The Resurrection of Christ

The Resurrection of Christ

1. The Importance of the Resurrection
   
   
   1. It is one of the two primary doctrines of the Gospel
      1. 1 Corinthians 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
      2. The importance of both is in the fact that with out the other neither fact would be enough for salvation
      3. What if Christ had remained in the grave?
      4. Without the perfect substitutionary death His resurrection would have no saving power.
      5. The resurrection was the proof that Jesus was the son of God - Romans 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
      6. His resurrection proves that His death was sufficient to cover all sins because it was the Son of God who died.
   
   
   
   1. It was the foundation stone on which the Church was built.
   
   
   
   1. Negative suppositions that prove the importance of the resurrection
      1. Our preaching is in vain -1 Corinthians 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain
      2. Our faith is in vain - 1 Corinthians 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
         1. If He did not rise then all that we accepted as a free gift from God such as divine sonship, eternal life, justification, sanctification, glorification, we did not actually receive
         2. 1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
         3. Faith gains its power from the object in which it believes
      3. The Apostles would have been false witnesses
         1. 1 Corinthians 15:15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
         2. The early Apostles where qualified by the fact that they were eye witnesses of the resurrection.
      4. Believers are yet in their sins
         1. 1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
         2. The resurrection of Christ proved the justifying value of His death.
         3. Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
      5. Those who have died are perished 1 Corinthians 15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
   
   
   
   1. Acts 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
   
   
   
   1. Almost all of the nearly sermons centered on the resurrection of Christ.
      1. Peter from Solomon’s porch - Acts 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
      2. Acts 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

1. The Nature of the Resurrection
   
   
   1. The Entire Trinity was Involved
   
   
   
   1. God’s Involvement
      1. Eph. 1:19-20. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
      2. Acts 2:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
   
   
   
   1. Jesus’ Involvement
      1. John 10:18 No man taketh 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 commandment have I received of my Father
      2. John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
   
   
   
   1. The Holy Spirit’s Involvement
      1. -- American Standard -1 Peter 3:18 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
      2. Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
      
      
      

      Study Questions:

      1. Why is the resurrection of Christ important?
      2. Why are the primary doctrines concerning the burial and resurrection important?
      3. Explain the work of the trinity in the resurrection.
      4. What if Christ did not rise?

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