The Power of His Resurrection

Truth -- and consequence. by Paul Heavilin

The power of Christ's resurrection! Paul, a biblical writer wrote: "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death" (Philippians 3:10).

Each of these four ideas is worthy of an exhaustive article, but let's think particularly on the power of Christ's resurrection.

Power and fact

To understand this phrase, we must distinguish between the "power" and "fact" of the Resurrection. In every event, we have to consider the fact (what occurred) and then its consequences, whether actual or possible. The consequences -- not the fact itself -- are the "power" of Christ's resurrection.

We know the fact of an event when we have examined the proofs showing it really took place, when we know how it has been described, and when we have mastered its scene, its mechanisms, its dimensions.

But we know the power of an occurrence when we can trace what its effects have been, or what they might be, on the world at large, on others, or on ourselves. It is easier to understand the fact than it is to comprehend its possible consequences. It is easier to dig out the story of what actually happened than it is to understand its practical meaning, its power.

When Paul uttered his prayer that he may know the power of Christ's resurrection, he implied that he already knew the facts of it. He wrote, "He [the risen Christ] appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living . . ." (1 Corinthians 15:6). Paul himself had received a personal visit from the risen Lord. He pointed out that there were at least 500 people living at the time of his writing whom anyone could interview to ascertain the truth of the risen Christ. He is risen! That is the fact!

Harmonious

We too can be certain of the facts. The written record tells the story in several places. And in each account the story comes out the same: He is risen! We also have the testimony of the empty tomb. Despite numerous attempts to prove that Jesus' resurrection was a hoax, history has been unable to produce His body. When the evidence is carefully weighed, the tomb always comes up empty. So, knowing and believing that Jesus is risen, let us try to fathom some of the power that Paul was praying to know. Here are five things that Christ's resurrection guarantees us.

Complete truth

First, the Resurrection testifies to the truthfulness of all of Christ's teachings. Several times Christ taught that when He would go up to Jerusalem, He would be put to death and rise the third day. In fact, He made that the touchstone. Jesus said that His resurrection, after three days and three nights, would be the final sign He would give to prove who He was.

Because the sign of His resurrection was fulfilled, we can believe Jesus was the Messiah, and we can accept His other teachings. If Jesus' words concerning His resurrection were true, then His statement that His blood was to be shed to cleanse people from their sins is also was true. And when He said that He and His Father were one, that He came down from the Father, then that is true as well. When He said that whosoever would believe in Him would have everlasting life, that is true also.

On the other hand, when Jesus said that those who would not accept Him were condemned already, that also is true.

When Jesus fulfilled the sign, when He came out of the grave on the third day and was seen by many people over the next forty days, that attests to the truthfulness of all of His teachings. We cannot accept the resurrection of Christ and doubt the truthfulness of anything else He spoke.

The Son of God

During His lifetime, Christ claimed to be the Son of God. Many could not accept this, for He did not do what they thought the coming Messiah would do. His life seemed to be a failure, and the Son of God would not fail!

Jesus' sonship -- His divinity -- was hidden in His infirmities. To be a Son of God in weakness appeared a contradiction to many Jews, so something had to be done to prove who He really was.

Regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 1:3, 4).

Jesus had been wounded, bowed down with humanity's sins, cut off from the living. All His followers had longed for, all their hopes for a kingdom on earth, had been shattered. But then God, with one mighty act of power, resurrected His Son to life again and later took Him home on high to be with Him. This is the Son of God!

Reconciliation

Paul says in Romans 4:25, "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." We know that it was with His shed blood that Christ purchased our redemption, our reconciliation, our justification. Another writer, Peter, says this in 1 Peter 1:18, 19. So what is Paul saying?

Paul is simply pointing out that the Resurrection is the positive proof of the sufficiency of the atonement. It is the Father's signed testimony that He is satisfied with our Substitute, our Sacrifice, our High Priest. Nothing now stands between sinners and forgiveness. All that was needed has been accomplished since Jesus has come back from the dead.

Christ is the Reconciler! In His person we see the Father's righteous demands satisfied and peace proclaimed between heaven and earth. Pardon, making us right with God, reconciliation are all secured for us in and through our risen Savior. The Resurrection brought the message of reconciliation to humanity.

Power line

This brings us to the fourth guarantee that Jesus' resurrection brings to us. It appears in Hebrews 13:20, 21:

May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.

Did you see it? The same divine, creative energy that resurrected Christ from the dead is available for you and me, here and now, to help us please Him. The writer is praying for the church, that the same power God used to take Jesus from the grave might operate on a similar scale in their lives, that it might make them strong and pure -- to make them resurrected personalities, throbbing with new life!

This is what the gospel offers: the power that shattered death for Jesus and that helps us live now. That explains the excitement of the early Christians. These followers of Jesus went to men and women who had been morally defeated many times and said to them, "This is the victory. God has raised the Lord Jesus from the dead. That is the power at work. That power can help you to be victorious."

It worked! And that power is abroad in the world today. Why not for me? Why not for you?

Future resurrection

Finally, the resurrection of Christ guaranteed that we shall be resurrected as well. Christ taught this while He was with His followers, but His resurrection clinched it. The certainty of a future resurrection was brought out of speculation and hope into the plain light of day. Christ arose! Therefore, we shall arise. On the night He was betrayed, Christ told His followers that He would go prepare a place for them, that they might dwell with Him forever. That saying took on new meaning when they saw Him alive again. They could now understand it.

We too have hope beyond the grave. We too look forward to that day when this mortal shall put on immortality, when this corruptible shall put on incorruption. Then we shall be like Him! We too shall arise!

Overpowering news

Too often we have regarded Christ's resurrection as an epilogue to the gospel, an addendum to the scheme of salvation, a codicil to the divine last will and testament. In so considering it, we have falsified the whole emphasis of the Bible. There would have never been a New Testament at all, apart from the burning certainty of all its writers that He whose mighty deeds they were recording had conquered death and was alive forever. This was no mere appendix to the faith; this was and is the faith -- the overpowering, magnificent good news. Christ is risen!

We live in perilous times. Many fear that the powers of darkness may defeat the plans Christ died for. Many doubt. But the Resurrection means that God has already taken the measure of the evil forces at their very worst, that He has met the challenge precisely at that point, routed the darkness, and settled the issue.

Many are feeling strained and depressed, inadequate for the daily toils of life, worried by their failures. But the Resurrection means that a living, radiant Christ is waiting by their side, even on the weariest Emmaus road. We should, therefore, rejoice that Christ is risen!

Many are afraid of what we all face: death. It is a troubling prospect, an event we cannot see beyond. Is it the end of all life? Is there nothing beyond? Shall I ever again be able to see and hold my loved ones? The Resurrection assures me of a glory yonder, for Christ is risen!

Here is a gospel to scatter every darkness. Here is an evangel to exhilarate every broken spirit with strength and courage. Here is a message to take us to and through what terminates this earthly life. Jesus Christ is risen!

A version of this article appeared in a past issue of the Bible Advocate print magazine. For a free subscription by regular mail, contact us at BibleAdvocate@cog7.org.

Paul Heavilin pastors the Church of God (Seventh Day) in Muskegon, MI. Scripture quotations are from the New International Version.

© 1999 The General Conference of the Church of God (Seventh Day)