I’m going to share a summary of my Resurrection Sunday sermon here. The title of the message is “8 Truths About the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.” There are infinite truths regarding the resurrection of Christ, so this is by no means an exhaustive list. These are in no particular order.
1. The Resurrection Proves that Jesus is the Son of God.
Rom 1:3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, Rom 1:4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. (NKJV)
In this passage Paul declares the humanity and the deity of Christ. Concerning His humanity, Christ was born a descendant of Abraham and King David. Concerning His deity, Paul appeals to the resurrection as the objective proof. When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he made mention of one post-resurrection appearance of Christ that involved over 500 witnesses.
1Co 15:6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. (NKJV)
This evidence alone would stand up in any legitimate court of law! In that same passage Paul describes his own post-resurrection encounter with Jesus Christ. We must not gloss over the fact that Paul was at one time the greatest enemy of the Church! What caused him to stop the persecuting and become a preacher? It was the resurrection that made all the difference! Christ’s resurrection vindicated Him as the Son of God. His sacrifice on Calvary was accepted as payment in full for our sins!
2. The Resurrection Proves that Jesus Christ Can Be Trusted
On numerous occasions, the Lord as asked for a sign to validate His Messianic credentials. On one such occasion, He uttered these words:
John 2:19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (NKJV)
He was speaking of His own body. They did not understand the reference and thought He was referring to Herod’s Temple. In John’s Gospel, the Lord revealed Himself as the “Good Shepherd.” He is that Good Shepherd because He was willing to lay His life down for the sheep. Listen carefully to His words:
Joh 10:17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. Joh 10:18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” (NKJV)
The Cross was not a tragedy of unforeseen circumstances. It was a tremendous accomplishment instead! Every moment of Jesus’ earthly life (including the details of His death and burial) was under His Divine direction. In the Gospel of Matthew, the Lord predicted no less than three times what was going to happen to Him.
Mat 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. (NKJV)
Mat 17:23 and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up. And they were exceedingly sorrowful. (NKJV)
Mat 20:19 and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again. (NKJV)
3. The Resurrection Proves that Bible Prophecy Can Be Trusted
We often think of David as merely a king. The Apostle Peter declared that King David was also a prophet (Acts 2:30). On the Day of Pentecost Peter quoted two prophecies from David as proof of Christ’s resurrection. Interestingly, they are both from the book of Psalms. They are listed below.
Psa 16:10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. (NKJV)
Psa 110:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD said to my Lord,”Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” (NKJV)
Additionally, the Lord appealed to the narrative of Jonah as a type of His own resurrection. He also affirms that the story of Jonah is not merely an allegory for children’s church (Matt 12:40).
4. The Resurrection Proves That the Believer’s Future Resurrection is Guaranteed
Paul wrote to the bereaved in Thessalonica. Some were concerned that their deceased loved ones might miss out on the rapture/resurrection. He offered them these words of comfort:
1Th 4:13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. (NKJV)
Paul is so certain of the resurrection of believers that he uses the word “sleep” as a euphemism for the believer’s physical death!
To the Corinthians, Paul uses the analogy of the Feast of Firstfruits:
1Co 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (NKJV)
This reference hearkens back to Leviticus 23 and the feasts of the Lord. In His death on Calvary, Christ became our Passover. His sinless sacrifice fulfilled the Feast of Unleavened Bread (see I Cor 5:7 to see how Paul applies the concepts). In chapter 15 of First Corinthians Paul appeals to the Feast of Firstfruits. This was always on the first day of the week (Sunday). This is why we find all the Gospel writers telling us that Christ rose from the dead on the first day of the week. The application for believers is obvious. The concept of firstfruits anticipates a great harvest at a later time. Christ is the First to rise from the dead, and now our resurrection is guaranteed!
5. The Resurrection Proves that Jesus Christ Will One Day Judge the World!
In the Gospels, we read that the future Judgment Day has been appointed to the Son. There are those who embrace the idea that there are many paths to God. Those who believe this will be in for a terrible surprise when they discover it is Jesus Christ who will be their ultimate Judge.
Joh 5:21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.
Joh 5:22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,
Joh 5:23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
Joh 5:24 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
Joh 5:25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.
Joh 5:26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,
Joh 5:27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. (NKJV)
Those who say that Jesus never claimed to be God have clearly never read the scriptures. This one passage alone reveals strong statements of Christ’s deity. The Son gives life to whom He will. The Father has committed all judgment to the Son! The Son is to be honored just as the Father! The Son will give the decree for every man to come out of his/her grave for judgment! The resurrection proves that God the Father has vindicated the statements of Jesus Christ. We discover this in Paul’s sermon in Athens.
Act 17:31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead. (NKJV)
6. The Resurrection Proves that Jesus Christ is a Permanent High Priest
In the Law of Moses there were certain criteria for becoming a priest. It wasn’t something you could go to school for and get a degree. You had to be a male from the tribe of Levi. Under the Old Testament paradigm, the priesthood rested within the tribe of Levi (Num 3:5-10), and the monarchy within the tribe of Judah (Gen 49:10). The New Testament reveals that there has now been a change in the priesthood. This was predicted (ironically, again by King David) back in the book of Psalms.
Psa 110:4 The LORD has sworn And will not relent, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” (NKJV)
David predicted that the Messiah would be a King and a Priest (something that was forbidden under the Law of Moses). Furthermore, this priesthood would not be according to the order of Aaron (Levi). Instead, this Priest would be after the order of Melchizedek. The book of Genesis offers no genealogical information regarding Melchizedek, who was both a king and a priest. The writer of Hebrews picks up on this theme and offers tremendous exposition. For the sake of time, we will look at only one verse.
Heb 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (NKJV)
The Bible tells us that Christ came from the tribe of Judah (not Levi). This lets us know that the Law of Moses is now obsolete (Heb 8:13). Furthermore, Christ’s priesthood is superior because He is alive forevermore! The Levitical priests were not able to serve forever because they were mere mortals! The resurrection gives Christ an eternal priesthood! This is great news for those of us who need grace and mercy each and every day!
7. The Resurrection Proves There is Power for the Christian Life
There are three tenses of salvation for the believer. The first stage is justification. This is when the sinner is “declared righteous” by placing their trust in the finished work of Christ. In that sense he/she has “been saved.” The final stage is glorification. None of us has achieved that status (though I’ve met a few who were under that impression). Justification delivers us from the penalty of sin. Glorification delivers us from the presence of sin (oh how I look forward to that day!). The “middle tense” of our salvation is what we call sanctification. That includes delivering us from the power of sin.
Rom 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (NKJV)
This doesn’t mean that any of us are incapable of sinning. It does mean that we have power to resist temptation when it comes. Paul would later say that the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in every believer!
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (NKJV)
8. The Resurrection Proves That the Believer Has a Glorious Future
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, your best days are ahead of you…not behind you! As we get older, we realize that we can’t do some of the things we used to be able to do. Some have discovered that the “golden years” aren’t so golden after all! It’s easy to become discouraged when health fails and we think of the regrets of the past. With rose-colored glasses we fondly recall “the good ole’ days.” The Bible sets forth a much different perspective. Notice what Peter says:
1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1Pe 1:4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 1Pe 1:5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (NKJV)
The Apostle Peter described our hope as a “living” hope. All the world can offer is a fading hope. The resurrection of Christ gives us that living hope. We no longer need to fear the sting of death. We don’t have to worry about losing everything the moment we draw our last breath. We have an inheritance and a wonderful future yet to be revealed! As we close, it’s important to remember the biblical concept of hope is much stronger than the earthly concept. The hope we typically speak of is more like “cautious optimism.” The biblical definition of hope has much more to do with confident assurance! I will leave you with words I often share with our local congregation. If you’re a believer in Christ…the best is yet to come!
All of this is true because of the resurrection of Christ. He is risen…He is risen indeed!
Tags: bible, christianity, easter, faith, jesus, passover, resurrection
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