Notes compiled by Marty Zide and Steve McAtee
So many things that are absolutely vital for the believer are attached to the fact of the resurrection of the Messiah Jesus. The Scriptures clearly show how significant the resurrection really is.
It’s necessary to believe in the resurrection in order to be saved
If a person does not believe in the literal, bodily resurrection of the Messiah Jesus, they cannot be saved no matter what they think or say. The resurrection is a cardinal doctrine that must be part of one’s belief system.
Rom 10:9-10 - that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
It ensures our regeneration
The fact of the resurrection and the fact that we have been born again to a living hope are linked together. The resurrection of Jesus guarantees a new resurrected life for all who put their faith in Him.
1 Pet 1:3-4 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.
The fact is, that when Jesus was raised from the dead, God had all who would be saved in His mind as well. That’s why it says that those who are regenerated are raised up with Him and seated in the heavenlies.
Eph 2:4-6 - But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Messiah (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Messiah Jesus.
Col 3:1 - Therefore if you have been raised up with Messiah, keep seeking the things above, where Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God.
Col 2:12-13 - having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions.
Once a person is regenerated by God, the very power that is needed to live life as a believer is secured by the resurrection. Here we see Paul praying for the Ephesian believers that they would be aware of this marvelous power that has been given to them. It has also been given to us as well.
Eph 1:18-20 - I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Messiah, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.
Paul is saying that the power by which God raised Jesus from the dead is the same power at work within us.
When the Lord Jesus was raised from the dead, it was God’s stamp of approval of all that was accomplished by Him on the cross. His resurrection guarantees the justification of all who are saved. God declares all true believers totally righteous.
It ensures our justification
Col 2:12-13 - having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions.
It ensures our glorification
Our final glorification is when we will receive our new glorified resurrection bodies. The resurrection of Jesus guarantees that this will take place. This is what the Bible calls our “living hope.” We would do well to think much about this blessed future time.
1Cor 6:14 - Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.
2Cor 4:14 - knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.
It proves who Jesus really is
The resurrection is a means by which the truth of who the Son of God really is, is declared. It sets Him apart from all other would-be Messiahs.
Rom 1:1-4 - Paul, a bond-servant of Messiah Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus the Messiah our Lord.
The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith. Because Jesus is raised from the dead our faith is sure. As Paul said in I Cor.15:17 - if Messiah has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.
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