If the cross were the whole of Paul’s gospel, his letters would read very differently.

The tension between the ‘already’ and the ‘not yet’ isn’t merely a future hope. It’s a present power, reshaping the believer’s life here and now (Rom 8:23; Eph 2:4-7; Col 3:1-11).

The gospel tells of ‘hope laid up for [us] in heaven’ (Col 1:5).

The apostolic preaching of the gospel frequently led with the assertion of Jesus’ resurrection — and for good reason. It ‘demonstrates that Jesus had perfectly conquered death and its consequences’ (Rev 1:18).

The power of resurrection (Phil 3:10) is nothing less than God’s renewing, life-giving capacity — his energy of recreation and new creation at work in the world.

If Jesus’ crucifixion — being hanged on a tree — signalled his bearing rejection and curse (Deut 21:23), then his resurrection declared his vindication.

‘For I come to declare that great and most comfortable article of our Christian religion and faith, the resurrection of our Lord Jesus. … Assuredly, so highly comfortable is this article to our consciences, that it is even the very lock and key of all our Christian religion and faith.’