The reality of Jesus’ physical resurrection from the dead is of the utmost importance. We are sometimes guilty of putting so much of our attention on the cross that we take the resurrection for granted or miss it’s daily, personal importance. The Scriptures teach us very clearly that the cross proved and sealed God’s love for us. I John 3:16 says “By this we know love (or this is how we know what love is), that He laid down His life for us . . .” Romans 5:7 says “God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” The cross settles the issue of God’s love, because Jesus endured the cross, because He became sin, because He died for us we can rest assured and be completely and eternally confident of this one thing: God loves us. The resurrection of Jesus proves God’s power and ability to actually save us. Romans 10:9 says “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.” Have you ever noticed what it says? Not that if you believe that Jesus died for your sins, or that Jesus was the Son of God, or that Jesus is returning, it says that if you confess Jesus is Lord and if you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved. The power of salvation is found in the empty tomb. Paul went as far as to tell the Corinthians in our text that if Christ didn’t rise from the dead then our faith is futile, we are still in our sins and those who are dead are simply doomed. I have loved many people that I had no power to save; being loved by God is what settles and centers us but God being able to raise Jesus from the dead is what gives us confidence that we have been saved and it is what gives us hope in our own resurrection. The cross and the resurrection fit together perfectly and completely. We must celebrate both, understand both and cling to both because without them both together we actually have nothing. This morning, on resurrection Sunday, my prayer is that we will understand that the resurrection of Jesus is not simply some astounding miracle that separates Christianity from every other religion, the resurrection of Jesus is what cements us in Jesus and it is what saves us from sin and it is what keeps us satisfied in our souls. Jesus didn’t rise from the dead to prove something about Himself, He rose from the dead to free us from death and to give us to His Father.