The resurrection of Jesus Christ can be like a pastry chef at a WeightWatchers convention or like having a pinky toe. We know each is important, but we’re not sure why.

Many Christians treat the resurrection like the end of a children’s story—”And they lived happily ever after”—a reminder that everything turned out okay in the end. They believe that the resurrection assures us that the cross “took,” and it guarantees that believers in Jesus will live forever but it isn’t strictly necessary for our salvation. Our sins, they feel, would still be forgiven even if Jesus did not rise from the dead, for the cross alone makes us right with God.

Wrong. Paul twice says that the resurrection is as important as the cross to make us righteous before God. Romans 4:25 states that Jesus “was raised to life to make us right with God,” and 1 Corinthians 15:17 declares that “if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.”

Here’s why: Jesus died on the cross as a guilty sinner in our place (Romans 3:25; 2 Corinthians 5:21). If the story had ended there, Jesus would continue to bear sin’s penalty of death. He would remain guilty. He would not be right with God, and neither would we.

The resurrection is the Father’s reversal of this verdict. He accepts His Son’s sacrifice and releases Him from sin’s guilt and penalty. The Father raised Jesus to restore Him to His righteous standing and the life that returns when sin and death are destroyed.

The resurrection declares that Jesus is now “right” with God, and so are we who place our faith in Him. We sinners need the righteousness of Christ. We receive this righteousness through His cross and resurrection.