Sunday Statement: Gary Habermas on the Resurrection of Jesus

This is a Q&A from Habermas's webpage archive in reference to the Resurrection of Jesus. He is Risen!

Question: What reasons would you give to show that the resurrection of Jesus is central to the Christian Life?

Answer: Basically, the resurrection is essential to the Christian’s faith for a number of crucial reasons. It is at the very center of the Gospel data, which involve at least the deity, death, and resurrection of Jesus. We must respond to Jesus in faith/commitment. But the resurrection is also the fact that evidences all the other facts. Further, in the New Testament, the resurrection is said to be the center of theology (such as 1 Cor. 15:12-20) as well as Christian practice (like 1 Pet. 1:3-9). Most of all, that Jesus was raised from the dead guarantees that believers will also be raised. For example, as great as creation is, the resurrection is a greater miracle, because it signals the beginning of the New Creation, that we will never die. It is not even claimed that other major religious founders were raised from the dead. Check out 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 and I think you'll get a few more ideas, too. 

Reference:
http://garyhabermas.com/qa/qa_index.htm#evi

Gary Habermas - The Case for the Resurrection