Christ's Majestic Work In the Resurrection

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another obscure village, where He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty, and then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never owned a home. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put his foot inside a big city. . . . He never did [any] of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials . . . While still a young man, the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth while He was dying—and that was his coat. When he was dead He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone and today He is the centerpiece of the human race . . . I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever were built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that One Solitary Life.[1]

Introduction

And yet, that solitary life is only part of the tapestry of Christ’s life. “This solitary life” beautifully colors the humanity of Christ, but leaves out the strands of majesty interwoven into many of those moments.[2] (1) His humanity is beautifully seen in the weakness of a helpless infant, and yet strands of majesty are interwoven at this moment as angels herald his birth. (2) He is born into a humble stable in a town of little significance, and yet bursting forth through the strands of humanity are the strands of majesty revealing themselves in the movement of a star as it draws wise men to him. (3) He is baptized, like so many others before him and after him, yet the heavens open and the Spirit of God descends upon him and God the Father speaks. (4) Oh how normal it was for him to fall asleep in a fishing boat due to utter exhaustion, but then he wakes to calm the storm. (5) Threads of humanity are revealed as he weeps over the death of his friend, and yet once again strands of majesty are demonstrated as he turns and calls the dead to life. (6) And then we come to this bold stroke of humanity. He is killed. How normal. And yet, how utterly abnormal and majestic is his death. The earth quakes, dead people come back to life, and the temple veil is ripped from top to bottom.

Humanity and majesty. His death – humanity. His resurrection – majesty. And consider the incomprehensible value of his resurrection.

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another obscure village, where He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty, and then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never owned a home. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put his foot inside a big city. . . . He never did [any] of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials . . . While still a young man, the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth while He was dying—and that was his coat. When he was dead He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone and today He is the centerpiece of the human race . . . I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever were built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that One Solitary Life.[1]

The threads of Christ majesty are revealed in that he empowers us to new life. We as sinners were dead in our sins, but Christ was our regeneration. He gave us life. “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” (). This new birth is termed regeneration. “Regeneration is a secret act of God in which he imparts new spiritual life to us.”[3]

And yet, that solitary life is only part of the tapestry of Christ’s life. “This solitary life” beautifully colors the humanity of Christ, but leaves out the strands of majesty interwoven into many of those moments. (1) His humanity is beautifully seen in the weakness of a helpless infant, and yet strands of majesty are interwoven at this moment as angels herald his birth. (2) He is born into a humble stable in a town of little significance, and yet bursting forth through the strands of humanity are the strands of majesty revealing themselves in the movement of a star as it draws wise men to him. (3) He is baptized, like so many others before him and after him, yet the heavens open and the Spirit of God descends upon him and God the Father speaks. (4) Oh how normal it was for him to fall asleep in a fishing boat due to utter exhaustion, but then he wakes to calm the storm. (5) Threads of humanity are revealed as he weeps over the death of his friend, and yet once again strands of majesty are demonstrated as he turns and calls the dead to life. (6) And then we come to this bold stroke of humanity. He is killed. How normal. And yet, how utterly abnormal and majestic is his death. The earth quakes, dead people come back to life, and the temple veil is ripped from top to bottom.[2]

Regeneration is a mysterious work. This reality is most born out in Jesus interaction with Nicodemus. Jesus makes it clear that new birth is essential for anyone to be part of the kingdom of God. Just like any of us, Nicodemus struggled to wrap his mind around what Jesus was saying. “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” ESV).

Humanity and majesty. His death – humanity. His resurrection – majesty. And consider the incomprehensible value of his resurrection.

We know that somehow we who were spiritually dead () have been made alive to God and in a very real sense we have been “born again” (, ; ; ). But we don’t understand how this happens or what exactly God does to us to give us this new spiritual life. Jesus says, “The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit” (). . . .Because regeneration is a work of God within us in which he gives us new life it is right to conclude that it is an instantaneous event. It happens only once. At one moment we are spiritually dead, and then at the next moment we have new spiritual life from God. Nevertheless, we do not always know exactly when this instantaneous change occurs.[4]

It is God who made us alive, through the work of the Holy Spirit. “Even when we were dead in our trespasses, [God being rich in mercy] made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved” ( ESV).[5] This work was done by allowing us to come to an understanding of His Word. Peter tells us that we “have been born again . . . through the living and abiding word of God . . . the word of the Lord remains forever. And this word is the good news that was preached to you” (). James writes a similar thought. “Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” ().

The threads of Christ majesty are revealed in that he empowers us to new life. We as sinners were dead in our sins, but Christ was our regeneration. He gave us life. “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” (). This new birth is termed regeneration. “Regeneration is a secret act of God in which he imparts new spiritual life to us.”[3]

Regeneration is a mysterious work. This reality is most born out in Jesus interaction with Nicodemus. Jesus makes it clear that new birth is essential for anyone to be part of the kingdom of God. Just like any of us, Nicodemus struggled to wrap his mind around what Jesus was saying. “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” ESV).

We know that somehow we who were spiritually dead () have been made alive to God and in a very real sense we have been “born again” (, ; ; ). But we don’t understand how this happens or what exactly God does to us to give us this new spiritual life. Jesus says, “The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit” (). . . .Because regeneration is a work of God within us in which he gives us new life it is right to conclude that it is an instantaneous event. It happens only once. At one moment we are spiritually dead, and then at the next moment we have new spiritual life from God. Nevertheless, we do not always know exactly when this instantaneous change occurs.[4]

The threads of Christ majesty are revealed in that he guarantees our righteousness. We as sinners were unrighteous and deserving of God’s wrath, but Christ was our justification. He guarantees our righteousness. Christ was “delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification” (). Justification is being declared righteous. It refers to one’s legal standing with God. It occurs in a moment and remains for all eternity. Distinct from sanctification which involves the effort of the believer, justification is entirely a work done by God. Due to our justification we presently are viewed by God as perfect, cloaked in Christ’s righteousness. And this legal and permanent position is equally shared by every believer. And this was all accomplished, according to , through Christ’s resurrection.

It is God who made us alive, through the work of the Holy Spirit. “Even when we were dead in our trespasses, [God being rich in mercy] made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved” ( ESV).[5] This work was done by allowing us to come to an understanding of His Word. Peter tells us that we “have been born again . . . through the living and abiding word of God . . . the word of the Lord remains forever. And this word is the good news that was preached to you” (). James writes a similar thought. “Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” ().

Christ was raised for our justification. When God the Father raised Christ from the dead, he was in essence acknowledging that he fully accepted Christ’s work of suffering and dying for sins. Christ no longer needed to remain dead because his payment for sins was complete. “There was no penalty left to pay for sin, no more wrath of God to bear, no more guilt or liability of punishment – all had been completely paid for, and no guilt remained.”[6] Therefore, God could rightly and justly declare you to be righteous. Your sin had been paid for. You no longer had a debt to be paid. Since the resurrection is a display of God’s acceptance of Christ’s work and we are raised up with Christ, then we stand as well accepted in Him.

Paul visited the synagogue of Antioch on a particular Sabbath day. After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers asked if anyone wanted to say something. Paul gets up. He concisely unfolds for them God’s past blessings and promises to the people of Israel. He reminds them of God’s promise that a king would be raised up from the line of David. Jesus was the fulfillment of that promise. Yet, the Jewish rulers did not recognize him as such and they had Pilate execute him. “They took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead” ( ESV). This resurrection was the fulfillment of the promises to Israel that a king would come from the line of David, for how could Jesus be king unless he rose from the dead? We now come to the statement Paul makes that I wanted to draw your particular attention to. “Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses” ( ESV).

The threads of Christ majesty are revealed in that he guarantees our righteousness. We as sinners were unrighteous and deserving of God’s wrath, but Christ was our justification. He guarantees our righteousness. Christ was “delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification” (). Justification is being declared righteous. It refers to one’s legal standing with God. It occurs in a moment and remains for all eternity. Distinct from sanctification which involves the effort of the believer, justification is entirely a work done by God. Due to our justification we presently are viewed by God as perfect, cloaked in Christ’s righteousness. And this legal and permanent position is equally shared by every believer. And this was all accomplished, according to , through Christ’s resurrection.

Christ’s resurrection frees us from everything. It is in Christ’s death that he paid for our sins and made our righteousness possible (). In this payment he turned God’s wrath away from us and he satisfied the justice that God demanded (). But it his resurrection that confirms that our justification has been secured. His death made it possible. His resurrection confirmed its reality.

Christ was raised for our justification. When God the Father raised Christ from the dead, he was in essence acknowledging that he fully accepted Christ’s work of suffering and dying for sins. Christ no longer needed to remain dead because his payment for sins was complete. “There was no penalty left to pay for sin, no more wrath of God to bear, no more guilt or liability of punishment – all had been completely paid for, and no guilt remained.”[6] Therefore, God could rightly and justly declare you to be righteous. Your sin had been paid for. You no longer had a debt to be paid. Since the resurrection is a display of God’s acceptance of Christ’s work and we are raised up with Christ, then we stand as well accepted in Him.

So then, to those who believe, when we struggle wondering whether or not God is angry with us or whether or not he is still holding our sins against us, remember Christ’s resurrection. It secured your righteousness because God accepts us on the basis of Christ’s righteousness.

Paul visited the synagogue of Antioch on a particular Sabbath day. After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers asked if anyone wanted to say something. Paul gets up. He concisely unfolds for them God’s past blessings and promises to the people of Israel. He reminds them of God’s promise that a king would be raised up from the line of David. Jesus was the fulfillment of that promise. Yet, the Jewish rulers did not recognize him as such and they had Pilate execute him. “They took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead” ( ESV). This resurrection was the fulfillment of the promises to Israel that a king would come from the line of David, for how could Jesus be king unless he rose from the dead? We now come to the statement Paul makes that I wanted to draw your particular attention to. “Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses” ( ESV).

Christ’s resurrection frees us from everything. It is in Christ’s death that he paid for our sins and made our righteousness possible (). In this payment he turned God’s wrath away from us and he satisfied the justice that God demanded (). But it his resurrection that confirms that our justification has been secured. His death made it possible. His resurrection confirmed its reality.

The threads of Christ majesty are revealed in that he motivates our righteous living. We as sinners were inclined to choose unrighteousness, but Christ was our sanctification. He motivates our righteous living. Paul teaches us in Romans that we have “died with Christ . . . [and] we will also live with him” (). Since Christ was raised from the dead and will never die again, “death no longer has dominion [any power or control] over him.” Because this is true – that being we have died to sin and risen to life – we must consider ourselves “dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (). Paul goes on to write:

So then, to those who believe, when we struggle wondering whether or not God is angry with us or whether or not he is still holding our sins against us, remember Christ’s resurrection. It secured your righteousness because God accepts us on the basis of Christ’s righteousness.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. ( ESV)

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ( ESV)

The threads of Christ majesty are revealed in that he motivates our righteous living. We as sinners were inclined to choose unrighteousness, but Christ was our sanctification. He motivates our righteous living. Paul teaches us in Romans that we have “died with Christ . . . [and] we will also live with him” (). Since Christ was raised from the dead and will never die again, “death no longer has dominion [any power or control] over him.” Because this is true – that being we have died to sin and risen to life – we must consider ourselves “dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (). Paul goes on to write:

Because we have been declared righteous, we are to live a life of purposeful pursuit of righteousness. We desire that our daily living match up to the position God has declared for us. This daily movement towards righteous living, this growth, is what we call sanctification. Justification referred to our legal standing whereas sanctification refers to the ongoing and internal growth taking place within the believer. Justification occurs once. Sanctification continues throughout one’s life. Justification is a work entirely accomplished by God. Sanctification cries out for our cooperation, but don’t ever forget that even our desire or ability to grow is God’s work in us ().[7] At the point in which God declares us righteous, we are fully and permanently justified, whereas our sanctification is kind of an up and down process throughout the entirety of our lives and will not be perfected until we are with Christ.

About 12 years ago Linda and I purchased a new home. There were some nice advantages to this purchase. Because the home had not been completely finished, we were able to pick out a few of the final touches. But, the most noticeable negative was that this new home rested in the middle of what had once been a corn field. Of course there were no developed trees in our yard and very few in any of our neighbors yards. As well, our lawn had no grass. There was a lot of hay which seemed to communicate the potential of grass growing up the following spring but no grass. Spring came. Our hopes for a lawn were at a fevered pitch. We had young children and wanted them out of the house. But no grass. Throughout that first summer weeds successfully covered much of our lawn. Let me offer one additional dimension to this analogy. There was a storm drain in the back corner of our lot. Within nearly the first year, all the grass within about 20-30 feet of this storm drain was full and even plush. If we were willing to navigate through the well-established fields of crabgrass, dandelions, and thistles, we would be rewarded with a plush oasis of Kentucky bluegrass that beckoned to our bare feet. Years went by, bags of Scott’s Turf Builder were spread time and time again across the lawn, incessant nagging and chastisement of our children to get off the lawn gave way to “get out of the house and play in the yard!” And I can remember one spring as I walked barefoot throughout our yard, I actually complained about how quick our lawn was growing and wined a little about how often I had to cut the grass.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. (

Romans 6:12–13 ESV

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

ESV)

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ( ESV)

Get to the point. While there were parts of our lawn that matured quickly, the entirety of our lawn took years to develop and mature. This is the same in the Christian life. Once we come to Christ and are declared righteous by God, a process of maturing begins. There are parts of our lives that may develop quickly and great maturity is experienced. There are, as well, other parts that seem to take forever to mature and conquer, and it’s probably not due to lack of effort in trying. Within my lawn, seven years later, there were these little patches that just didn’t seem to want to fill in. I’ve felt that way with my spiritual life as well. Even though I strive to fight sin and I desire to mature, there are areas that seem just as weak as years before. Sometimes I can become consumed with those bare spots and fail to see the immense growth that has occurred. Either way, we keep working, “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” ( ESV). And the power of this work, and the certainty of its’ success, is due to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3:1–2 ESV

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Because we have been declared righteous, we are to live a life of purposeful pursuit of righteousness. We desire that our daily living match up to the position God has declared for us. This daily movement towards righteous living, this growth, is what we call sanctification. Justification referred to our legal standing whereas sanctification refers to the ongoing and internal growth taking place within the believer. Justification occurs once. Sanctification continues throughout one’s life. Justification is a work entirely accomplished by God. Sanctification cries out for our cooperation, but don’t ever forget that even our desire or ability to grow is God’s work in us ().[7] At the point in which God declares us righteous, we are fully and permanently justified, whereas our sanctification is kind of an up and down process throughout the entirety of our lives and will not be perfected until we are with Christ.

About 12 years ago Linda and I purchased a new home. There were some nice advantages to this purchase. Because the home had not been completely finished, we were able to pick out a few of the final touches. But, the most noticeable negative was that this new home rested in the middle of what had once been a corn field. Of course there were no developed trees in our yard and very few in any of our neighbors yards. As well, our lawn had no grass. There was a lot of hay which seemed to communicate the potential of grass growing up the following spring but no grass. Spring came. Our hopes for a lawn were at a fevered pitch. We had young children and wanted them out of the house. But no grass. Throughout that first summer weeds successfully covered much of our lawn. Let me offer one additional dimension to this analogy. There was a storm drain in the back corner of our lot. Within nearly the first year, all the grass within about 20-30 feet of this storm drain was full and even plush. If we were willing to navigate through the well-established fields of crabgrass, dandelions, and thistles, we would be rewarded with a plush oasis of Kentucky bluegrass that beckoned to our bare feet. Years went by, bags of Scott’s Turf Builder were spread time and time again across the lawn, incessant nagging and chastisement of our children to get off the lawn gave way to “get out of the house and play in the yard!” And I can remember one spring as I walked barefoot throughout our yard, I actually complained about how quick our lawn was growing and wined a little about how often I had to cut the grass.

The threads of Christ majesty are revealed in that he ensures our resurrection. We as sinners would have been eternally damned, but Christ was our glorification. He ensures our resurrection. Paul touches on this subject in each of the Corinthian epistles. The first few verses of Second Corinthians chapter 4 reveal for us that unbelievers have had the gospel veiled to them because Satan has blinded their minds. So then, we are to proclaim Jesus Christ like a light that shines out of darkness. It was this same light that “shone in our own hearts” giving us the knowledge of Jesus Christ. We then, who have believed, speak, and the confidence in our speech comes from “knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring [us] into his presence” ().

Get to the point. While there were parts of our lawn that matured quickly, the entirety of our lawn took years to develop and mature. This is the same in the Christian life. Once we come to Christ and are declared righteous by God, a process of maturing begins. There are parts of our lives that may develop quickly and great maturity is experienced. There are, as well, other parts that seem to take forever to mature and conquer, and it’s probably not due to lack of effort in trying. Within my lawn, seven years later, there were these little patches that just didn’t seem to want to fill in. I’ve felt that way with my spiritual life as well. Even though I strive to fight sin and I desire to mature, there are areas that seem just as weak as years before. Sometimes I can become consumed with those bare spots and fail to see the immense growth that has occurred. Either way, we keep working, “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” ( ESV). And the power of this work, and the certainty of its’ success, is due to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In Second Corinthians, Paul simply states the reality of our resurrection being connected to Christ’s. He had already developed this point, in some length, in his first epistle to the Corinthians. Much of chapter 15 in First Corinthians outlines for us the significance of Christ’s resurrection and its connection to our resurrection. Let’s narrow our focus on just a couple of verses, and then narrow that focus even further onto the theological concept found in the word firstfruits.

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. ( ESV).

The threads of Christ majesty are revealed in that he ensures our resurrection. We as sinners would have been eternally damned, but Christ was our glorification. He ensures our resurrection. Paul touches on this subject in each of the Corinthian epistles. The first few verses of Second Corinthians chapter 4 reveal for us that unbelievers have had the gospel veiled to them because Satan has blinded their minds. So then, we are to proclaim Jesus Christ like a light that shines out of darkness. It was this same light that “shone in our own hearts” giving us the knowledge of Jesus Christ. We then, who have believed, speak, and the confidence in our speech comes from “knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring [us] into his presence” ().

Christ is referred to as the “firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” Throughout the Old Testament “firstfruits” referred to the best. The firstfruits were considered holy and were offered to God as a display of thanksgiving for all His goodness. The firstborn son, the firstborn animal, even the first ripened crops were considered the firstfruits and were treated as belonging to God. It is this meaning of best that James uses of Christians as he writes, “Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” ( ESV).

Throughout the rest of the New Testament, this word emphasizes the “first part of a larger harvest.”[8] In this case, the firstfruits accomplished a couple different things. First, it was a guarantee for the remaining harvest, and secondly, it was a representative sampling for the remaining harvest.

In Second Corinthians, Paul simply states the reality of our resurrection being connected to Christ’s. He had already developed this point, in some length, in his first epistle to the Corinthians. Much of chapter 15 in First Corinthians outlines for us the significance of Christ’s resurrection and its connection to our resurrection. Let’s narrow our focus on just a couple of verses, and then narrow that focus even further onto the theological concept found in the word firstfruits.

For instance, if you were to go out in the late summer or early fall to begin harvesting your grapes, you would test a few of them to see if they were to your liking. If so, you might very well harvest the rest of them. So then, based on the taste of the first grapes picked, you assumed that the rest would taste similar. This would be the same in the kitchen as you cook up a certain dish. Before serving a particular soup or meat to others, you would likely take a taste to see how it had turned out. This taste would be a reflection of the rest of the soup.

1 Corinthians 15:20–23 ESV

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

ESV).

In a similar way, Christ was the “firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” He is both a guarantee that all those who belong to him will be raised from the dead at his second coming, but also his resurrection body is comparable to what they will receive. Therefore, any harvest we may experience here is a picture of God’s redemptive harvest. “Christ the “firstfruits” has triumphed in his resurrection; then, the rest of his “crop,” the redeemed, will be raised triumphantly at his second coming ().[9]

Christ is referred to as the “firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” Throughout the Old Testament “firstfruits” referred to the best. The firstfruits were considered holy and were offered to God as a display of thanksgiving for all His goodness. The firstborn son, the firstborn animal, even the first ripened crops were considered the firstfruits and were treated as belonging to God. It is this meaning of best that James uses of Christians as he writes, “Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” ( ESV).

Throughout the rest of the New Testament, this word emphasizes the “first part of a larger harvest.”[8] In this case, the firstfruits accomplished a couple different things. First, it was a guarantee for the remaining harvest, and secondly, it was a representative sampling for the remaining harvest.

For instance, if you were to go out in the late summer or early fall to begin harvesting your grapes, you would test a few of them to see if they were to your liking. If so, you might very well harvest the rest of them. So then, based on the taste of the first grapes picked, you assumed that the rest would taste similar. This would be the same in the kitchen as you cook up a certain dish. Before serving a particular soup or meat to others, you would likely take a taste to see how it had turned out. This taste would be a reflection of the rest of the soup.

Christ’s resurrection empowers us to new life. It guarantees our righteousness and motivates our ongoing righteous living. Christ’s resurrection as well ensures our future resurrection. What wonderful blessings we possess due to Christ’s resurrection, yet this is only a sampling of what Christ’s resurrection accomplished.

It is through the resurrection that we are clothed with the image of Christ and acquire eternal life. Our mortality is gifted life whereas it had possessed death. He destroyed death and displays his power over it. It is through his resurrection that we are spiritually healed. Our sins are forgiven. We experience the promises that were promised to David. He makes our Christian lives fruitful. He secures our future glory. He sets us free from bondage to sin, selfishness, and self-indulgence. He adopts us into his family. It is through the resurrection that he is seated in a position of authority and power and intercedes on our behalf. Our preaching and faith is filled with hope and value because of Christ’s resurrection. Christ overcame the power of the law in his resurrection. In his resurrection, we are given purpose in living and serving. We experience God’s mighty power and are recipients of God’s grace – all through the resurrection.

In a similar way, Christ was the “firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” He is both a guarantee that all those who belong to him will be raised from the dead at his second coming, but also his resurrection body is comparable to what they will receive. Therefore, any harvest we may experience here is a picture of God’s redemptive harvest. “Christ the “firstfruits” has triumphed in his resurrection; then, the rest of his “crop,” the redeemed, will be raised triumphantly at his second coming ().[9]

Christ’s resurrection empowers us to new life. It guarantees our righteousness and motivates our ongoing righteous living. Christ’s resurrection as well ensures our future resurrection. What wonderful blessings we possess due to Christ’s resurrection, yet this is only a sampling of what Christ’s resurrection accomplished.

[1] James Allan Francis. Library of Congress and Congressional Research Service, Respectfully Quoted, # 916.

[2] The concept for this paragraph was taken from MacLaren’s commentary. MacLaren, MacLaren’s Commentary (Expositions Of Holy Scripture) 32 Books In 1 Volume., Kindle Locations 117076-117084.

It is through the resurrection that we are clothed with the image of Christ and acquire eternal life. Our mortality is gifted life whereas it had possessed death. He destroyed death and displays his power over it. It is through his resurrection that we are spiritually healed. Our sins are forgiven. We experience the promises that were promised to David. He makes our Christian lives fruitful. He secures our future glory. He sets us free from bondage to sin, selfishness, and self-indulgence. He adopts us into his family. It is through the resurrection that he is seated in a position of authority and power and intercedes on our behalf. Our preaching and faith is filled with hope and value because of Christ’s resurrection. Christ overcame the power of the law in his resurrection. In his resurrection, we are given purpose in living and serving. We experience God’s mighty power and are recipients of God’s grace – all through the resurrection.

[2] The concept for this paragraph was taken from MacLaren’s commentary. MacLaren, MacLaren’s Commentary (Expositions Of Holy Scripture) 32 Books In 1 Volume., Kindle Locations 117076-117084.

[3] Grudem, Wayne A.. Systematic Theology, 699.

[1] James Allan Francis. Library of Congress and Congressional Research Service, Respectfully Quoted, # 916.

[2] The concept for this paragraph was taken from MacLaren’s commentary. MacLaren, MacLaren’s Commentary (Expositions Of Holy Scripture) 32 Books In 1 Volume., Kindle Locations 117076-117084.

[3] Grudem, Wayne A.. Systematic Theology, 699.

[2] The concept for this paragraph was taken from MacLaren’s commentary. MacLaren, MacLaren’s Commentary (Expositions Of Holy Scripture) 32 Books In 1 Volume., Kindle Locations 117076-117084.

[4] Grudem, Wayne A.. Systematic Theology, 701.

[3] Grudem, Wayne A.. Systematic Theology, 699.

[5] Cross Reference. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

[3] Grudem, Wayne A.. Systematic Theology, 699.

[4] Grudem, Wayne A.. Systematic Theology, 701.

[5] Cross Reference. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

[6] Grudem, Systematic Theology, 615.

[4] Grudem, Wayne A.. Systematic Theology, 701.

[5] Cross Reference. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

[6] Grudem, Systematic Theology, 615.

[5] Cross Reference. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

[7] Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure ( ESV). And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ ( ESV).

[6] Grudem, Systematic Theology, 615.

[7] Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure ( ESV). And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ ( ESV).

[6] Grudem, Systematic Theology, 615.

[8] A. Boyd Luter, “Firstfruits,” ed. Barry et al., Lexham Bible Dictionary.

[7] Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure ( ESV). And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ ( ESV).

[8] A. Boyd Luter, “Firstfruits,” ed. Barry et al., Lexham Bible Dictionary.

[7] Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure ( ESV). And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ ( ESV).

[9] Elwell, Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, 258–59.

[8] A. Boyd Luter, “Firstfruits,” ed. Barry et al., Lexham Bible Dictionary.

[9] Elwell, Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, 258–59.

Christ's Majestic Work In the Resurrection

Introduction

Introduction

He empowers us to new life.

He empowers us to new life.

He guarantees our righteousness.

He guarantees our righteousness.

He motivates our righteous living.

He motivates our righteous living.

He ensures our resurrection.

He ensures our resurrection.

Conclusion

Conclusion