Thursday, May 9, 2013
The Resurrection Saves
I read a book a while ago, Salvation Accomplished by the Son:
The Work of Christ, by Robert A. Peterson.
Peterson describes nine "saving events" in Christ's life.
1. Incarnation 2. Sinless life 3. Death 4. Resurrection
5. Ascension 6. Session 7. Pentecost 8. Intercession
9. Second Coming
Here are some highlights from chapter 4 -- The Resurrection.
The resurrection was predicted in the Old Testament.
The words of David in Psalm 16:8-11, were applied messianically to the
resurrection of the Greater David (Jesus Christ) both by Peter (Acts 2:24-28)
and Paul (Acts 13:34-35).
"God raised him up, loosing the pangs
of death, because it was not possible
for him to be held by it."
Acts 2:24
"And as for the fact that he raised him
from the dead, no more to return to
corruption, he has spoken in this way,
' I will give you the holy and sure blessings
of David.'
Therefore he says also in another psalm,
'You will not let your Holy One see
corruption.' "
Acts 13:34-35
**********
The resurrection is predicted in Isaiah 53 through the words, "He shall
prolong His days." Even though the Messiah would die, He would live again.
"When His soul makes an offering for guilt,
He shall see His offspring; He shall
prolong His days."
Isaiah 53:10b
The resurrection is an important part of the Gospel, predicted in the
Old Testament.
"For I delivered to you as of first
importance what I also received:
that Christ died for our sins in
accordance with the Scriptures,
that He was buried, that He was
raised on the third day in accordance
with the Scriptures, and that He
appeared to Cephas, then to the
twelve."
1 Corinthians 15:3-5
**********
Christ's resurrection assures the resurrection of believers.
"And if Christ has not been raised,
your faith is futile and you are still
in your sins...
But in fact Christ has been raised
from the dead, the firstfruits of
those who have fallen asleep."
1 Corinthians 15:17,20
"[Firstfruits] speaks of the first installment of harvest to eternal life,
in which Christ's resurrection will precipitate and guarantee that
all of the saints who have died will be resurrected also."
John MacArthur
**********
God the Father gave Jesus the Son, the authority to give up His life,
and to raise Himself from the dead.
"[Jesus said], 'For this reason the Father
loves me, because I lay down my life
that I may take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it
down of my own accord.
I have authority to lay it down,
and I have authority to take it up
again. This charge I have received
from my Father."
John 10:17-18
**********
Jesus promised eternal life to those who believed in Him, because He
would be raised from the dead.
"Because I live, you also will live."
John 14:19b
Jesus has the authority to give life to whomever He is pleased to give it.
"For as the Father raises the dead
and gives them life, so also the Son
gives life to whom He will."
John 5:21
Because He lives, His people are safe and will spend eternity with Him.
"My sheep hear my voice,
and I know them, and they
follow me. I give them
eternal life and they will
never perish, and no one
will snatch them out of
my hand."
John 10:27-28
**********
Belief in the resurrection is necessary for salvation.
"... because, if you confess with your mouth
that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart
that God raised Him from the dead you will
be saved.
For with the heart one believes and is justified,
and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."
Romans 10:9-10
**********
The resurrection saves.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ! According to His
great mercy, He has caused us to be
born again to a living hope through
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from
the dead to an inheritance that is
imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,
kept in heaven for you, who by God's
power are being guarded through faith
for a salvation ready to be revealed in
the last time."
1 Peter 1:3-5
**********
The resurrection brings justification and forgiveness of sins.
"It (faith) will be counted to us who
believe in Him who raised from the
dead Jesus our Lord, who was
delivered up for trespasses and raised
for our justification."
Romans 4:24b-25
He was raised to life for our justification. Christ's atoning death was
necessitated by our sin, and yet had His death not been followed by the
resurrection, it would not have been God's mighty deed for our justification.
"Without the resurrection of Christ, His death alone has no
atoning, redemptive, or liberating effect in relation to human
sin. It is because Jesus, our divine human representative, not
only died in our place, but also lives as Victor over sin and
the grave, He saves to the end all who come to God
through Him."
Anthony Thiselton
**********
Since Jesus was raised, He saves His people forever, because He continually
presents His priestly sacrifice in God's presence in heaven. Jesus' death was
not the end of His priesthood, for He rose from the grave, gave victory over death,
and now continues as our sole and ever living high priest.
"Consequently, He is able to save
to the uttermost those who draw
near to God through Him, since
He always lives to make intercession
for them."
Hebrews 7:25
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