Do you believe in the resurrection of Jesus? But are you neglecting its implications? I had preached about the cross many times, but I was shocked to discover that the Apostles instead emphasized the resurrection. None of the sermons I had heard or preached fully explained the meaning and implications of this miracle. Join me on my journey and discover: Why the cross alone could never save us Compelling evidence that the tomb really was empty How the resurrection can change fear into love, despair into joy, guilt and shame into forgiveness and freedom. A renewed hope for our own physical resurrection. Years of chronic illness including blood cancer brought destruction to my life. Though my faith was faint at times, somehow my hope would not disappear because of these truths. Raised with Christ: How the Resurrection Changes Everything is an expanded and revised edition of my first book, initially published by Crossway in 2010. It now includes study guide questions and an afterword by Charles Spurgeon and John Newton, updated into modern English. But how did the story begin? I was asked to preach one Easter Sunday. Usually, I enjoyed preaching, but I was busy, weary, and not looking forward to it. Shockingly, talking about Easter felt boring. I began studying the resurrection seriously for the first time. At the time, I could not find many books on the subject. I became convinced I should write about the life-changing power of the empty tomb. Since then, it has been a joy to watch the conversation grow. Christianity ultimately stands or falls on whether Jesus rose from the dead. The only reason we can celebrate Jesus’ death on Good Friday is if He rose again on Easter Sunday and he is alive today to save us. The historical evidence for the empty tomb, the resurrection appearances, and the explosive transformation of the early disciples demand an explanation. The Church did not create the resurrection stories. Instead, the resurrection stories created the Church. Jesus was “raised for our justification” (Romans 4:25). Because of this we can be forgiven. The resurrection demonstrates that Jesus is "the Son of God in power” (Romans 1:4). If Jesus is alive today, then He is Lord. We must follow Him. Every major group of Christians in history would agree with this definition: A Christian is someone who believes in the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ and lives in light of the implications of that event.