The Doctrine of the Resurrection

Today Christians throughout the world are joyfully celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. On this day the church memorializes an event that ensures the very existence of the church, both in this age in the age to come. Indeed, it confirms the future glory awaiting the church. In other words, Christ’s resurrection grants us hope. If Christ were not raised from the grave then, as the apostle Paul teaches us in a series of sustained invincible reductio ad absurdum declarations in which he proves the falsehood of the denial of the resurrection by showing the absurdity of its conclusions- if there is no resurrection of the dead, then “not even Christ has been raised”, 1 Cor 15:13. If Christ has not been raised, “our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.”, v. 14. If Christ has not been raised, “your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” and those who who have died in Christ have no hope of salvation, vv. 17-18. And so on. “But,” he hastens to robustly counterpose with infallible proofs from Scripture and history, “.. In fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” v. 20.

While it is true that many liberal theologians and other misinformed dismiss the uniqueness of the resurrection of Christ by claiming that such events frequently took place in the ancient world, we must note that such accounts generally applied to “.. Fertility gods who died in the fall and rose in the spring.” Those that died remained dead as they do in this age. (Tabletalk, August 1993, 47).

The doctrine of the resurrection is a uniquely biblical teaching. Now, it is correct that they are no specific statements concerning the resurrection of the dead prior to the time of the prophets. However, we need to note that Jesus already implied this teaching in Ex 3:6 in which the Lord God describes himself to Moses saying, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” In his discourse with the Sadducees who denied the resurrection, Jesus quotes this verse to show that Yahweh is the God of the living and not of the dead. In other words, Abraham Isaac and Jacob, who had long passed off the scene, were considered by him to be alive, that is, to be resurrected.

Also, the writer to the Hebrews indicates that even the patriarchs anticipated the resurrection of the dead for expected to dwell in a city whose reality extended beyond the physical Promised Land and further, Abraham offered up Isaac as a sacrifice considering that God was able to raise him from the dead, Heb 11:10, 13-16, 19.

Some Old Testament passages that speak of the resurrection more clearly. It is explicitly taught in Job’s unwavering confession of faith in a forthcoming mediator that would plead his case with God: “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, ..!” Job 19:25-27. The prophet Isaiah also records the doctrine of the resurrection in Judah’s triumphant song of victory: “Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. ..!” Isa 26:19. Also, it is specifically mentioned in Dan 12:2: “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology, 721).

Thus, the doctrine of the resurrection is an intrinsic biblical teaching. In it the Triune God gives hope to his people that the last enemy, death-a vicious intrusion into his creation resulting from the sin of Adam – will not have the final word in their lives. By his resurrection from the grave, Christ has killed death by taking away its sting and by rendering it incapable of separating God’s people from him. Death, while it still bears the character of divine judgment for sin, is a blessed portal through which God ushers his covenant people into his eternal presence.

“Christ is risen! Christ is risen, indeed!”