Archives For Risen Indeed Study

Risen Indeed, Part 8: The Validation of Jesus’ Claims and Teachings

May 18, 2012 — Leave a comment

jesus.nazareth.ministry

My faith has found a resting place,
Not in device or creed;
I trust the ever living One,
His wounds for me shall plead.

I need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.

- Eliza E. Hewitt, “My Faith Has Found a Resting Place”

Verification

How could Jesus verify the accuracy of his spiritual claims, such as the ability to forgive sins and his radical claims to deity? These claims are largely invisible realities that are difficult to verify or falsify. Knowing this, Jesus often proved his spiritual claims on the basis of unmistakable physical evidence (i.e., miracles).  Continue Reading…

In Studies , , ,
permalink

Risen Indeed, Part 7: The Benefits That Flow to All Believers

May 16, 2012 — Leave a comment

Behold him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless, Righteousness
The great unchangeable I AM
The King of glory and of grace

One with himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased by his blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God

- Charitie Lees Bancroft, “Before the Throne of God Above”

Introduction

As we noted in our previous post, it is incredible that a man who died should live again. Death is irreversible in our human experience. We cannot do a single thing to fix it. We have no tool or technology to restore life where death has planted its flag. A corpse doesn’t come with an undo button. But Jesus does. He is risen indeed.

Yet this good news of Christ’s resurrection becomes even better news when we realize that Jesus actually shares his new life with those who trust him. In other words, the objective reality of Christ’s resurrection becomes a subjective reality when we authentically believe into that resurrection (Romans 10:9-10). His victory becomes our victory. His story becomes our story. His life becomes our life. Continue Reading…

In Studies , , , , , , ,
permalink

Risen Indeed, Part 6: A Many-Splendored Theology

May 14, 2012 — Leave a comment

Crown him the Lord of life, who triumphed over the grave,
And rose victorious in the strife for those he came to save.
His glories now we sing, who died, and rose on high,
Who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.

- Matthew Bridges, “Crown Him with Many Crowns”

Introduction

It is often said that love is a many-splendored thing. The apostles might have said the same thing about Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.

Like a diamond whose facets reflect the brilliant colors of the spectrum of light, the reappearance of Christ from his tomb radiates a theological richness that illuminates every aspect of the created order. That’s why the apostles kept “turning” this diamond in their preaching and teaching. Its implications for life and eternity are numerous and profound.  Continue Reading…

In Studies , , , , , , , , ,
permalink

Risen Indeed, Part 5: Just As He Said

April 18, 2012 — 1 Comment

You lived, You died,
You said in three days You would rise
You did, You’re alive!
You rule, You reign,
You said You’re coming back again
I know You will
And all the earth will sing Your praises

- Paul Baloche, “All The Earth Will Sing Your Praises”

Introduction

That venerable theologian Yogi Berra once said, “It’s difficult to make predictions, especially about the future.” History has proved him right on numerous occasions. Here are some famous examples of failed predictions over the years:  Continue Reading…

In Studies , , , , , ,
permalink

Risen Indeed, Part 4: The Essential Condition (and Hope) of Christianity

April 11, 2012 — Leave a comment

There in the ground His body lay;
Light of the world by darkness slain.
Then bursting forth in glorious Day,
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine,
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

- Stuart Townend & Keith Getty

Introduction

There are not very many chapters in the Bible that can stand alone to give a complete articulation of a biblical doctrine, but 1 Corinthians 15 is one of the few that comes close. Believers often refer to this as “the resurrection chapter.” The label is well deserved.

The famous New Testament translator J. B. Phillips once called it the most important chapter in the whole Bible—which is no small compliment when there are chapters like Genesis 1, John 3, and Romans 8 in the canon from which to choose. But 1 Corinthians 15 has permanent relevance because death never goes away. In fact, Paul’s message here is essentially this: “Accept the resurrection or reject all hope.”  Continue Reading…

In Studies , , , , , , ,
permalink

Risen Indeed, Part 3: A Central and Dominant Theme in the Book of Acts

April 10, 2012 — Leave a comment

If the Lord had never risen,
We’d have nothing to believe.
But His promise can be trusted:
‘You will live, because I live.’
As we share the death of Adam,
So in Christ we live again;
Death has lost its sting and terror,
Christ the Lord has come to reign.

- Ni­co­lás Mar­tín­ez, “Christ Is Risen, Christ Is Living”

Introduction

We have seen that the resurrection of Jesus is both the literary and the dramatic highlight of each of the four gospels. This trend continues beyond the first four books of the New Testament. We observe in this post that the resurrection of Jesus is a central and dominant theme in the book of Acts. In fact, every apostolic sermon recorded in the book of Acts features the resurrection of Jesus as its centerpiece.  Continue Reading…

In Studies , , , , , ,
permalink

Risen Indeed, Part 2: The Dramatic Highlight of the Gospels

April 9, 2012 — 1 Comment

risen.04.empty.tomb

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

- Charles Wesley, “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”

Introduction

In our last post we noted that the resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the literary highlight of each of the four gospels. More than 28 of the 89 chapters in the gospels (32%) are devoted to the period of time between the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and his ascension back to the Father. Yet this period is less than 1% of Jesus’ entire 3½ years of public ministry.

Martin Kähler, a late 19th-century German New Testament scholar, stated that the four gospels are “passion narratives with extended introductions.” While perhaps somewhat overstated, this assessment does strike at the ultimate goal of Jesus’ earthly career. The Gospels are all about Jesus, and Jesus is all about his resurrection (and the much neglected ascension that followed).

In this post, we take the next step and observe that the resurrection of Jesus is the dramatic highlight of each of the four gospels. While the structure of the gospels highlights the resurrection, so does the storyline itself.  Continue Reading…

In Studies , , , , , ,
permalink

Risen Indeed, Part 1: The Literary Highlight of the Gospels

April 8, 2012 — 1 Comment

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Dying once he all doth save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

- Charles Wesley, “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”

A Good and Glorious Morning!

Christians around the world today are greeting one another antiphonally with the universal Easter declaration:

Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!

It is a triumphant statement of faith and hope, rooted in the historical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Given the fragmented state of the church, it is heartening to know that we still have one thing in common that we all agree on. The resurrection has to be that one thing because it is the very foundation of Christianity. Take away the resurrection, and Christianity collapses. Keep the resurrection, and Christianity has something of eternal value to offer the world.  Continue Reading…

In Studies , , , , ,
permalink