.e., that the world, with all its creatures, was created within six days, as the words read." 

John Calvin also believed the world was created by God out of nothing.  He said, "Let this, then be maintained in the first place, that the world is not eternal but was created by God."  Calvin also held to a young earth saying, "Little more than five thousand years have passed since the creation of the universe."  Calvin believed the world was created in six literal days based on the numbering of the days.  

So Martin Luther and John Calvin both held to the traditional view of the church on the Genesis creation account.  This view is known as young earth creationism.