The Power of the Resurrection

I Count it All As Loss

Philippians 3:7–12 (ESV)

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

Resurrection

Anastasis - Resurrection

This greek term for revelation occurs 39 times in the New Testament

Christ was the firstfruits of the first resurrection.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Resurrection)

RESURRECTION - From the Latin resurrectio, meaning “rising again.” A return to life after having died. Mainly refers to the resurrection of Christ—the central event of the Christian faith. Also refers to the Christian doctrine of corporate resurrection, which is connected to the judgment of both the living and the dead.

The Subsequence Order of the First Resurrection

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:23).

The Old Testament Saints (Matthew 27:52).

The Catching Away of the Church (1 Thess. 4:16).

The Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:12).

A Man Child (Revelation 12:5).

The Tribulation Saints (Revelation 7:9).

Those Beheaded for the Witness of Jesus (Revelation 20:4).

According to the Thomas Nelson Premier Study Bible, the first resurrection includes all resurrection events that occur prior to the millennial reign of Christ.

The Gospel Accounts in the New Testament provides three examples of people being miraculously returned to life.

Jairus’ daughter

Mark 5:41 (ESV) - Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”

2. The young man at Nain

Luke 7:14 (ESV) - Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”

3. Lazarus

John 11:43-44 (ESV)

43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”

44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

According to the Lexham English Dictionary, Jesus’ authority was so great that even in His earthly ministry, death was mere “sleep” and life emanated from Him with no bounds.

The Resurrection and the Life

John 11:24–25 (ESV)

24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

The resurrection had already begun for those who believe in Christ.

The Power of Resurrection as an Experience.

Christ’s resurrection initiated a progression of resurrections that will achieve the ultimate subjection of sin and death, so that God will be “all in all.”

Hence, believers enter an eschatological process upon salvation. The foundation of the future, “of first importance,” is the gospel which rests on the crucifixion and resurrection “according to the Scriptures.”

Paul was significant among these “as to one untimely born”

1 Corinthians 15:3–8 (ESV)

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

To Know Christ in the Power of His Resurrection, He must first be Known by Sharing with His Suffering.

Philippians 3:10 (ESV) - that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

In the meantime, believers are “to suffer with Him in order that we might be glorified with Him”

Romans 8:17 (ESV) - and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Hebrews encourages believers to focus on Jesus, “the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Witnesses of the Resurrection

Acts 1:22 (ESV) - beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”

Acts 4:33 (ESV) - And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

1 Peter 1:3 (ESV) - 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,

Revival

REVIVAL - A renewed desire for spiritual things, brought about by the work of God.

Revival is a divine assault on society.

“As we will see from their stories, personal revival led to national revival. It began with a complete trust in the Lord, a profound reverence for God, and a determination to overcome the social ills each saw oppressing his generation. The revivalists transformed lives in a way that led to the transformation of communities and nations.” - Roberts Liardon

The Resurrection of the Dead.

1 Corinthians 15:12–22 (ESV)

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.

14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.

15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.

16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.

17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.

22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.