Three Powerful Facts the Resurrection Proves
Looking at the resurrection from a purely scientific or philosophical standpoint it may seem too impossible to be possible, too unbelievable to believe, and too incredible to be credible. Yet it is true. Jesus lives.
How can you explain the Apostles Paul or Peter, without the reality of the resurrection? There is no way such men would have been so moved to be saved and surrendered in their lives to sacrificial service of Jesus Christ apart from the resurrection. Jesus is risen. He is risen indeed!
Let’s consider three powerful and irrefutable facts the resurrection proves that are truly foundational to our faith.
The resurrection first proves that Jesus is the Son of God.
Romans 1:3-4: Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
The resurrection is irrefutable proof that He IS who He said He WAS: Jesus Christ the LORD.
Jesus is the very heart and center of the Gospel message. Who He is and what He did is the good news. Jesus declared in His earthly ministry to be the Son of God who was sent by His Father (John 8:36, Mark 14:61-62). The resurrection declares what He said to be true. He is fully man, the Son and descendant of David, born of His seed, and able to sit on His throne. He is also fully God, One with the Father, all-powerful, all-knowing, and everywhere present.
Interestingly, in our English text the phrase “Jesus Christ our Lord” comes first in these verses to emphasize who He is. In the Greek, for equally strong emphasis, this powerful phrase comes at the end of verse four so that it reads: “Declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.” This even more emphatically connects the Lordship of Christ with His resurrection.
The resurrection proves that Jesus is the Savior of Man.
1 Peter 1:3; Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
The resurrection is also irrefutable proof that He CAN do what He said He COULD! That is, He will save to the uttermost those who call in faith upon Him.
Our hope of salvation rests upon His resurrection. By the power of His resurrection, this verse assures all believers of personally receiving three spiritual blessings. First, we receive abundant mercy. Second, we receive new life as we are born again. As surely as He conquered death, so shall we. As surely as He rose again to live forevermore, so shall we. Third, we receive the blessing of a living hope.
We have a living hope, not a false hope or an empty hope. The resurrection is the ground of our living hope, and in Christ we are anchored to genuine history, assured in the present, and anticipating a joyful eternity with Jesus forever.
Finally, the resurrection proves that Jesus is the Sovereign King of the World.
Acts 17:31: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Finally, the resurrection is irrefutable proof that He WILL do what He said He WOULD: come again to judge and rule the world in righteousness.
In Acts 17, Paul stood in a forest of idols and gave the message of “Jesus and the resurrection” to a people steeped in the philosophies of the world (Acts 17:18b). In the very heart of elite intellectualism and culture of his day and with a broken heart, Paul made his case for Christ with keen understanding of his audience’s preconceived ideas.
He told them that God was creator: “God that made the world and all things” (Acts 17:24a). Then he told them this powerful God was personal: “He be not far from everyone of us: for in Him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28a). Paul concludes by proclaiming that Jesus is the sovereign judge and the resurrection provides the proof of this.
God had not brought destruction upon their culture, but demonstrated overwhelming patience with them. Paul told them that it was now the time to repent. God has appointed a day and ordained a Man and has assured all men by the resurrection who this man will be, Jesus Christ.
The resurrection is the proof that Jesus will come again, judge us and rule us all. This verse no doubt speaks of a day of judgment, but also speaks of the Kingdom of Jesus, that day He will rule the world in righteousness.
John 5:22; For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
How will you respond to the resurrection of Christ? Will you mock it as a myth? Will you procrastinate your decision for Christ for a more convenient day that may never come? Or will you believe right now? The result of Paul’s message seems humble enough but significant people believed, among them was Dionysius, a ruler in the Areopagus, Damaris, and others among them. Tradition tells us that Dionysius became the first pastor of the Athenian church (Acts 17:32-34).
As the resurrection proves that Jesus Christ our Lord is the Son of God, the Savior of Man, and the Sovereign of the world, let His resurrection move you to salvation, surrender, and service to Him, as it so moved the Apostles and many believers since the first century!
Matt Recker is the pastor of Heritage Baptist Church in New York City.
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash