Resurrection of Christ - Some Theological Implications

 

1.  The resurrection of Christ was prophesied in the OT.

a.  Psa. 16:9-10 

- Peter in Acts 2:22-36  his first message after founding the Church at Pentecost and he speaks of the resurrection.

- Paul in Acts 13:26-37  message in the synagogue in Antioch.

b.  Psa. 118:22-24  is quoted by Peter in Acts 4:8-12

- Jesus Christ as the stone that was rejected by the builders  (Israel) became the head of the corner, the chief cornerstone to a new organization the Church.

c.  Psa 22:22  quoted in Heb 2:12

- both of the contexts deal with victory over death

  

2.  Jesus  Christ himself during his ministry claimed that he would be raised form the dead several times.

-  Matt. 16:21;  17:9 , 22-23;  20:18-19; 26:32 the nite of betrayal; Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:34; Lk 9:22;  John 2:18-22

B.L. Once again His veracity is on the line, had it not become a reality as He said, it would have negated everything that He taught, My words will not pass away!

 

3.  The immediate impact of the Resurrection

a.  As you study the historical account you discover a tremendous change in the disciples.

- After the cross they were despondent, frightened, they all scattered.

- After the resurrection they were joyous, fearless, demonstrated courage under great pressure.   The resurrection was the catalyst.  John 2:18-22

b.  As we noted the first message Peter gave after Pentecost was on the subject of resurrection.    Acts 2:22-36 

c.  Have a radical change the day of worship from the 7th day  under the Levitical code to the 1st day of the week,  speaks of new beginning, new relationship.   1 Cor 16:2

d. He must be alive to be the head of the Church so the very existence of the Church depended on the resurrection of Christ. 

 

4.  The Significance and application of the Resurrection

a.  Declared that Jesus Christ is God's Son.  Rom. 1:4

-  The resurrection did not make Him the Son of God; He already existed as the Son of God;

-  What the resurrection actually did was to declare to all of mankind, that He was who  He said He was!

-  It marked Him out as The Son of God, it validated His claim to be deity.

b.  The resurrection of Jesus Christ indicated the completion and acceptance of His ministry of Justification.  Rom 4:25

-  resurrection is the visible  proof to mankind that His work on the cross satisfied the +R/J of God/F.

Application:  Man who is -R separated from God by his sins meets God who is +R at the Cross.

When one believes in Christ,  God imputes His perfect righteousness to that one, Rom 3:22; 2 Cor 5:21;  also gives the gift of eternal life having forgiven their sins.

Because His +R is imputed to us at the point of salvation on the basis of faith God then sees each believer as a new creation in Christ - declares them justified.

 

5. The Ramifications of the Resurrection to believer in  f2.

a.  The power available for Christian living is related to the resurrection of Christ.

We cannot live for God by our own strength.

It is only as His resurrection power works in us that we can do His will and glorify His name (Rom. 6:4; Eph. 1:18-20).

 

b.  It is the basis of our confidence in the future.

Because we have a living hope in a living Savior we are able to live confidently.   1 Peter 1:3-5

c.  It assures us of our own, future resurrection.

Because Jesus died and rose again, we shall one day be raised to be like Him  (1 Thes. 4:13-1 8).

If we do away with His resurrection,  we have no hope.

d.  Christ's resurrection is called "firstfruits."  That is He is the first to be raised with a body of incorruption  1 Cor 15:20-23.

-  first fruit is  used in the sense of a preliminary installment of what will be both an example and a guarantee of more to come.  That is us and our resurrection!

Application:  His resurrection is the guarantee of our resurrection at the Rapture.

2 Cor 4:14;  Phil 3:20-21;  John 14:19  because I live, you shall live also.

 

6.  Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ there would be no mediatorship which is an important ministry of Christ to the believer in time.

a.  A mediator must be alive to be a mediator.

b.  To satisfy God He must be equal with God, and  He is!  True deity!

c.   To be able to aid mankind as a mediator must also be man in order to take man's place  and be judged and die in our place on the Cross.  Heb. 7:25; 1 Tim 2:5

d.   He was qualified by virtue of His  work on the cross in bearing our sin  to propitiate the Father's holiness and to reconcile to God those of us who believe. 1 John 2:1-2;  Col 1:20-22

- it is His work on the cross in bearing our penalty that the barrier between God and man is removed when we believe that He died for us personally!

e.  In our life as a believer He is qualified also to be our defense attorney, our advocate      1 John 2:1;  Heb 7:25

7.  The resurrection of Jesus Christ authenticated His entire ministry. 1 Cor 15:12-19

-  kenoj  =  empty; the gospel minus the  resurrection is empty

-  a failure to orient and apply  the truth of the resurrection will result  in misery and lack of confidence in time, not using one of DOA's.

 

8.  Without the resurrection there would be no Priesthood of Christ.

- Psa. 110:4 (prophecy)  "priest forever"  Heb 7:28; 5:5-10; 

Application:  Since Jesus Christ is a High Priest and because we are in union with Him, being in Christ  we are also a priest and therefore have the privilege of worship, giving, prayer as a part of our priesthood.

1 Pet 2:5-9 believers are called "living stones" being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood. As such we are a people of God's possession.

 

9.  Without the Resurrection of Christ there could not be a fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant  which is the paragraph of the Abrahamic covenant which says that David will have a son who will reign forever, which speaks of Christ.  Psa. 89:28-37;  2 Sam 7:16

Application:  Jesus Christ will reign over this kingdom during the millennium and we as Church age believers will rule and reign with Him.

 

Whenever God's people gather on the first day of the week they are bearing witness that  Jesus is indeed alive!