Older people are in the habit of repeating themselves because they forget a previous conversation. Christians are in the habit of repeating themselves on purpose when it comes to sharing the reality and riches of Jesus’ resurrection.
The apostle Paul reveals why recounting the resurrection is significant. “For I delivered to you as of first importance… that Christ died for our sins… and that He was raised on the third day…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) Christ’s death and resurrection are foremost and foundational teachings of Christianity.
All of humanity suffers from the same malady—“…both Jews and Greeks are all under sin… There is none righteous, not even one.” (Romans 3:9b-10) Our natural and practical bent is towards selfishness, not surrender to God. In our thoughts, words, and actions, our lives are characterized by rebellion against God’s word and will.
In the same way a rebellious child deserves punishment for their waywardness, humanity’s guilt requires God’s just reward consisting of eternal condemnation (Romans 5:12).
But God’s love provided a way for the guilty to be free from our deserved penalty. “Christ died for our sins,” taking the punishment for our evil upon Himself so that all who trust in Him are made right in God’s eyes (Romans 3:22).
Christ’s sacrificial death enabling those who believe to be forgiven and enter eternal life was “according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3). The entire Bible contains the message of Christ’s death for our sin. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy is all about the return of the ring. God’s word is all about salvation from sin that Christ’s death brings.
Of equal importance and also “in accordance with the Scriptures” was Christ’s resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Christ’s death paid the debt of guilt we owed and His resurrection proved God’s acceptance of that payment (Romans 4:25). When a person believes, the benefits of that divine transaction are applied to them and they are “made righteous” (Romans 5:19b) before God. It was Christ’s death and resurrection together that accomplished salvation for all who believe (Romans 3:28).
I never tired of hearing my great grandfather recount how Karl Hubbell struck out “murderous row”—Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Jimmy Foxx in the 1934 baseball All-Star game.
We should never tire of hearing or heralding the greatest good news ever told, “Christ died for sin, once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God…” (1 Peter 3:18).
We repeat that message often as an invitation for unbelievers to trust Christ for salvation and inspiration for Christ followers to express appreciation.