The Resurrection

 

What benefit do we receive from the Resurrection of Christ?

First, by His resurrection He has overcome death that He might make us share in the righteousness which He has obtained for us through His death. Second, we too are now raised by His power to a new life. Third, the resurrection of Christ is a sure pledge to us of our blessed resurrection.

 

I. The Resurrection Is a Fact

A. The Resurrection proves Jesus' power over sin and death. But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, no was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:24-25)

1. Here is what Christians believe is possible because of the Resurrection. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)

2. Grasp the Resurrection and everything else falls into place. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, (Ephesians 1: 18-20)

B. The devil is powerless against the fact of the Resurrection. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14-15)

1. Remove the physical Resurrection and everything else in Christianity goes with it. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (I Corinthians 15:50)

2. The agony of the cross, the cold of the grave, and the joy of the Resurrection enable Jesus to understand humanity fully. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted. (Hebrews 2:18)

3. Jesus entirely understands our limits and ambitions. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

4. The promise that the Messiah would defeat Satan and survive is part of the oldest gospel sermon preached. And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15)

C. Because Jesus rose from the dead, believers expect great things from God. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (I Peter 1:3) Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory, that your faith and hope might be in God. (I Peter 1:21)

II. The Resurrection Is the Gospel

A. Because Jesus rose from the dead, believers know we too will be resurrected. Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:34)

1. The Resurrection shifts the Christian focus from the present struggle to ultimate reward. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:1-3)

2. We who were physical and tied to the present with only a small interest in the world to come become people of the other world with only a toehold in this world. That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind, And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24)

B. Just as Christ demonstrated new life after the grave, believers demonstrate new life after salvation. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: (Colossians 3:1-5)

C. Because Jesus was raised to go on to heaven, believers can expect to go on to be with Him there. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved,) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (Ephesians 2:4-6 )

III. The Resurrection Reassures Believers