Resurrection Is the Gospel!
- James Collazo
- Dec 10, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 15
Introduction
The Christian proclamation of the gospel is fundamentally rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. While the gospel narrative encompasses various dimensions of Jesus' life and work—his incarnation, earthly ministry, crucifixion, and exaltation—the resurrection emerges as the decisive event that validates and consummates the message of salvation. Without the resurrection, the gospel is not simply incomplete; it loses its essence as good news. This article examines the centrality of the resurrection within the gospel, engaging with key biblical texts and exploring its theological significance.
The resurrection serves as the cornerstone of Christian theology, affirming the deity of Christ and the efficacy of his atoning work on the cross. It vindicates Jesus' claims about his identity and ensures the believer's hope in eternal life and ultimate restoration. In his first letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul wrote, "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins" (1 Cor. 15:17). This statement underscores the inseparable link between the resurrection and the doctrine of justification, illustrating that the resurrection is not merely an isolated historical event but the foundation upon which the entire Christian faith rests. Consequently, the resurrection shapes the proclamation of the gospel and the lived experience of Christian discipleship.
Gospel as Proclamation of the Resurrection
Paul unequivocally identifies the resurrection as the foundational element of the gospel. He states, "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:3–4). In this passage, Paul underscores the resurrection not as a supplementary aspect of the gospel but as its essential cornerstone. While the crucifixion addresses the problem of sin, the resurrection signifies the ultimate victory over death (1 Cor. 15:55–57), affirming Jesus' identity as the Messiah (Rom. 1:4). Absent the resurrection, Jesus' death would be reduced to a tragic event, bereft of the eschatological hope that defines the Christian faith. Paul's emphasis on the resurrection reveals its centrality in the Christian proclamation of salvation.
Additionally, the resurrection is integral to the believer's present and future hope. Paul links Christ's resurrection to the eschatological promise of the general resurrection, explaining that Christ is the "firstfruits" of those who have fallen asleep (1 Cor. 15:20). This imagery underscores that Christ's resurrection is both a guarantee and a prototype of the resurrection believers will experience. Without this assurance, Paul argues, Christian faith is futile: "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins" (1 Cor. 15:17). Thus, the resurrection not only shapes Christian eschatology but also provides existential meaning and hope for believers in the present. Without the resurrection, the gospel loses its transformative power, reducing Christianity to a religion devoid of its defining hope and victory.
Misconceptions About the Gospel
Some contemporary interpretations reduce the gospel to ethical teaching, social justice, or personal spiritual improvement. While these elements may reflect the gospel's implications, they are not its essence. The gospel is the announcement of God's actions in Christ, particularly raising him from the dead. N. T. Wright (b. 1948) aptly summarizes: "But the gospel is not itself about you are this sort of a person, and this can happen to you. That's the result of the gospel rather than the gospel itself." To shift the focus from the resurrection to peripheral concerns dilutes the gospel's transformative power and undermines its proclamation as the ultimate hope for humanity. Wright defines the gospel as "the good news that the crucified and risen Jesus is the Messiah of Israel and, therefore, the Lord of the world." He also says:
[The gospel is] very clear in Romans. Romans 1:3–4 [regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life[a] was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord]: This is the gospel. It's the message about Jesus Christ descended from David, designated Son of God in power, and then Romans 1:16–17, which says very clearly: "I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God unto salvation." That is, salvation is the result of the gospel, not the center of the gospel itself.
Conclusion
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not simply an event within the gospel narrative; it is the gospel. It proclaims God's victory, Jesus' vindication as Messiah, and the hope of a new creation. Teaching the gospel means proclaiming that Jesus rose and that the world has been reconciled to God through his resurrection. As Paul insists, this truth is "of first importance" (1 Cor. 15:3) and remains the foundation of Christian faith and practice.
Prayer
Blessed are you, LORD our God, King of the universe; whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ triumphed over the powers of death and prepared for us our place in the new Jerusalem: Grant that we, who have this day given thanks for his resurrection, may praise you in that city of which he is the light, and where he lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
Bibliography
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Horton, Michael, Scot McKnight, David A. deSilva, Julie C. Ma, and Shively T. J. Smith. Five Views on the Gospel. Counterpoints. Edited by Michael F. Bird, Jason Maston, and Stanley N. Gundry. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2025.
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Wright, N. T. The Resurrection of the Son of God. Vol. 3 of Christian Origins and the Question of God. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2003.
⸻. Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church. San Francisco: HarperOne, 2018.
