I thought I'd take a break from the "Cliches" series this week in light of Easter weekend coming and spend some time reflecting upon the significance of the resurrection. In too many Christian circles, the resurrection is an after thought to the cross (not, of course, to diminish the cross's importance). In fact, I've had students comment before that the resurrection is an "add on" or "bonus" to the cross, which is the essence of God's saving act for humanity. That's a serious deviation from the significance given to the resurrection in the New Testament. There is far, far more I could say about the centrality of the resurrection than what follows, but I'd like to here summarize briefly some of the key points of emphasis in the New Testament.
1) The resurrection shows we can trust God. 2 Corinthians 1:9 illustrates this aspect of the resurrection. Here Paul states his confidence in God stems from his knowing God raised Jesus. Just as the Old Testament act of deliverance (the exodus) provided Israel of assurance that God would act on their behalf, so too the resurrection assures us of God's faithful and benevolent character. Likewise, 1 Peter 1:21 states that believers can put their faith and hope in God because of His raising of Jesus, a point echoed by Colossians 2:12. 2) The resurrection vindicates Jesus. Acts 17:31 informs us that the coming judgment of the world will happen through the authority given to Jesus, which is demonstrated by the resurrection. Romans 1:4 also states that the resurrection was the means by which God declares that Jesus is in a position of authority over all things. Jesus died a criminal's death, and the resurrection shows just how wrong that verdict was. 3) The resurrection gives Jesus authority. It is after His resurrection that Jesus tells His disciples "all authority in heaven and earth" (i.e., authority over everything) has been given to him (Matthew 28:19-20). Likewise, Ephesians 1:20-21 shows us the close link between the resurrection of Jesus and His exaltation to a position of authority over all powers and Romans 14:9 states that the resurrection makes Jesus the Lord over all, the dead and the living. 4) The resurrection defeats Sin and Death. In Acts 5:30-31, we are told the resurrection of Jesus results both in Jesus' exaltation and in God's dealing with human sins. Even further, Romans 6:9-10 shows that Jesus' death brings the defeat of the actual powers of Sin and Death which currently exercise dominion in the world. Though they are not yet totally vanquished (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:26), they are on notice and there annihilation is ever approaching. 5) The resurrection imparts life. The resurrection of Jesus also imparts life, both qualitatively different life in the present and eschatological life in the future, to those "in Christ." Romans 6:1-11 illustrates both of these dimensions of the resurrection's life-giving power in that believers are now to live in the life Jesus gives (Romans 6:4, 11) and yet will share in His life in the future (Romans 6:5, 8). 6) The resurrection imparts the Spirit. Romans 8:9-11 tells us that the Spirit of the risen Jesus imparts new life to His people. Likewise, Acts 2:32-33 states the risen Jesus has poured out the promised Spirit into the life of the Church. 7) The resurrection grounds the believer's spiritual formation. As we already saw in Romans 6:1-11, the resurrection imparts new life to the believer. Romans 7:4 states that our being raised with Christ is for the purpose of bearing fruit, and 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 tells us that the new life given to believers is for the purpose of their living for Christ and not themselves, as does also Galatians 2:20. Finally, the exhortations of Colossians 3 are preceded by recognizing Christ's life in us enables us to seek "heavenly things" rather than "earthly ones" in Colossians 3:1 (for those interested in more on this aspect of the resurrection, see my article in SFJ). 8) The resurrection is reenacted in the Church's ordinances. Both of the ordinances given to the Church (baptism and communion) are connected to Jesus' death and resurrection. Again in Romans 6:1-14 we find that baptism is the reenactment of and participation in Jesus' death and resurrection, which we also see in Colossians 2:11-13. Though communion more directly commemorates Jesus' death (cf. Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:15; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29), the mention of the "new covenant" in all of these communion passages provides undertones of the resurrection. Since the giving of the new covenant is the inauguration of God's restorative work, and that restorative work is empowered by the resurrection, its presence in communion is not far off. 9) The resurrection undergirds believers during times of suffering. Paul sees the future anticipated glory of God's people as a comfort for believers during suffering (Romans 8:17-18). Likewise, he states in 2 Corinthians 4:10 that his own suffering represents both the carrying around of the dying of Jesus and the manifestation of His (risen) life. Likewise 1 Peter 4:13 encourages rejoicing during times of suffering in anticipation of future eschatological exaltation. 10) The resurrection ensures the believer's future. 1 Corinthians 6:14 tells us that the God who raised Jesus will raise us by that same power. In 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, Christ is referred to as the "firstfruit" of the resurrection, which pictures the inevitability of the coming full harvest (i.e., our collective resurrection). 1 Thessalonians 1:10 assures us that the risen Jesus will rescue His people from the coming wrath, as does also 1 Thessalonians 4:14. So why the resurrection? To demonstrate God's trustworthiness. To vindicate Jesus. To establish Jesus' reign. To defeat Sin and Death. To impart life. To impart the Spirit. To empower spiritual transformation. To inform the Church's acts of remembrance. To encourage us during suffering. To ensure our future hope. This is what we celebrate on Easter, and we have MUCH to celebrate!
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