The Resurrection

The resurrection is a foundation truth of Christianity. Without the resurrection of Christ we could have no gospel. "If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain: ye are yet in your sins" (1 Cor. 15:17).

"Christ died for our sins" (1 Cor. 15:3). He "was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification" (Rom. 4:25).

Paul preached Jesus and the resurrection. Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, but they had to resort to lies and bribery to satisfy the soldiers and deceive the public.

Satan is behind all the opposition to the resurrection, for by it his power was annulled. For the believer--his power is gone; he now works by his wiles. The tomb was sealed, but only to be a witness of God's power over death and the grave. To Martha the Lord said, "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25). And for the benefit of those at the grave of Lazarus, the Lord spoke with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth" (John 11:43,44).

"Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:4).

Faith is imputed for righteousness, if we believe on Him (God) that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.

It is a divine assurance that the sins of the believer have been put away, since God has raised His Son from the dead. God, who had been sinned against, and who knew those many sins, laid them all upon Jesus. As the hymn puts it--

"God, who knew them, laid them on Him,
And believing, we are free."

And it is a righteous God who has set us free, for His righteous claims have been fully met in the death of His Son. For was not the veil rent the moment the Lord died, and were not the graves opened at his death, and saints came out of their graves after His resurrection? For He was the first to rise. In all things He must have the pre-eminence.

The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

He "was raised for our justification" (Rom. 4:25). "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection" (Rom. 6:5).

"Beloved, now are we the sons of Good, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2).

Not only have we such assurance as to future blessing, but we are now blessed with all (or every) spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ.

Christ risen, ascended and glorified is the head of a new race, and all believers belong to that race. It is well to keep in mind that we are no longer in Adam but in Christ. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1).

No condemnation to those in Christ and all spiritual blessings to those in Christ Jesus.

To the unsaved reader: here is your refuge from judgment, your security and your blessing. Do not neglect the gospel. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).

"How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" (Heb. 2:3).

--J.P. from MWTB