Hill of the Lord BlogThe significance of the resurrection cannot be understated and it has been my experience that its study will result in a more beautiful and full picture of Christ that will ignite the mind, humble the heart, and prompt the lips to speak of the glory of Christ. I want to start by reviewing briefly what we have talked about on Sunday mornings. I have relied heavily on the book Jesus Christ Our Lord by John F. Walvoord (Moody Press, Chicago 1969) in this study and will quote from and use the categories outlined in this book below. All scripture references come from the English Standard Bible (Crossway Bibles, 2005).
The cross is the Climax of Christ’s life and ministry, the resurrection is the epicenter of belief. If He rose, the gospel is true, and if he rose not, it is false. His resurrection makes it clear that His sacrifice was accepted as a satisfaction to divine justice. His resurrection is proof that He made a full atonement for our sins, that his blood is a ransom for sinners, and that he has power to save from sin. The resurrection is God’s authentication of Jesus and proof of His person, deity, and Messiahship.
“Upon the resurrection hangs the value and effectiveness of all His work in the past, present and future…it is the key to all of His present work as well as the consummation of the divine plan in the prophetic future.” – Walvoord
The resurrection proved him to be the Son of God, it authenticated all his claims.
“If Christ did not rise, the whole scheme of redemption is a failure, and all the predictions and anticipations of its glorious results for time and for eternity, for men and for angels of every rank and order, are proved to be chimeras. ‘But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept.’ Therefore the Bible is true from Genesis to Revelation. The kingdom of darkness has been overthrown, Satan has fallen as lightning from heaven, and the triumph of truth over error, of good over evil, of happiness over misery is forever secured.” - Hodge.
The resurrection is significant to all of Christ’s work, past, present, and future.
“The resurrection of Christ was not only a backward look toward the cross demonstrating the power of God in salvation, but it is also the doorway to His present work in heaven.” – Walvoord
The present and future work of Christ are contingent on the resurrection. This is clearly laid out in scripture.
Present Work
- Sending the HS
Joh 16:7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
- Bestowing eternal life
Joh 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
Joh 11:26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
- Head of the church and the new creation
Eph 1:20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
Eph 1:21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
Eph 1:22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
o The cornerstone of the church
- Christ as advocate and intercessor
o Priest
Heb 6:19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,
Heb 6:20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
- The bestowal of Gifts
Eph 4:8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”
Eph 4:11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,
Eph 4:12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
Eph 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
Eph 4:14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
Eph 4:15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
- The impartation of spiritual power
o All authority…
- The raising of believers to a new position in Christ
o No longer dead in trespasses and sins
- The firstfruits from among the dead
1Co 15:20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
1Co 15:21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
- Preparing a place
Joh 14:1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
- His universal lordship over all creation
- Shepherd of the flock
Future Work
- The resurrection of all men
- The marriage of the Bridegroom and the bride
- The judgment
- Reigning of David’s throne
- The final deliverance of the world to the Father
1Co 15:24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
1Co 15:25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
1Co 15:27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.
1Co 15:28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
I will end this summary of the significance of the resurrection in regard to the present and future work of Christ in the same way the Walvoord ends this discussion in his book, with a quote from Lewis S. Chafer that summarizes the importance of the resurrection (Walvoord, pg 217).
His resurrection is vitally related to the ages past, to the fulfillment of all prophecy, to the values of His death, to the Church, to Israel, to creation, to the purposes of God in grace which reach beyond to the ages to come, and to the eternal glory of God. Fulfillment of the eternal purposes related to all of these was dependant upon the coming forth of the Son of God from that tomb. He arose from the dead, and the greatness of that event is indicated by the importance of its place in Christian doctrine. Had not Christ arisen – He by whom all things were created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers, He for whom things were created, who is before all things, and by whom all things consist (hold together) – every divine purpose and blessing would have failed, yea, the very universe and the throne of God would have dissolved and would have been dismissed forever. All life, light, and hope would have ceased. Death, darkness, and despair would have reigned. Though the spiritual powers of darkness might have continued, the last hope for a ruined world would have been banished eternally. It is impossible for the mind to grasp the mighty issues which were at stake at the moment when Christ came froth from the tomb. At no moment of time, however, were these great issues in jeopardy. The consummation of His resurrection was sure for omnipotent power was engaged to bring it to pass. Every feature of the Christian’s salvation, position, and hope was dependant on the resurrection of his Lord.
Bless God, Adam
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