Resurrection – Part II

The previous article showed the resurrection of Jesus from the dead as proof of the deity of Jesus. His resurrection also serves as the basis of our hope beyond the grave, and proves the forgiveness of sins.

The resurrection also serves to prove the inspiration of the New Testament. Luke wrote,

Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed (Luke 1:1-4 NKJV).

Luke’s purpose in writing was that Theophilus might have "certainty" concerning the things written about Jesus. Luke's dealing with the apostles faith in the risen Christ shows them finding certainty based in empirical evidence. They talked with him, touched him, and ate with him. He opens Acts with these words,

The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:1-3 NKJV).

"Infallible proofs" comes from the Greek tekmeriois meaning "convincing, decisive proof" (Walter Bauer,A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, [Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1979],p 808).

These infallible proofs were what the apostles experienced when confronted with by the risen Christ over the forty-day period between the resurrection and ascension. Luke’s writings establish the certainty of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection as the truth behind the Christian message.

The resurrection also establishes the certainty of the coming judgment day. Paul declared on Mars Hill, "the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 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." (Acts 17:30,31). Paul wrote that the command to repent is for all people everywhere. The judgment day will see all that have lived stand before God on that day. The faithful Christian approaches that day with the assurance of salvation by the blood of Jesus. This is why the great commission must be taken seriously. We know all will stand before God. The standard of judgment is known -- the message of the New Testament. Jesus said, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." (John 12:48). The judgment will come, of that we are assured by the resurrection of Jesus. We are also assured that the only remedy for sin is the gospel of Jesus.

Denny