Why is the resurrection so central to the Christian faith?
The resurrection is central because it is the very bulwark of the Christian faith: Christ not only died for us but arose victoriously over sin, death, Satan, and hell, and He is able to impart the blessed hope of resurrection and a redeemed new body to believers.
Les explains that the whole concept of resurrection is the very bulwark of our faith, because not only did Christ die for us, but He arose victoriously over sin, death, Satan, and hell, and all the rest. Because of that victory, He is able to impart unto us the blessed hope of resurrection. The context also ties resurrection to the believer's redemption: the soul and spirit are already redeemed as a down payment, and God will complete the transaction and give us a new body. The best way to get a glimpse of that new body is to look at Christ in His resurrection experience during those 40 days between His coming out of the tomb and His ascension in Acts chapter 1. In Luke 24, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of the ten and said, "Peace be unto you."