Defending The Resurrection Of Jesus From The Dead And Noting Its Importance For Today

 

Matthew 28:6 "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. 7 Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”

Note to reader: I have included links to videos in this post which readers can click on and view to visualize what I have written in the post below.

Introduction:

    

      No other event or Christian doctrine is more proclaimed, more attacked, and more crucial than Christ's resurrection. We will first note four key areas of consideration when talking about the event of the empty tomb. Afterwards, we will then consider how three top "Christian apologists" or "defenders of the faith" handle the resurrection of Jesus in their communication of the Christian faith. Then lastly, we will consider why the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus are crucial to connecting the Christian faith today to what followed from the empty tomb during that first Easter morning.

Four key areas involved in discussing the resurrection of Jesus from the dead

1. Jesus' burial

2. The empty tomb

3. Jesus' post resurrection appearances to His followers

4. Changed lives of Jesus' followers

       Now why are the four above categories important? Whether one is a committed Christian or a skeptic, the four above areas are those which the majority New Testament scholars (whether conservative, non-conservative or skeptical alike) agree as those events which require explanation. It is one thing to find a majority consensus on "what happened". Yet, it is quite another matter when exploring the explanations for what happened. Readers may check out two videos which lay out the events associated with the empty tomb here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qhQRMhUK1o&t=26s and the explanations given for the empty tomb here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SbJ4p6WiZE Both videos together provide a compelling example of how one could present the historical argument for Jesus' resurrection. 

Explanations of what brought about the empty tomb, and the only one which show itself superior to all the others.

       There are only two sorts of explanations for the empty tomb on that first Easter. First, there are naturalistic explanations (examples being: Jesus fainted and was revived in the tomb; Jesus' body was stolen; a look-alike was placed on the cross; the disciples hallucinated; the location of the tomb was mis-identified). Then the second sort of explanations is the supernatural explanation (God raised Jesus from the dead). When anyone puts forth an explanation, the way to test each of these is to see which one explains the four facts above and which one outperforms the rival explanations. I won't go any further but to say the above summary is typical of how the event of Jesus' resurrection is approached as a historical event. 

What top Christian apologists or defenders of the Christian faith say about Jesus' resurrection from the dead

       Apologetics is that branch of Christian doctrine which expresses why a Christian believes what they believe and defends the Christian faith against common objections. Three top Christian Apologists today list the above four areas in their short list of what lies at the core of the Biblical narrative of Jesus' resurrection from the dead.  I want the reader to note the last element in each of their listings, since the importance of Jesus' post-resurrected appearances will be discussed toward the end of this post.

       First, Josh McDowell in his book: "Evidence that Demands a Verdict" lists the following elements of what he calls "the resurrection scene":1

1. Jesus was dead

2. The tomb

3. The burial

4. The stone

5. The seal

6. The guard

7. The disciples

8. The post-resurrection appearances 

        The second Christian apologist, Liberty University Professor Gary Habermas, lists out a very similar short list in the argument he gives for the resurrection that he calls the "minimal facts argument":2

1. The burial

2. The empty tomb

3. Post resurrection appearances

4. Changed lives (especially of the Apostle Paul).

       Dr. Habermas' argument leans heavily on Paul's statements in 1 Corinthians 15:1-10, noting that the material represents early information that takes the reader back to within a year after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.  

       The third Christian Apologist who argues for the historicity and reliability of the resurrection accounts of Jesus Christ is Dr. William Lane Craig, a world renowned expert and debater who frequently engages with formidable opponents of the Christian faith.  In his presentations, I have heard Dr. Craig list in a similar fashion the following essential elements to the account of Jesus' resurrection from the dead:

1. The burial

2. The empty tomb

3. The post resurrection appearances

4. The changed lives of the disciples

5. The conversion of the Apostle Paul

The one area among these elements that merits further focus and explanation: Jesus' post-resurrection appearances to various people.

         The particular matter of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances, and how to explain the dramatic change in the disciples' lives will be reserved for the end of this post. For now, the reader should know that, in the last 30 years, academic scholarship has shown increasing interest in testing explanations for what took place on that first Easter morning. 

       For any Christian, the explanation or hypothesis: "God raised Jesus from the dead", not only represents the Biblical position but also has shown itself the most able to explain the four areas above and to consistently outperform its naturalistic rivals.  Exploring how the post resurrected Jesus radically changed the lives of his disciples in the wake of His resurrection, as well as how He is still changing lives today lends immense credibility to the truth of the resurrection narratives. 

What we observe in the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus

         Whenever we consider the four Gospel records, the Book of Acts and 1 Corinthians 15, we find a dozen episodes featuring Christ's post- resurrection appearances.  Furthermore, we find three common themes among them all:

1. Desperate condition of the people before His appearances.

2. Direct encounter with the Risen Christ during the appearances.

3. Dramatic change that resulted from the appearances.

        Eight individuals or groups stand out in these post-resurrection appearance narratives, what we could call "post-resurrection profiles". 

1. Mary Magdalene

2. Peter

3. Emmaus Road Disciples

4. Thomas

5. The Disciples in general

6. Group of 500 people

7. James, the half brother of Jesus 

8. Paul

        In scanning over these eight people or groups, we discover that in each case, their lives before, during and after each post-resurrection appearance leads to the conclusion that Christ indeed not only raised from the dead, but is alive and operating among His people. Such post-resurrection power is the basis for the salvation and Christian growth of every Christian living today.

Closing thought

        The importance of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances cannot be over-estimated.  Not only is such a truth a vital component in communicating and defending the truth of Jesus' resurrection from the dead, but also is vital in explaining how Jesus is able to change lives today. In closing, this is why we come across such statements as 1 Peter 1:3. 

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." 

      May we think on such truths and live our lives for the living, risen and exalted Jesus Christ!

Endnotes:

1. Josh McDowell. Evidence that Demands a Verdict - Volume 1. Here's Life Publishers. Page 189.

2. Dr. Habermas' minimal facts presentation can be found at the following link at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay_Db4RwZ_M

Salvation Paid In Full - Why "Good Friday" Is So Good

 

Introduction

       Today is what Christians the world-over refer to as "Good Friday". Why the adjective "Good"? The Son of God incarnate, Jesus Christ, who perfectly, flawlessly, lived the only sinless human life before men, offered Himself up to death on a merciless cross. That act was at once a depiction of human hatred and Divine love (see Acts 2:23; Romans 5:8). 

    What made Jesus' death on the cross good on the Friday He died was what it achieved. Jesus uttered 56 words in the six hours he hung on the cross. 56 words, stretched over seven sayings, emphasized His intent, His love, and His achievement of redemption. His accomplishment signalled the "good" of Good Friday. His forthcoming resurrection proved that what He did was accepted by the Father. That's the good news of the Gospel. 

     At the church where I pastor, we annually celebrate Good Friday by having what is called "The Seven Sayings of Jesus from the Cross" service. The words that Jesus spoke during His crucificxion are what I alluded to above, and which are the focus of the service we'll have at the church this evening. Let me draw your attention to one of those statements expressed by our Lord in the final hours before He died on the cross.

Salvation "paid in full"

    

    One of the final words Jesus would express before breathing His last is recorded by John the Apostle in John 19:30 -

Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. 

       In the underlying Greek text of this passage, the words, “It is finished” are one word - "τετέλεσται" ("te-tell-es-tie"). Moulton and Milligan’s Greek Lexicon (i.e dictionary), page 630, cites examples from ancient receipts where this word was used to express “payment in full”. I'm sure most readers have had that thrilling experience of making a final payment on something. To see a "zero" balance at the bottom of the bill signals you're no longer underthreat of penalty for late payments, nor the weight of debt owed. The bill is satisfied. 

    Better yet, for perhaps fewer persons who have had someone pay the balance of a long-standing debt, what emotions come to the surface when you realize that someone else satisfied a debt you had accrued? Gratitude? Humility? Wondering why? That's all included in this one little word in the Greek that we translate into the phrase "it is finished". 

    The verb "τετέλεσται" ("te-tell-es-tie") is in what we call the "perfect tense", which means that a particular act, having been done in the past, has abiding consequences into the present. Quite literally, what is intended in the phrase "it is finished" is "it has been finished, and is still finished, never to be repeated". What Jesus said from the cross over 2,000 years ago has ripple effects that changes the life of anyone who receives all He has done and is by faith (Ephesians 1:7). So, what exactly was He claiming to have “paid in full”? 

The cross and the empty tomb demonstrate that the benefits of salvation were paid in full

    The Four Gospels tell us about the events of cross and empty tomb. The Book of Acts contains the preaching of the cross and empty tomb. It is in the New Testament letters and Revelation that we find the meaning of the cross and empty tomb. What follows is a sample of all the benefits of salvation “paid in full” on the cross. As you read each verse below, note the underlined words.

1. Freedom from condemnation. 

Galatians 3:13 "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”

2. Forgiveness of sins. 

Ephesians 1:7 "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace."

3. Full pardon. 

Colossians 2:14 "having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross."

4. Flourishing spiritual life. 

Titus 2:11-12 "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age."

5. Final defeat of Satan. 

Hebrews 2:14 "Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil."

6. Freedom to live for God. 

1 Peter 2:24 "and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed."

7. Forever adoption. 

Revelation 5:9 “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation."

    Every benefit can only become reality in someone's life when they receive what Jesus accomplished by faith. Apart from faith, the debt of sin and judgment is owed (see Romans 6:23).

Closing thoughts for this Good Friday

    When Jesus said those words, all of these, and more, were “paid in full”! For all who receive Him by faith apart from good works, the debt is paid in full. Reflect on what Jesus has done. I close with words from a dear old Hymn "Jesus paid it all" - "Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow". 

Post #39 The Doctrine of God - Bridging How To Discuss God As One God To His Triune Identity

Introduction:

    In the last post I gave readers links to all 37 posts that detailed God's being and attributes here http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2024/03/post-38-doctrine-of-god-gods-glory-in.html. The point of the last post was to bring together this series for readers to grasp the "big-picture" of what we mean when we study theology proper or the doctrine of God in regards to His being and attributes. In my very first post of this series I noted how there are five ways to begin one's study of theology proper here http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/07/post-1-doctrine-of-god-map-to-explore.html. The series up until this point has focused on the first major area of the doctrine of God, namely the oneness of God in His being. 

    In any work of systematic theology, we constantly bump up against that perfection of God which is identified as God's "incomprehensibility". This means God is by no means comprehensively exhausted or mastered by the human intellect. We can truly know God because of Divine revelation (Job 42:1-5; Philippians 3:7-10), yet we can never comprehend Him. This is proved by such Biblical phrases as God "dwelling in unapproachable light, which no man has seen nor can see" (1 Timothy 6;16). 

    As we push on ahead, I want to use all the prior posts as our launching point for the next leg of our study of the doctrine of God - the doctrine of the Trinity. Much like we did in the very first post, where we enumerated various starting points for studying the doctrine of God as a whole, I want to lay out ways we may begin to bridge our conversation and study between God's Divine nature (also called His "Godhead", the subject of the last 38 posts in this series) to that of His Triune identity.

1. The glory of God as a bridge between discussion of the Divine nature and the Trinity. 

    I hinted at this in the last post and will continue to draw on this throughout the remaining posts. Scripture certainly points us in this direction. 

    For example, Psalm 19:1 tells us how "the heavens declare the glory of God", with "glory of God" gesturing toward contemplation of God in all that He is as revealed through the general revelation of creation. We then see God's glory as a theme in a key Trinitarian passage, reminding us in Hebrews 1:3 of how the Son is "the radiance of God's glory, and the exact representation of His being". The term "God" in Hebrews 1:3 refers to the Person of the Father, of whom the Son discloses in His effulgence as the Divine Son. God's glory bridges any discussion of the Divine Godhead to the Persons in the Godhead. 

2. The Old Testament's preparation for the full revelation of the Trinity in the New Testament. 

    Not only does God's glory help us bridge between discussion of God's oneness of being and Triune identity, but also the Old Testament revelation of God. Genesis 1 reveals what we could call the "twin pillars" of any Biblical doctrine of God - God's oneness of being and plurality of personhood. 

    Genesis 1:1 squarely tells us that God created the heavens and the earth. The Hebrew text utilizes a singular masculine verb in the third person to tell us of a singular God verbalizing everything into existence. Yet, the subject of the sentence, "God", is the Hebrew name for God "Elohim", which is a plural masculine noun. We see this same sort of phenomenon in Genesis 1:26, with the third masculine singular verb for "make" in reference to the making of man as male and female. Yet, the subject of that verb in the sentence is the Hebrew name of God "Elohim". 

    Furthermore, Genesis 1:26 also includes pronoun "our" in reference to the image He would stamp into the moral and spiritual make-up of the man and woman. God is no doubt a singular entity, Creator of all things. At the same time, this one God is a plural personality. 

    Throughout the Old Testament revelation we see references hinting at the personages in the Godhead. For instance, we see "The Spirit" (Genesis 1:2) and "The Son" in Psalm 110:4 and Proverbs 30:4. 

    The Old Testament doesn't get to the level of detail we find in the New Testament revelation to how it ties together the oneness of God with the plurality of personality. Nonetheless, The Old Testament sets up for what would be that eventual bringing together of the complete picture of "One God in Three Persons" observed in the New Testament.  

3. The mutual indwelling of Father, Son, and Spirit as One God by nature.  

     Jesus' teaching on the doctrine of God is a quantum leap forward in the progressive revelation of Scripture in bridging God's oneness of nature and plurality of personality. As only Jesus could do, He utilizes the language of what theologians call "mutual indwelling", which is to say the "Father is in me and I in the Father" type of expressions. For instance, we read Jesus' words in John 14:10-11

"Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves."

    What Jesus taught in John 13-17 about Himself, the Father, and Holy Spirit being One in unity and distinct in identity moves our understanding forward in formulating a Biblical doctrine of God that affirms a oneness in being and three in identity.  

Closing thoughts for today

    As I have read various theologians and studied God's Word over the years, it appears there are at least three ways of bridging our discussion of God's oneness of being to His Triune identity. Such bridging is comprised of three conceptual truths.

    First, God's glory, revealing the inner reality of His nature, attributes, and relationships between the Father, Son, and Spirit. Secondly, grasping how the Old Testament introduces to the main points of the doctrine of the Trinity, followed by how the New Testament draws those points together into a coherent picture of the Triune God. Then thirdly, studying the words of Jesus as He taught the doctrine of God, especially in His final teaching before His crucifixion in John 13-17. The posts that will follow will attempt to map out the main contours of the Biblical doctrine of the Trinity, and how that brings a complete picture of our overall understanding of God in His oneness of being and threeness of identity. 

More next time....

Post #38 The Doctrine of God - God's Glory In His Being And Attributes: Links To All Previous Posts In Our Study Of The Doctrine Of God

Introduction:

    For the last 37 posts I've endeavored to give readers an introduction to the doctrine of God or theology proper. The links to the past 37 posts, along with topical headings, are given now for the reader to click upon who wants to review posts related to the doctrine of God in His existence, being, and attributes. The latter part of today's post will then detail the glory of God and how His glory ties together our study of God in His being, attributes, Triune identity, and actions in creation, providence, and redemption.

Posts #1-#7 God's existence, nature, and revelation of Himself.

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/07/post-1-doctrine-of-god-map-to-explore.html

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/08/post-2-doctrine-of-god-gods-existence.html

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/08/post-3-doctrine-of-god-how-names-of-god.html

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/08/post-4-doctrine-of-god-mans-inner.html

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/08/post-5-doctrine-of-god-role-of.html

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/08/post-6-doctrine-of-god-necessity-for.html

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/08/post-7-doctrine-of-god-by-nature-god.html

Posts #8-#37 God's nature in His attributes.

Introduction to the attributes 

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/08/post-8-doctrine-of-god-introduction-to.html

Divine Aseity (God's self-existence)

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/08/post-9-doctrine-of-god-gods-attribute.html

Divine immutability or unchangeableness 

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/08/post-10-doctrine-of-god-gods-attribute.html

Divine eternity

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/08/post-11-doctrine-of-god-attribute-of.html

Divine omniscience

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/09/post-12-doctrine-of-god-gods-attribute.html

Divine spirituality (God's non-physicality, immateriality)

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/09/post-13-doctrine-of-god-p1-gods.html

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/09/post-14-doctrine-of-god-p2-gods.html

Divine truthfulness

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/09/post-15-doctrine-of-god-gods-attribute.html

Divine invisibility (God's unseeableness) 

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/09/post-16-doctrine-of-god-gods.html

Divine Wisdom

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/09/post-17-doctrine-of-god-p1-reflections.html

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/10/post-18-doctrine-of-god-p2-gods.html

Divine attribute of peace

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/10/post-19-doctrine-of-god-gods-attribute.html

Divine Wrath

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/10/post-20-doctrine-of-god-attribute-of.html

Divine Love

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/10/post-21-doctrine-of-god-p1-attribute-of.html

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/11/post-22-doctrine-of-god-p2-attribute-of.html

Divine attribute of perfection

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/11/post-23-doctrine-of-god-p1-gods.html

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/11/post-24-doctrine-of-god-p2-attribute-of.html

Divine omnipotence

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/12/post-25-doctrine-of-god-gods-attribute.html

Divine Mercy

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/12/post-26-doctrine-of-god-p1-gods.html

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/12/post-27-doctrine-of-god-p2-gods.html

Divine impassibility (God's constant emotional life)

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/12/post-28-doctrine-of-god-gods-constant.html

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2023/12/post-29-doctrine-of-god-p2-introduction.html

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2024/01/post-30-doctrine-of-god-p3-divine.html

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2024/01/post-31-doctrine-of-god-p4-divine.html

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2024/01/post-32-doctrine-of-god-p5-divine.html

Divine omnipresence and immensity

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2024/01/post-33-doctrine-of-god-p1-divine.html

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2024/02/post-34-doctrine-of-god-p2-divine.html

Divine Simplicity (God has no parts, He is all that He is, He is one God undivided, and all that is in God is God, thus we have His undivided attention).

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2024/02/post-35-doctrine-of-god-introduction-to.html

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2024/02/post-36-doctrine-of-god-gods-divine.html

http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2024/02/post-37-doctrine-of-god-praying-through.html

    In our study, we've looked at "what God is" by nature and "how he is" in the attributes that fully express His nature. 

God's glory: what it is and how His glory ties together everything

    Jonathan Edwards, the great Puritan writer and preacher of the 17th century, wrote an essay entitled "The end for which God created the world". The essay represents one of the most comprehensive discussions anywhere on the subject of the God's glory. Edwards gives the following definition of God's glory,

"The thing signified by that name, the glory of God, when spoken of as the supreme and ultimate end of all God’s works, is the emanation and true external expression of God’s internal glory and fullness."

    In this series so far, we've hardly touched what I feel to be "the hem of the garment" of God's glory. When I survey the various Hebrew words translated "glory" in the Old Testament, as well as the various Greek words rendered by the same word in the New Testament, such meanings as "weight" and "honor" and "brightness" and "effulgence" and "radiance" come to mind. 

    In this first part of our overall study, we've surveyed but a portion of the major attributes of God. We've explored God's existence, being, and attributes. God's glory of His otherwise invisible Divine essence is manifested gloriously in His perfections. This survey of the Divine essence and attributes is but the first part of our overall study, and but the beginning of our gaze at the glory of God. 

    When we consider God's glory, we do indeed understand it as He manifests His glory by way of His perfections. Moses requests God to show him His glory in Exodus 33:18-23

"Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” 19 And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” 20 But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” 21 Then the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; 22 and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”

It is then in Exodus 34:6-7 that God sets forth His glory, expressing His attributes, before Moses

"The Lord descended in the cloud and stood there with him as he called upon the name of the Lord. 6 Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; 7 who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”

    Paul reminds us of God's glory in 1 Timothy 6:16 "who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen"

    God's glory in His grace enables us by faith to apprehend Him who cannot be comprehended by the finite mind. This is why we have the mediation of the Second Person of the Trinity, the incarnate God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ. We see God's glory in His attributes, and we also see His glory in the Persons of the Trinity. 

    The doctrine of God covers not only God as He is in His existence, being, and attributes, but also who He is in the three members of the Godhead. 

    God's glory manifests through His acts in creation, providence, miracles, the angels, and even the unwilling participation of Satan and the angels. We see God's glory in His ways of salvation, with all that is entailed from His decrees in eternity past to final judgment and glorification of sinners and saints in eternity future. 

Closing thoughts

    Truly, God's glory ties together theology proper and all other branches of theological inquiry. In forthcoming posts, I intend to continue this series by exploring God's glory in the Trinity. The Trinity answers for us "Who God is". Soli deo gloria (to God be the glory!)