From the very beginnings of the early church the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ has been central to the Christian faith. In 1st Corinthians 15 the Apostle Paul reminds us that if the resurrection was not a reality, then our faith would be useless and we would still be in our sins. We know that the fact of the resurrection gives us victory and hope in this life, but a good question to ask ourselves is, "What is this victory and hope?" In his excellent theology book, Wayne Grudem, explains this victory and hope as four applications of the resurrection to our lives.[i]
1. Christ's Resurrection Insures Our Regeneration.
Regeneration is the theological term for the new birth, which refers to God's work of awakening our soul to him (born again: John 3). The apostle Peter tells us that "we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ form the dead ( 1Peter1:3). In Ephesians 2 we are told that we are raised with Christ and seated in the heavenly places. As we are joined with Christ in his death (He took our place), we are also joined with him in His resurrection. The power that God worked in the resurrection is at work in us this very day (Eph. 1:19-20, Phil. 3:10), and this power is working in our lives to make us more like Christ and to have victory over sin.
2. Christ's Resurrection Insures Our Justification
Romans 4:25 says, " He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." Wayne Grudem makes the point that Jesus' resurrection was "God's declaration of approval of Christ's work of redemption." Since the tomb is empty we can rest assure that our sins our forgiven.
3. Christ's Resurrection Insures That We Will Recieve Perfect Resurrection Bodies As Well.
1st Corinthians 15:20 says, " But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep." In this passage Paul employs an agricultural metaphor. Just as the first fruits are a indication of the harvest to come, Jesus' resurrection is an indication that we also will recieve resurrected bodies. "The fact that our bodies are 'imperishable (1st Corinthians 15:42)' means that they will not wear out or ever grow old or ever be subject to any sickness or disease (Grudem 831)."
4. Ethical Significance of the Resurrection
The reality that Jesus has risen from the dead and assured us of our justification, our victory over sin, and the hope of a future resurrection should motivate us to live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. We are children of God, therefore we should live like children of God. We have victory over sin, therefore we strive for holiness each day. We have an eternal hope, therefore we should live as those whose treasure is in heaven. And since we know that Christ has the victory over all enemies let us work diligently for the Lord, knowing that our labor is not in vain (1st Corinthians 15:58).
[i] Wayne Grudem is Research Professor of Theology and Biblical Studies at Phoenix Seminary. He is the author of Systematic Theology, which is an excellent theology for any Christian to have in his or her library. The sections Doctrinal Significance of the Resurrection and The Ethical Significance of the Resurrection (pp614-615) are the source of these points.
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