The Father Vindicated His Son Jesus Christ By Raising Him From The Dead By The Power Of The Spirit
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Sunday April 27, 2011
Special: The Father Vindicated His Son Jesus Christ By Raising Him From The Dead By The Power Of The Spirit
Please turn in your Bibles to 1 Timothy 3:14.
This morning we will conduct a special service pertaining to the resurrection of Jesus Christ since today Christians around the world bring into remembrance this historical event.
Today, we will note that the resurrection of Jesus Christ served to vindicate Him, which is taught by one of the six lines that appear in the Christ hymn that appears in 1 Timothy 3:16.
1 Timothy 3:14 I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; 15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. 16 By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. (NASU)
“By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness” emphasizes that the first century apostolic church asserted as fact the mystery of godliness, which is spelled out in the hymn defining specifically what the church asserted as fact.
It speaks of the fact that the entire Christian community in Ephesus is obligated to acknowledge or affirm the truth of this confession or first century apostolic affirmation by both their words and conduct.
“Great is the mystery of godliness” describes the revelation of Jesus Christ as superior in importance to the heathen religions including the worship of Artemis whose center was in Ephesus.
Christianity is based upon Jesus Christ the truth whereas the heathen religions of the world are based upon the lies of Satan’s cosmic system.
“Godliness” refers to the Christian way of life or the way of godly living in the sense that by the power of the Holy Spirit the Christian is conforming their thinking and conduct according to the Father’s will, which is revealed by the Holy Spirit in the Word of God.
“Mystery” refers to the gospel message which fully reveals God’s plan of salvation for both Jew and Gentiles by the Spirit through the apostles to the church, which was not fully known to the Old Testament prophets of Israel.
The content of this mystery is Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection for both Jew and Gentile.
“He who was revealed in the flesh” is used of the incarnation and subsequent earthly life of the Son of God, i.e. His First Advent.
“Seen by angels” is a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ being observed by angels at His resurrection, ascension and session, thus, they bore witness to His vindication.
“Proclaimed among the nations” refers to the Christian community led by the apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastor-teachers publicly proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ to the unsaved Jew and Gentiles.
“Believed on in the world” refers to heathen Gentiles making the non-meritorious decision to trust or place one’s absolute confidence in the merits of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and His substitutionary spiritual and physical deaths on the Cross and resurrection in order to receive the gift of eternal life.
“Taken up in glory” refers to the ascension of Jesus Christ, which is the vertical transfer of the glorified, resurrected human nature of Jesus Christ to the third heaven by means of the omnipotence of the Father.
“Was vindicated in the Spirit” refers to the omnipotence of the Holy Spirit raising Jesus of Nazareth from the dead on the third day in fulfillment of the Old Testament Messianic prophecies and according to the Father’s will.
This act “vindicated” Jesus of Nazareth in the sense that it demonstrated that His claims that He was the Son of God were true and that the accusations of His enemies were false and that His execution was a travesty of justice.
The resurrection vindicated Jesus of Nazareth’s claims that He was the Son of God and that faith in Him alone was the only way to receive eternal salvation and escape eternal condemnation.
Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary defines the verb “vindicate”: (1) to clear as from an accusation, imputation, suspicion or the like (2) to afford justification for; justify (3) to uphold or justify by argument or evidence (4) to assert, maintain or defend (a right, cause, etc).
Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary defines the word: (1) to set free: deliver (2) avenge, exonerate, absolve, confirm, substantiate.
If we paraphrase these definitions and apply them to our subject, we could say that the resurrection vindicated Jesus Christ in the sense that it cleared Him from the accusation that He was demon possessed and a false Messiah.
It exonerated and absolved Him of any wrongdoing that led to His crucifixion.
The resurrection upheld His claim and provided evidence that He was in fact the Son of God and the Messiah of Israel and Savior of the world.
It confirmed and substantiated this claim.
The resurrection vindicated His claims that He was the Messiah of Israel and the fulfillment of the Old Testament Messianic prophecies.
Romans 1:1 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord. (NASU)
Therefore, the Father vindicated His Son, Jesus Christ by raising Him from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit.
This vindication is mentioned in Acts 2:22-36, 3:11-15, 4:10-12, 10:34-43, Romans 1:4, 1 Corinthians 2:1-9, Ephesians 1:20-21, Philippians 2:5-11, Colossians 2:8-15, and 1 Peter 3:21-22.
Acts 2:22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. 24 But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. 25 For David says of Him, ‘I saw the Lord always in my presence; For He is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted; Moreover my flesh also will live in hope; 27 Because You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of gladness with Your presence.’ 29 Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. 32 This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. 34 For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, 35 Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’ 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” (NASU)