The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the one single historical event that all of Christianity turns on and for good reason, two to be exact: First, Christ's bodily resurrection from the dead -- and it must be a physical body in order for it to be true (Jn. 20:12; 1 Cor. 15:3-8) -- is a testifying event. It validates that His every thought, word, and deed were acceptable to God the Father. It's one thing for the Apostles to preach that He's a lamb without blemish or defect and committed no sin (1 Pet. 1:19; 2:22), or his enemies to not be able to accuse him of sin (Jn. 8:46; 18:38), or even for Christ Himself to say ". . . I always do the things that are pleasing to Him" (Jn. 8:29). But it's another thing altogether for God to authenticate it's true via the resurrection. The resurrection is reward/proof of Christ's authenticity in person and work. If death is the ultimate penalty for sin (1 Cor. 15:26; Rev. 20:14), then life -- the opposite of death -- is the ultimate verification.

Second, Christ's bodily resurrection from the dead is an authorizing event. He was "declared" the Son of God -- an achieved status that bestows all power and authority (Matt. 28:18). We enter heaven separate from our bodies when we die -- a testament to death's power. But He ascended bodily, having no separation (Acts 1:9-11). He has authority to destroy and nullify -- be it the works of the devil (1 Jn. 3:8; Rev. 12:10ff.), sin (Rom. 6:10), or the works of the law (Col. 2:13-14). He has authority to create, empower, and establish (Jn. 1:3-4 ; Heb. 1:2-4). His rule extends over the greatest and the least in nature, the course of human history, determining the eternal fates of all (2 Cor. 5:10), causing every knee to bow (Phil. 2:9-11) and being the very God of heaven receiving all worship (Rev. 5:13-14). His inheritance empowers Him to have a people for Himself, perfectly identified with Him in all things.