RESURRECTION
A KOINONIA BIBLE STUDY
EASTER SUNDAY 2012

The Historical Fact

Christianity is focused on the certainty of Christ’s resurrection as a historical fact.

*All four gospels highlight it.

*The Book of Acts insists on it. (Acts 1:3, 2:24-35, 3:15, 4:10, 5:30-32, 13:33-37)

*Paul’s writings show the resurrection to be indisputable proof that the message of Christ’s status as Savior and Son of God are true. (1 Cor. 15:1-11, 20)

*The Book of Revelation portrays Christ as risen and reigning in heaven until the time of his return. (Revelation 5:5-14)

Jesus’ resurrection was not like the resurrection of Lazarus, who would die again. Rather, he received a remade body that was perfect, not aging or dying. It was eternal. And we will receive a body similar to it. The Bible calls it imperishable. It is a body that will be responsive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit rather than to sinful flesh. That is what is meant when Paul says it is a spiritual body.

It is not that the body is immaterial, or a spirit. It is a physical body. Jesus said he had flesh and bones. (Luke 24:39) He ate and drank with the disciples. (Acts 10:41) He appeared repeatedly to the disciples over 40 days to demonstrate that his body was physical and that he had been physically raised from the grave.

The Doctrinal Significance

(1) It is the justification or vindication of Christ (declaration of his righteousness over against the false claims of the religious leaders of his guilt) (Rom 1.1-4; 1 Tim 3.16).

(2) That Christ is declared righteous ensures the acceptability of his sacrifice and therefore our salvation (or justification) (Rom 4.25).

(3) It is the prophetic declaration of our own resurrection from the dead (1 Cor. 15).

(4) It is the power of the resurrection (the work of the Spirit) that enables us to walk in the newness of life (Rom 6.1-4).


Discussion of the Doctrinal Significance

(1) It is the justification or vindication of Christ (the Father’s declaration of his righteousness over against the false claims of the religious leaders of his guilt) (Rom 1.1-4; 1 Tim 3.16).

Jesus was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead. (Romans 1:1-4) He was vindicated by the Spirit. (1 Timothy 3:16). By the resurrection, the Holy Spirit declared that Jesus was who he claimed to be, the Son of God, and that he was innocent of the charges against him.

(2) That Christ is declared righteous ensures the acceptability of his sacrifice and therefore our justification (Rom 4.25).

Jesus presented himself to the Father as a sacrifice for our sin, securing eternal redemption. (Hebrews 9:11-12) His righteousness is counted to us who believe in his resurrection, for he died for our sins and was raised so that we may be justified through faith in him. (Romans 4:22-25).

(3) It is the prophetic declaration of our own resurrection from the dead (1 Cor. 15:20-23).

Jesus was raised from the dead as the first of many. (1 Corinthians 15) The Bible uses the term “first fruits”, an allusion to the Old Testament concept of taking the first of a crop, the first fruit, and offering it to God. His resurrection is the sign and the guarantee of our resurrection. His resurrection showed his power and victory over death. (Acts 2:24) 1 Peter 1:3 says we have been born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

(4) It is the power of the resurrection (the work of the Spirit) that enables us to walk in the newness of life (Rom 6.1-4).

Our old self died with Christ. That is why its power to enslave us is destroyed. Not only did we die with him, we were raised with him. We live in resurrection power. We died to sin, we now live to God in Christ. Our baptism into his resurrection gives us power to conquer sin and live to glorify God in Christ.

God works in us with the same power he worked to raise Christ from the dead. (Ephesians 1:19-20) So, it is bad for you to say you do not have the power to defeat sin in your life. The greatest power of all is at work in your life.