The Resurrection
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| English: Icon showing the Resurrection of Jesus, at the inner side of the Resurrection Gate to the Red Square, Moscow (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Jesus’ resurrection, which was a divine act involving all three Persons of the Godhead (John 10:17–18; Acts 13:30–35; Rom. 1:4), was not just a resuscitation of the ruined physical frame that was taken down from the cross for burial.
It was, rather, a transformation of Jesus’ humanity that enabled him to appear, vanish, and move unseen from one location to another (Luke 24:31, 36). It was the creative renewing of his original body, the body that is now fully glorified and deathless (Phil. 3:21; Heb. 7:16, 24).
The Son of God in heaven still lives in and through that body, and will do so forever. In 1 Corinthians 15:50–54, Paul envisages that Christians who are alive on earth at the moment of Christ’s return will undergo a similar transformation, though in 2 Corinthians 5:1–5 he shows himself aware that Christians who die before the Second Coming will be “clothed” with their new body (the “eternal house in heaven”) as a distinct event, at or after the time of the old body’s return to dust (Gen. 3:19).
Christianity rests on the certainty of Jesus’ resurrection as a space-time occurrence in history. All four Gospels highlight it, focusing on the empty tomb and resurrection appearances, and Acts insists on it (Acts 1:3; 2:24–35; 3:15; 4:10; 5:30–32; 13:33–37). Paul regarded the Resurrection as indisputable proof that the message about Jesus as Judge and Savior is true (Acts 17:31; 1 Cor. 15:1–11, 20).
Jesus’ resurrection demonstrated his victory over death (Acts 2:24; 1 Cor. 15:54–57), vindicated him as righteous (John 16:10), and indicated his divine identity (Rom. 1:4). It led on to his ascension and enthronement (Acts 1:9–11; 2:34; Phil. 2:9–11; cf. Isa. 53:10–12) and his present heavenly reign. It guarantees the believer’s present forgiveness and justification (Rom. 4:25; 1 Cor. 15:17) and is the basis of resurrection life in Christ for the believer here and now (John 11:25–26; Rom. 6; Eph. 1:18–2:10; Col. 2:9–15; 3:1–4).
Packer, J. I. (1993). Concise theology: a guide to historic Christian beliefs. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.
Christianity rests on the certainty of Jesus’ resurrection as a space-time occurrence in history. All four Gospels highlight it, focusing on the empty tomb and resurrection appearances, and Acts insists on it (Acts 1:3; 2:24–35; 3:15; 4:10; 5:30–32; 13:33–37). Paul regarded the Resurrection as indisputable proof that the message about Jesus as Judge and Savior is true (Acts 17:31; 1 Cor. 15:1–11, 20).
Jesus’ resurrection demonstrated his victory over death (Acts 2:24; 1 Cor. 15:54–57), vindicated him as righteous (John 16:10), and indicated his divine identity (Rom. 1:4). It led on to his ascension and enthronement (Acts 1:9–11; 2:34; Phil. 2:9–11; cf. Isa. 53:10–12) and his present heavenly reign. It guarantees the believer’s present forgiveness and justification (Rom. 4:25; 1 Cor. 15:17) and is the basis of resurrection life in Christ for the believer here and now (John 11:25–26; Rom. 6; Eph. 1:18–2:10; Col. 2:9–15; 3:1–4).
Packer, J. I. (1993). Concise theology: a guide to historic Christian beliefs. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.
