Part 12
For a good discussion of the Virgin birth see Machen's book "The Virgin Birth Of Christ."
4. The fact of the virgin birth should be only an introduction to the real person of Jesus Christ our Lord. He is not only the God-man, He is the unique man of all time. He came into being uniquely and is uniquely man.
THE CONCEPTION
According to the Encyclopedia Americana "conception" is: "in biology the beginning of pregnancy."8
That occasion upon which a new life is formed even if the abortion advocates deny the fact.
We might think of why the conception of Jesus is not discussed. For one, for a virgin to give birth in the day of the Bible, required a virgin conception. We today hear often of the artificial insemination, the surrogate mothers, the advances of technology that might well bring about a virgin giving birth without a miraculous intervention by God.
In recent years some have researched other cultures, religions and myths to suggest that there is a basis for the Christian "story" of a virgin birth in history. These accounts comment on the extraordinary conceptions of women via the gods. There are numerous accounts of the god's having relations with women that they loved or lusted after, yet the conception of Christ was completely different.
The basis of this conception is not sexual, lustful, or based on any human emotion, but rather the simple yet profound desire of God to become man for the purpose of saving mankind. The accounts of the god's picture them as acting as humans in their sexual activity and the offspring are never portrayed as being the offspring of a virgin conception and birth.
The purpose sets this conception apart from all accounts, stories and myths that might well be quoted.
MECHANICS OF THE CONCEPTION
1. Strong mentions a professor Loeb and an interesting concept. "Professor Loeb has found that the unfertilized egg of the sea-urchin may be made by
chemical treatment to produce thrifty young, and he thinks it probable that the same effect may be produced among the mammalia."9
I am not holding to this position, but there are some possibilities to it. God could know the secret formula, chemically, for the fertilization of the egg. The one problem that I might suggest is the need for DNA from the father to pass on traits, etc. Doctors are just beginning to understand the fertilization process in the human being. Indeed they admit much ignorance.
2. God may have created the sperm that was needed, or is some manner created the life that was within Mary. (The sperm or fertilization is all that would be required.) This gives problems of "creation" after creation has ceased. We as fundamentalists tend to try to keep away from that possibility. (For example, in where the soul and spirit of the offspring comes from.)
Evans submits that God did create in this instance: "By a creative act God broke through the chain of human generation and brought into the world a supernatural bring."10
Barnes suggests a similar position when he comments on Luke one: "this evidently means that the body of Jesus would be created by the direct power of God."11
3. You suggest a good possibility. This one we are really in the dark about. A line of research might tune into the Old Testament ideas of the Lord knowing and separating different ones while they were still in the womb.
I would imagine that if, and when we find out the details of all this that we will find that it was some perfectly natural process. The details of the process were worked out, I assume, with the plan of redemption before the foundations of the world.
That to me is quite comforting, to know that even those little details of redemption were set before the need of redemption was in existence.
It might be well in your thinking to see that the virgin birth not only includes the birth, but also the conception. We often talk only of the birth, while the more important thought may well be the conception.
Most of the writers do not mention the conception in any manner, only state and prove the virgin birth.
Ryrie ventures into the area only slightly when he states, "...the Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you (Luke 1:35). The statement emphasizes more the fact of divine generation of the Child, than the method."12
Pulpit commentary follows this line of thought as well: "But by the singular, powerful, invisible, immediate operation of the Holy Ghost, whereby a virgin was, beyond the law of nature, enabled to conceive...."13
WORD STUDY
Luke 1:35,
"And the angel answered and said unto her, the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."
Word One: "come upon thee" is Strong's 1904 — "eperkomae"
The term is used in:
Luke 1:35
"And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."
Luke 11:22
"But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils."
This seems to have the idea of attach, or attempt the taking of control at the very least, with the thought in the verse of controlling.
Luke 21:26
"Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken."
This seems to be something that is coming and its coming is sure.
Luke 21:35
"For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth."
Seems to be the coming things that WILL come to pass.
Acts 1:8
"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
This views the coming of the Holy Spirit to the believers on the day of Pentecost. He overwhelmed or filled them completely.
Acts 8:24
"Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me."
Something that will come to be a part of his life.
Acts 13:40
"Beware therefore, lest that come upon you,
which is spoken of in the prophets;"
Acts 14:19
"And there came thither [certain] Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew [him] out of the city, supposing he had been dead."
Again something that came from someplace to enter into the situation.
Ephesians 2:7
"That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his
grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."
The thought of something coming, again is seen.
James 5:1
"Go to now, [ye] rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon [you]."
Something coming again.
It would seem that the thought of this word is simply something that is coming upon, toward etc., a simple statement of the fact that the Holy Spirit would come upon her in some manner for the purpose of causing the conception of Jesus.
Word Two: "overshadowing" is Strong's 1982 — "episkiazo"
The term is used in:
Matthew 17:5
"While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him."
The covering of a cloud — the blocking of direct sunlight from them.
Mark 9:7
"And there was a cloud that overshadowed them and a voice came
out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son hear him."
Luke 1:35
"And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."
Luke 9:34
"While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them:
and they feared as they entered into the cloud."
Acts 5:15
"Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid [them] on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them."
In this text it is not sunlight that is being blocked by a cloud, but rather by a person coming between the beds and the sun.
Vine suggests: "to throw a shadow upon." The Interlinear Greek New Testament translates the word, "will overshadow."
So what can we draw from the words themselves about the conception?
a. The Holy Spirit was to come, and to overshadow Mary.
b. Not much else can be known. It is assumed that the overshadowing had something to do with the conception, but little else can be drawn from the Scriptures on this subject. The action of the verbs indicate that the Holy Spirit is doing all of the action as opposed to a mutual participation.
This would be very true in the thought of the normal procedure of conception. The woman's body naturally provides an egg each month to be presented for fertilization. There is no need for action on the part of Mary.
The idea of the child being born is structured in a way so that the birth is an action that is placed upon Mary from without. This could be construed as only the birth process ending as nature would have it end, yet in the context of the verse the conception is in view and the idea could well extend to the fact that the conception and birth were actions from without.
The Holy Spirit accomplished whatever was needed to fulfill the conception of Jesus.
The term conception originally, way back meant "beginning," thus we might state that the Holy Spirit moved upon Mary in such a way as to guarantee the beginning of the fetus, Jesus.
SOME FINAL OBSERVATIONS
a. There is nothing in the birth of Isaac nor John the Baptist that relate, for these were barren women made fertile by an act of God. Mary was not barren as far as the record shows, so we should assume that she was a fertile young woman.
b. Luke 1:31 cf. 1:24 show the coming conception of Mary was of the same nature as the conception of Elizabeth. Indeed the same Greek word is used in both cases.
This is Strong's 4815 — "sullambano." The word is of interest in that it is either translated: conceive; some form of "to take" as in taking someone, (Mat 26:55; Acts 1:16); or "help" as in helping someone, (Philippians 4:3 where Paul asks them to help women that had labored with him.); or to gather as in grapes (Matthew 7:16).
I think in looking through the references it may be that the term means the "coming together of." Coming together of grapes and the gatherer, coming together of the captor and the captive etc. In the idea of conception it would have the idea of coming together of the egg and the sperm.
It is used of lust conceiving in James 1:15 as well. Vine defines it as "to take together" which would be in line with our observations.
c. The term conceive demands more than a creative act. Mary was to conceive. She was involved in the process not just a warm oven to raise the fetus in.
d. In all that we have seen it should be evident that it was a normal, natural conception and birth with the exception of the presence of a human father for fertilization.
1. So how do we apply this one folks? He Was Man, Via Mary And God, Via The Holy Spirit. This is proof of all that we have stated of his humanity and deity, to say the least.
2. There is nothing terribly mysterious about the virgin birth — just something to be understood as we can understand it and accept by faith.
END NOTES
1. Robert C. Broderick, "The Catholic Encyclopedia," New York: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1976, p 285
2. James Orr, General Editor, "The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia," Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1939, p 3052
3. Catholic Encyclopedia, p 285
4. Louis Laravoire Morrow, Most Reverend, S.T.D., "My Catholic Faith," Kenosha, Wisconsin: My Mission House, 1955, p 61
5. Reprinted by permission: John F. Walvoord, Editor, "Lewis Sperry Chafer Systematic Theology," USA: Victor Books, 1988, p 221
6. Reprinted by permission: John F. Walvoord, Editor, "Lewis Sperry Chafer Systematic Theology," USA: Victor Books, 1988, pp 222-223
7. W. Graham Scroggie, D.D., "A Guide To The Gospels," Old Tappan, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Co., p 508
8. Encyclopedia Americana, New York: Americana Corp., 1961, Vol. 7, p 459
9. Augustus H. Strong, Systematic Theology, Valley Forge, PA: The Judson Press, 1907, p 676
10. Taken from: "The Great Doctrines Of The Bible"; Evans, William; Copyright 1974, Moody Bible Institute of Chicago; Moody Press. Used by permission. p 54
11. Albert Barnes, "Notes On The New Testament," Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, Luke John, p 8
12. Reprinted by permission: Ryrie, Charles C.; "Basic Theology"; Wheaton: Victor Books, 1986, p 242
13. H.D.M. Spence, Very Rev, "Pulpit Commentary," New York: Funk and Wagnalls, Vol. 37, p 8
HANDOUT
THE BIRTH OF CHRIST
THE ROMAN CHURCH BELIEVES
I. THE EVENT PROPHESIED
A. Born of a virgin: Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:22-23; Luke 1:35
B. Descended from David: Isaiah 11:1; Luke 1:32
C. Born in Bethlehem: Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:4-6
D. Birth was connected to slaughter of children: Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:16-18
E. Taken to Egypt and returned: Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:15
II. THE EVENT DETAILED
A. The Whole Thing Theory:
B. The Miracle Theory:
C. The Partial Theory:
III. THE EVENT ANNOUNCED
IV. THE EVENT PROCLAIMED
THE CONCEPTION
MECHANICS OF THE CONCEPTION
A NEW TESTAMENT AND HISTORICAL LOOK AT CHRIST
The following material is adapted from William R. Bright, editor, "Teacher's Manual For The Ten Basic Steps Toward Christian Maturity," San Bernardino, CA: Campus Crusade for Christ, International, 1965. I have presented it in an outline form with comments for your continued study and reference. I did not expand extensively, due to the coverage that Mark Bright had given to the subject.
"Introduction: The Incomparable Christ
"More than nineteen hundred years ago there was a Man born contrary to the laws of life. This Man lived in poverty and was reared in obscurity. He did not travel extensively. Only once, did He cross the boundary of the country in which He lived; that was during His exile in childhood. He possessed neither wealth nor influence. His relatives were inconspicuous and had neither training nor formal education. In infancy He startled a king; in childhood He puzzled doctors; in manhood He ruled the course of nature, walked upon the billows as if pavements, and hushed the sea to sleep. He healed the multitudes without medicine and made no charge for His service. He never wrote a book, yet all the libraries of the country could not hold the books that have been written about Him. He never wrote a song, and yet He has furnished the theme for more songs than all the songwriters combined. He never founded a college, but all the schools put together cannot boast of having as many students. He never marshaled an army, nor drafted a soldier, nor fired a gun; and yet no leader ever had more volunteers who have, under His orders, made more rebels stack arms and surrender without a shot fired. He never practiced medicine, and yet He has healed more broken hearts than all the doctors far and near. Every seventh day the wheels of commerce cease their turning and multitudes went their way to worshiping assemblies to pay homage and respect to Him. The names of the past proud statesmen of Greece and Rome have come and gone. The names of
the past scientists, philosophers, and theologians have come and gone, but the name of this Man abounds more and more. Through time has spread nineteen hundred years between the people of this generation and the scene of His crucifixion, yet He still lives. Herod could not destroy Him and the grave could not hold Him. He stands forth upon the highest pinnacle of heavenly glory, proclaimed of God, acknowledged by angels, adored by saints, and feared by devils, as the living, personal Christ, our Lord and Savior." Author Unknown
He is presented as coming in the Old Testament.
He is presented as coming in the flesh in the New Testament.
He is presented as the Lamb of God.
He is presented as the sin bearer.
He is presented as the Bread of Life.
He is presented as the Only Way to God.
He is presented as coming in the future for His people.
I. HE IS PRESENTED AS THE THEME OF SCRIPTURES IN THE
NEW TESTAMENT
A. He Was The Theme Of The Prophets: Acts 3:18-20, "And he shall send Jesus Christ, who before was preached unto you,"; Acts 10:43, Romans 1:1-3.
SOME PROPHECIES THAT WERE FULFILLED
Town Of Birth — Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1-6; John 7:42
Born Of A Virgin — Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23
Betrayal Money — Zechariah 11:12, Matthew 27:9-10
Scourged And Spit Upon — Isaiah 50:6, Matthew 26:67
Given Gall And Vinegar — Psalm 69:21, Matthew 27:34,48
Resurrection — Psalm 16:8-10, Acts 2:22-28;13:34-35
Coming Again To Judge — Psalm 50:3-5
Yet To Be Fulfilled — Ezekiel 21:27, Zechariah 14:1-7, Luke 1:31-33, Philippians 2:10-11
B. He was the theme of the apostles: Acts 5:41,42
"And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." Acts 9:20, Romans 1:1-3.
C. He was the theme preached to the Jew: We know that Paul always went to the Jews in the hope that he could lead some to Christ. Acts 17:14 mentions that Paul's ministry brought Jews to Christ. Acts 28:29-31, in the close of the book, Paul is still preaching Christ and working with all, including the Jews.
D. He was the theme of the message to the Samaritans: Acts 8:5,
"Then Philippians went down to the city of Samaria,
and preached Christ unto them."
E. He was the theme of the message to the Gentiles: Galatians 1:15,16,
"But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:"
F. He was the theme of the Gospel to be preached today: Mark 16:15,
"And he said unto them, go ye into all the world,
and preach the gospel to every creature."
Romans 1:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 speaks of the gospel as the death, burial and resurrection.
G. He is the only Gospel to be preached: Galatians 1:6-9 Paul tells the Galatians that if they are approached with any other Gospel then that person is to be accursed. 1 Corinthians 16:22
II. HE WAS PRESENTED AS GOD BY
THOSE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
A. Peter: Matthew 16:16 "...Christ, the Son of the living God."
B. Thomas: John 20:28 "...My Lord and my God."
C. John The Baptist: John 1:29 "...Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world."
D. Nathaniel: John 1:49 "...Thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel."
E. Martha: John 11:27 "...thou art the Christ, the Son of God...."
F. The Centurion: Matthew 27:54 When speaking at the death of Christ, "...Truly this was the Son of God."
III. HISTORIANS SPEAK OF THE CHRIST
OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
A. The Encyclopedia Britannica reportedly gives 20,000 words to Christ. No, I did not count them.
B. H.G. Wells in his two volume Outline Of History devoted ten pages to Christ. He was not a believer to my knowledge.
C. Tertullian AD 155-200 wrote the Apology to the Roman government and mentioned a letter from Pilate to Caesar: "Tiberius accordingly, in whose days the Christian name made its entry into the world, having himself received intelligence from Palestine of events which had clearly shown the truth of Christ's divinity, brought the matter before the senate, with his own decision in favor of Christ. The senate, because it had not given the approval itself, rejected his proposal. Caesar held to his opinion, threatening wrath against all the accusers of the Christians."
D. Napoleon: While discussing Christ with a man that did not believe in the deity of Christ was quoted as saying, "I know men, and I tell you that Jesus Christ is not a man. Superficial minds see a resemblance between Christ and the founders of empires and the gods of other religions. That resemblance does not exist. There is between Christianity and whatever other religions the distance of infinity...Everything in Christ astonishes me.
His spirit overawes me, and His will confounds me. Between Him and whoever else in the world, there is no possible term of comparison. He is truly a being by Himself. His ideas and sentiments, the truth which He announces, His manner of convincing are not explained either by human organization or by the nature of things...The nearer I approach, the more carefully I examine, everything is above me — everything remains grand, of a grandeur which overpowers. His religion is a revelation from an intelligence which certainly is not that of man...One can absolutely find nowhere, but in Him alone, the imitation or the example of His life...I search in vain in history to find the similar to Jesus Christ or anything which can approach the gospel. Neither history, nor humanity, nor the ages, nor nature offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary."
IV. CHRIST MADE SOME CLAIMS ABOUT HIMSELF
A. He Claimed To Be The Light: "...I am the Light of the world...." John 8:12. It seems that He told us that we were the light of the world as well (Matthew 5:14). Many speak of the fact that Christ is to live in and through us so others can see Him in us. This seems to be a good proof text.
B. He Claimed To Be The Good Shepherd: "I am the good Shepherd; the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." John 10:11
C. He Claimed To Preexist Abraham: "Before Abraham was, I am." John 8:58
D. He Claimed To The Master And Lord: "Ye call me Master and Lord; and ye say well; for so I am." John 13:13
E. He Claimed To Be The Vine: "I AM the true vine...." John 15:1
F. He Claimed To Fulfill The Law:
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I
am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." Matthew 517
G. He Claimed To Forgive Sins: Mark 2:1-12 in speaking of the paralytic man that was let down through the roof.
H. He Claimed To Fulfill Prophecy: He read Isaiah 61, the prophecy of the Messiah and stated, "...This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." Luke 4: 21 cf. Isaiah 61:1-2.
I. He Claimed To Be The Resurrection: "...I am am the resurrection, and the life...." John 11:25
J. He Claimed To Be The Way: "...I am the way, the truth, and the life...." John 14:6
V. CHRIST MADE SOME DEMANDS UPON HIS FOLLOWERS
A. We Are To Receive Him. Matthew 10:40, "...he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me."
B. We Are To Witness. Matthew 10:32,
"Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I
confess also before my Father, who is in heaven."
C. We Are To Love Him More Than Others. Matthew 10:37,
"He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me."
D. We Are To Follow Him. Matthew 9:38, "And he that taketh not his cross and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." Luke 9:23 also.
E. We Are To Learn Of Him. Matthew 11:29,
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and
lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls."
F. We Are To Forsake All And Follow Him. Luke 14:33,
"So likewise, whosoever he is of you that forsaketh
not all that he hath, cannot be my disciple."
So, why are Bible college graduates turning down $20,000 a year because it is not enough money? So, why are Bible college graduates turning down churches because they might have to work in secular work to make a living? And then there are those that are willing to be home missionaries to open churches in small communities. They go with little support, they
struggle to plant a church, and when things are going decently his home church informs him that they are going to pull his support if he remains in that town. They want him to come home to be a visitation pastor, or no more support. PRAISE GOD he was willing to work outside the church and told the home church he was called to where he was ministering, and not to their church to do visitation.
CONCLUSION
"The Influence of One Life."
"Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty, and then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never owned a home. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His feet inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place where He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself.
"While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth while He was dying, and that was His coat. When He was dead, He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.
"Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone, and today He is the centerpiece of the human race and the leader of the column of progress.
"I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that were ever built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together have not affected the life of man upon this earth as has that one solitary life."
Maybe you should add your own salvation testimony to this list of information. Christ just continues to change lives wherever He is preached.
HANDOUT
A NEW TESTAMENT AND HISTORICAL LOOK AT CHRIST
I. HE IS PRESENTED AS THE THEME OF SCRIPTURES IN THE NT
A. He was the theme of the prophets
B. He was the theme of the apostles
C. He was the theme preached to the Jew
D. He was the theme of the message to the Samaritans
E. He was the theme of the message to the Gentiles
F. He was the theme of the Gospel to be preached today
G. He is the only Gospel to be preached
II. HE WAS PRESENTED AS GOD BY THOSE IN THE NT
A. Peter:
B. Thomas:
C. John the Baptist:
D. Nathaniel:
E. Martha:
F. The Centurion:
III. HISTORIANS SPEAK OF THE CHRIST OF THE NT
IV. HE MADE SOME CLAIMS ABOUT HIMSELF
A. John 8:12
B. John 10:11
C. John 8:58
D. John 13:13
E. John 15:1
F. Matthew 5:17
G. Mark 2:1-12
H. Isaiah 61 cf. Luke 4: 21
I. John 11:25
J. John 14:6
V. HE MADE SOME DEMANDS UPON HIS FOLLOWERS
A. Matthew 10:40
B. Matthew 10:32
C. Matthew 10:37
D. Matthew 9:38; Luke 9:23
E. Matthew 11:29
F. Luke 14:33
THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST
THE DEATH OF CHRIST IS ONE OF
THE MAIN THEMES IN SCRIPTURE
1. It was prophesied: Indeed the truthfulness of God was on the line, due to the prophets message to Israel. Psalm 22:1-31, Psalm 69:1-21, Is 52:1253:12, Daniel 9:24-26.
2. The Old Testament sacrificial system was a picture of the death of Christ. The dieing of the Lamb of God. Hebrews 9 & 10 The study of the passover lamb and The Lamb of God is of great interest if you need something to do sometime for a sermon series.
3. Reportedly there are around one hundred and seventy-five references in the New Testament to the death of Christ.
4. The Old Testament prophets were interested in the salvation that it would bring. 1 Peter 1:10-11,
"Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you, Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ who was in them did signify, when he testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow."
How glad I am to be living in this age. You know how interested I was in the impeccability of Christ, so I think you can know how frustrated I would have been to be a prophet trying to figure out what I was saying and what it meant.
5. The angels also are interested in this salvation. 1 Peter 1:12, "...which things the angels desire to look into." They are interested in what God is doing with them. We in turn wonder at His dealings with them as well.
Are we ever satisfied with how God is dealing with us as an individual, or do we wonder why He blesses so and so, so much and me so little?
6. His death was the topic of discussion at the transfiguration. Luke 9:3031, "...spoke of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem." This verse relates to the fact that He laid down His life and they did not take it from Him. We will see this shortly. (John 10:17-18)
7. It is the topic of worship and a song in heaven. Revelation 5:8-12, "...thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood...."
HIS DEATH WAS NEEDED
1. It was according to the purpose of God. He planned that He would save mankind through the shed blood of His Son. He planned and He purposed the very death of His Son. Acts 2:23, 1 Peter 1:19-20, Revelation 13:8.
2. It was needed to fulfill prophecy. Not that the prophets said something, and He needed to follow through on their promises, but that He planned and purposed and then revealed this, before the fact, through the prophets. Matthew 26:52-54, Luke 24:25-27.
3. It was needed to provide salvation to man. God had foreordained that the Lamb of God would die, before the foundation of the world. Christ's death was a prerequisite to God saving mankind. Indeed, there is no other plan, no other act that would have fit the purpose of God. John 3:14-16, John 12:24.
4. It was to obey the will of the Father. If the Son were to follow the will of the Father He must die. This was the struggle of the garden. He did not want to carry the burden of man in His death, but He was submitting to the will of the Father. John 10:18 in the context of His dieing stated, "...This commandment have I received of my Father." Philippians 2:8
ABOUT HIS DEATH
1. It was a separation from God. Matthew 27:46, "...My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" The ramifications of this statement, and other questions that arise from it will have to be done in your own research, because we do not have time to cover it. Was this a separation of God from Christ's humanity or deity? Was this a separation as in a split in the trinity?
2. It was a separation of the spirit and the body. Matthew 27:50, "Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the spirit." When man dies the body goes to the earth for rot, and the spirit and soul go to be with the Lord for eternal joy.
We know it, we believe it, we preach it, yet when it comes down to ME dieing, I become uncomfortable. Yes, I am ready to meet the Lord. Yes, I know to die is gain. Yes, I know there will be no more pain. Yes, I know there will be joy. No, I am not comfortable with that last moment of transition. Haven't you heard? I dislike change. It is an experience I look forward to, yet I am hesitant to desire its closeness.
3. It was voluntary. John 10:17-18,
"Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."
He did not have to die. He could have walked through the crowds. He could have floated down off the cross. He could have done millions of things, yet He chose to lay His life down for you and me.
4. It was vicarious. 1 Peter 3:18,
"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,"
Vicarious means = "...sympathetic participation in the experience of another" Webster. He suffered in our place. We benefit because of His death. We probably couldn't count all of the benefits that His death brought to us. Luke 9:30-31
5. It was sacrificial. 1 Corinthians 5:7, "...For even Christ, our passover, is sacrificed for us." Without sacrifice there can be no improvement for mankind in its sin. The slaying of the animals for Adam and Eve's sin, benefited their error. The killing of animals under the law was specifically linked to covering the sin of man.
6. It was substitutionary. 1 Peter 2:24,
"Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed."
Christ, in His sacrifice died in our place. We should have died spiritually, but He took upon Himself that punishment that we might have spiritual life.
7. It provided redemption. Ephesians 1:7, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace," Matthew 20:28
8. It was propitiatory. [Webster defines propitiatory as, to appease or satisfy.] Romans 3:25,
"Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;"
Note should be taken that it was propitiation through faith in His blood. There is no propitiation by the blood alone. Man must mark his claim to salvation on his faith in the work of Christ on the cross. 1 John 4:10
THE RESULT OF HIS DEATH FOR BELIEVERS
1. He saved us from the curse of the law. Galatians 3:13
2. He secured for us forgiveness. Revelation 1:5, 1 John 1:9
3. He justified us. Romans 5:9
4. He saved us from wrath. Romans 5:9
5. He provided new life to us. (Regeneration) 2 Corinthians 5:17
6. By His death are we sanctified. Hebrews 10:10
7. He provided our adoption as children of God. Galatians 4:3-5
8. We are reconciled to God through His death. Romans 5:10
9. We can be cleansed by His blood. 1 John 1:7
10. We can have eternal life. John 3:14-16
THE RESULT OF HIS DEATH FOR NON-BELIEVERS
It provides salvation ready for the taking for all nonbelievers. John 1:29,
"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold
the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world."
1 Timothy 2:6, Hebrews 2:9
Every man woman and child that has ever been upon the earth has had this provision made for him or her. The problem is in the taking and receiving. Few benefit from His gracious provision.
THE RESULT OF HIS DEATH FOR SATAN AND THE DEMONS
1. It defeated them. John 12:31,
"Now is the judgment of this world; now shall the prince of this world be cast out." Colossians 214-15
2. It condemned them forever. Jude 6, "And the angels who kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day." Revelation 20:10 mentions the devil being cast into the lake of fire.
THE RESULT OF HIS DEATH FOR THE UNIVERSE
There was a reconciliation of all things in the universe. Colossians 1:19-20,
"For it pleased the Gather that in him should all fullness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to
reconcile all things unto himself by him, I say, whether they be
things in earth, or things in heaven." Romans 8:20-22
THE RESULT OF HIS DEATH FOR HIMSELF
1. There was a return of His glory. John 17:1,
"These words spoke Jesus, and lifted up his eyes too heaven,
and said, Gather, the hour is come; glorify thy Son,
that thy son also may glorify thee."
2. There was an exhaltation. Philippians 2:8-9,
"And, being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore, God also hath highly exhalted him, and
given him a name which is above every name,"
3. There was joy in it for Him. Hebrews 12:2,
"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
THE RESULT OF CHRIST'S DEATH FOR THE FATHER
1. There was a revealing of the love of God. Romans 5:8,
"But God cammendeth his love toward us in that,
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
2. There was a revealing of the wrath of God concerning sin. Matthew 27:46 speaks of the anguish of Christ on the cross just before His death.
3. There was final provision for Him to have a people for all of eternity.
THE RESULT OF CHRIST'S DEATH WAS FINAL
There was a final sacrifice. Hebrews 9:25-27 mentions
"...But now once, in the end of the ages, hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." vs 26 Hebrews 10:11-12
UNSCRIPTURAL IDEAS CONCERNING HIS DEATH
(Theissen has a detailed rebuttal of some of these theories if you are interested. P 315 ff.)
1. That it was the death of a Martyr. Theissen states of this view, "He was killed because He was faithful to His principles and to what He considered His duty, by a generation that did not agree with Him in these respects. We are to learn fidelity to truth and duty from Him. The only thing needed to save a man is to reform him. Christ's example is to teach man to repent of his sins and to reform."1
There is no basis for this thought. The Scripture is quite plain that He laid down His own life. The death of a martyr can't save anyone. If it could we could go preaching the gospel of Stephen or of the modern martyrs such as the gospel of Elliot.
2. That it was accidental death. Theissen states of this theory, "This view sees no significance in the death of Christ. He was a man and as such subject to death. His principles and methods did not appeal to the people of His day, and so they killed Him. It may have been unfortunate that so good a man was killed, but nevertheless His death had no meaning for anyone else."2 That he was crucified in error. He had the plan all worked out how He would be set free but the Jews called for Barabus instead.
Others might suggest that the mob just took over and got out of hand. The fact that He fortold His coming death several times before the fact would prove this thinking incorrect.
3. That His death was a good moral example. Again Theissen states, "It holds that Christ's death is the mere natural consequence of His taking human nature upon Himself, and that He merely suffered in and with the sins of His creatures. The sufferings and death of Christ are similar to those of the missionary who enters a leper colony for life, in order to save the lepers. The love of God manifested in the incarnation, the sufferings and death of Christ, are to soften human hearts and lead them to repentance."3 Who would die to set a moral example? No one in their right mind. Those that suggest this, feel that the sinner has only to look upon the Lord's death, and he will change. If this be the case then why did not the Jews that crucified Him change their ways?
4. That His death was to show God's displeasure for sin. If this be so then why not crucify just any plain old sinner and not the perfect God-man? Theissen calls this the Governmental theory.
5. That His death was the execution of a criminal. So why did Pilate find no fault in Him if he were a criminal.
6. That it was a phoney. In the past, and in recent years there have been some thought given to the fact that there wasn't really a death. That he was only drugged and after He was taken from the cross that He revived
and went away. A man by the name of Schonfield relates some of this thinking in his book The Passover Plot.
God gave His son and He will also give us many other blessings. Romans 8:32,
"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all,
how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"
There are some fairly lengthy studies on the results of His death in the area of redemption, propitiation etc. to be found in Ryrie's theology p 286-297 and in The Teachers manual for the Ten Steps series by Campus Crusade.
Walvoord has a lengthy section on the death as well. PP. 153-190
Walvoord has a paragraph that I would like to share.
"In the study of Christ in His sufferings and death, one is in a holy of holies, a mercy seat sprinkled with blood, to which only the Spirit-taught mind has access. In His death Christ supremely revealed the holiness and righteousness of God as well as the love of God which prompted the sacrifice. In a similar way the infinite wisdom of god is revealed as no human mind would ever have devised such a way of salvation, and only an infinite God would be willing to sacrifice His Son."4
I would like to close with some devotional thoughts from Spurgeon. In commenting on Matthew 27:14 where it states, "He answered him to never a word." he mentions:
"He had never been slow of speech when He could bless the sons of men, but He would not say a single word for Himself. 'Never man spake like this Man,' and never man was silent like Him. Was this singular silence the index of His perfect self-sacrifice? Did it show that He would not utter a word to stay the slaughter of His sacred person, which He had dedicated as an offering for us? Had He so entirely surrendered Himself that He would not interfere in His own behalf, even in the minutest degree, but be bound and slain an unstruggling, uncomplaining victim? Was this silence a type of
the defencelessness of sin? Nothing can be said in palliation ["to cover by excuse or apologies" Webster] or excuse of human guilt; and, therefore, He who bore its whole weight stood speechless before His judge."
He goes on to say, "Evidently our Lord, by His silence, furnished a remarkable fulfillment of prophecy. A long defence of Himself would have been contrary to Isaiah's prediction. 'He is led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.' By His quiet He conclusively proved Himself to be the true Lamb of God." 5
END NOTES
1. Henry C. Thiessen, "Lectures In Systematic Theology," Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1949, p 316
2. Thiessen, Lectures, p 315
3. Thiessen, Lectures, p 316
4. Taken from: "Jesus Christ Our Lord"; Walvoord, John F.; Copyright 1969, Moody Bible Institute of Chicago; Moody Press. Used by permission. p 153
5. Charles H. Spurgeon, "Morning And Evening," Mclean, VA: Macdonald Publishing, p 186
HANDOUT
THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST
THE DEATH OF CHRIST IS ONE OF THE MAIN THEMES IN
SCRIPTURE
1. Psalm 22:1-31, Psalm 69:1-21, Isaiah 52:12-53:12, Daniel 9:24-26
2. Hebrews 9 & 10
4. 1 Peter 1:10-11
5. 1 Peter 1:12
6. Luke 9:30-31
7. Revelation 5:8-12
HIS DEATH WAS NEEDED
1. Acts 2:23, 1 Peter 1:19-20, Revelation 13:8
2. Matthew 26:52-54, Luke 24:25-27
3. John 3:14-16, John 12:24
4. John 10:18; Philippians 2:8
ABOUT HIS DEATH
1. Matthew 27:46
2. Matthew 27:50
3. John 10:17-18
4. 1 Peter 3:18, Luke 9:30-31
5. 1 Corinthians 5:7
6. 1 Peter 2:24
7. Ephesians 1:7, Matthew 20:28
8. Romans 3:25, 1 John 4:10
THE RESULT OF HIS DEATH FOR BELIEVERS
1. Galatians 3:13
2. Revelation 1:5, 1 John 1:9
3. Romans 5:9
4. Romans 5:9
5. 2 Corinthians 5:17
6. Hebrews 10:10
7. Galatians 4:3-5
8. Romans 5:10
9. 1 John 1:7
10. John 3:14-16
THE RESULT OF HIS DEATH FOR NON-BELIEVERS
John 1:29, 1 Timothy 2:6, Hebrews 2:9
THE RESULT OF HIS DEATH FOR SATAN AND THE DEMONS
1. John 12:31, Colossians 2:14-15
2. Jude 6, Revelation 20:10
THE RESULT OF HIS DEATH FOR THE UNIVERSE
Colossians 1:19-20, Romans 8:20-22
THE RESULT OF HIS DEATH FOR HIMSELF
1. John 17:1
2. Philip. 2:8-9
3. Hebrews 12:2
THE RESULT OF CHRIST'S DEATH FOR THE FATHER
1. Romans 5:8
2. Matthew 27:46
THE RESULT OF CHRIST'S DEATH WAS FINAL
Hebrews 9:25-27
Hebrews 10:11-12
UNSCRIPTURAL IDEAS CONCERNING HIS DEATH
1. That it was the death of a Martyr.
2. That it was accidental death.
3. That His death was a good moral example.
4. That His death was to show God's displeasure for sin.
5. That His death was the execution of a criminal.
6. That it was a phoney.
THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
It has always been of interest to me that the resurrection of Christ was never one of the things that I had doubted since becoming a Christian. I believed it long before I ever heard the Gospel. I must admit that I wondered about the why of Easter and all that goes with it, but I can't remember of ever doubting the fact that Christ rose from the dead.
It is one of those things that had been taught to me in Sunday School, which had just never been put into practical application in my life.
My concern today is that we are raising a generation of "Christians" just like myself and that one day we will have a Christian nation in name only.
The resurrection of Christ was of great importance to the apostles. It was one of the requirements for the replacement of Judas. Acts 1:21-22;
"Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection."
They wanted someone that had witnessed what they had witnessed, so that they all could go forth giving account of those things that they had seen and witnessed.
The resurrection is indeed fundamental to the Christian faith.
1. Without it the Bible is nothing but fables and wasted time. The apostles claimed that the Lord was raised. They are either witnesses of truth, or they are liars of the worst kind. They have, and are guilty of giving false hope to the millions that have followed Jesus over the centuries. They have duped millions into a false religion and a false security concerning their eternal souls.
2. If the Lord was not raised from the dead, then what hope have we of being raised from the dead to eternal life with God? None. Without that
hope then we are left with the solemn realization that when we die, we have nothing else. We go to the grave and rot into oblivion.
Even the Pharaohs of Egypt did not believe that one.
Indeed, the resurrection is not only fundamental to the Christian faith, but it is unique to the Christian faith. There is no other religion that claims the resurrection of its founder. All religions can go to a grave where their leader remains.
It has always occurred to me that we have a unique situation in Christianity, yet we still have that grave as a part of the Holy Land itineraries. He isn't there, He hasn't been there for nearly two thousand years, indeed, it may not even be His grave, yet people spend thousands of dollars to see it.
There is one religion that is based on a resurrected leader and that is the old Babylonian religion that viewed Tammuz as resurrected. This is modern day Roman Catholicism.
Thomas Arnold, the author of the three volume History Of Rome and a man that was appointed to the chair of Modern History at Oxford mentions of his thoughts on the resurrection,
"The evidence for our Lord's life and death and resurrection may be and often has been, shown to be satisfactory; it is good according to the common rules for distinguishing good evidence from bad. Thousands and tens of thousands of persons have gone through it piece by piece, as carefully as every judge summing up a most important case. I have myself done it many times over, not to persuade others but to satisfy myself. I have been used for many years to study the histories of other times, and to examine and weigh the evidence of those who have written about them, and I know of no one fact in the history of mankind which is proved by better and fuller evidence of every sort, to the understanding of a fair inquirer, than the great sign which God hath given us that Christ died and rose again from the dead."
The Old Testament not only foretold the event, but also foreshadowed it through Jonah. It is hidden in the prophecies of the Messiah as well. Let's just glance at some references that will depict these truths.
1. Psalm 16:10, "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." This passage looks far further than the Psalmists thoughts to someone future.
2. "Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights." Jonah 1:17
"For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." Matthew 12:40
3. The dual aspect of the Messiah coming as a baby and as a king requires two comings which required a death and resurrection, though the prophets certainly did not understand this.
Isaiah 9:6,7 depict the child/king aspect very nicely as one thought and one coming. The prophets had no idea that there was a two thousand plus year time gap between the child and king aspects of Messiah.
I. TIME OF THE RESURRECTION
There are some very good explanations to all of the theories of when Christ was crucified, and when He arose.
We won't go into the discussion for it is much to detailed. Let me encourage you however to consider well, the thought that it was three full twenty-four hour periods of time. There is much evidence that this was the case. There are some good arguments for the other views but I think that the evidence tends toward three twenty-four hour periods. This is most consistent with the easy literal interpretation of the scriptures as well.
Please do not stop fellowshipping with others over this controversy for there are very good men on the various sides of the discussion.
Why is it important what day He was crucified on?
1. He said that He would be in the grave three days and three nights. Was He speaking of only an hour or two on two days and twenty-four hours on one day, or was He talking about three days and three nights? The literal, easy understanding of it is three of each equaling three twenty-four hour periods, or very close to it.
2. Will you have, or participate in Good Friday Services when you get into the ministry. A Friday Triumphal entry requires less than three twentyfour hour periods.
3. I don't know, isn't a good answer for people that have gotten into discussions about the subject. They will expect their pastor and Sunday School teachers to know these things.
II. PROOFS OF THE RESURRECTION
A. The appearance of the risen Lord to a large number of people. This is covered in section III.
We in the 1990's are quite fond of the "Eye Witness" report, indeed, we are becoming quite accustomed to film, or video coverage of the events that we are interested in. We do not have video coverage of the resurrection; however, we have a number of eyewitnesses to the resurrected Lord. (Can you imagine the network fight over coverage of the resurrection if it were to happen today? Or would there be any interest in the occasion?)
B. The empty tomb requires a resurrection. First, the body couldn't have been stolen for there were guards posted, and the tomb was sealed. Secondly, the body of someone that had been drugged could not have rolled the stone away and overcome the guards without them knowing that it had happened.
It is not acceptable that the Lord would allow His disciples to perpetuate fraud by preaching the resurrection when He knew He hadn't died. In all of His life He had acted in the proper moral and legal manner, why would He end His life in a cloud of lies? Not Logical.
C. The message of the disciples was based on the resurrection. They would not have gone about preaching unless they believed that the Lord had truly been raised from the dead. They would not have gone to their
graves for their beliefs as many martyrs did in the early days as well as through the centuries.
Their transformation is also linked to this line of thinking. Peter for example the denier, transformed into a preacher on the day of Pentecost.
Since they did not believe that he was going to be raised (The women went to embalm him.) They must have really believed it to be true to go about preaching it.
D. Paul's conversion necessitates a real experience and not just a dream. He was convinced that the Lord was risen.
E. The believers shifting their day of worship and gatherings to the first day would indicate their belief in the resurrection. If nothing definite had happened, they would have continued in their old ways.
F. There were precautions taken to keep the body in the tomb. Mark 15:46 mentions first that the body was wrapped in grave clothes. This would be hard to get out of if the Lord had really been alive. They rolled a stone into place in front of the tomb. Matthew 27:62-66 mentions that the Jews sealed and set a watch, just in case something were going to happen.
G. The church is based on the resurrection. Had it not happened the church would never have begun.
Phillip Shaff in his History Of The Christian Church, Vol. I, p.172-73 has a discussion of this thought. I think that Paul deals quite adequately with it as well. 1 Corinthians 15:17, "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain, ye are yet in your sins."
H. The transformation of the thousands of believers over the centuries proves that many have believed the evidence that has been presented in the Word and in the life of others.
We don't have time to go into the many testimonies that I could repeat of people that have been transformed by the Gospel. I will allow the few words of a friend of mine suffice as proof of my point. When I told him that I was going to college to be a preacher, he looked me straight in the eye and hollered, "Stan Derickson — a PREACHER?" End quote.
I. Many doubters and lost men have set out to disprove the claims of Christ over the years and many, if not most of these men find that the claims of Christ are to strong to deny and submit to them in receiving Him as their personal savior.
Years ago there was a little Readers Digest size magazine that was put out by a man that had set about to disprove the resurrection. He studied and studied until he found the Lord. He made an offer that stood for years and was printed in his magazine every month. The offer was that if anyone could prove in a legal sense of evidence that the resurrection did not occur, he would pay them $5,000. He had the money in an account set up for the purpose. To my knowledge there was not even one to take up the challenge.
III. NATURE OF THE RESURRECTION
A. Supernatural: Not as in hocus pocus, but in the fact that the whole scenario was outside the very laws of nature and should not have happened as these laws are written.
The Lord was not drugged into a stupor whereby He appeared dead.
He was not acting as if He were dead. Can you imagine the actor that would have the ability to act dead when he has been there on the cross with nails in his feet and hands for several hours? Can you imagine the actor that would be needed to act dead as a spear is stuck into his side?
He died and was raised from the dead as the scriptures state, or the accounts are completely false and unworthy. If the accounts are unworthy in this one respect then they are unworthy in all respects.
B. Physical: Christ told the disciples that He was not spirit but flesh and bones. He told them to observe his hands and feet. Luke 24:39 Not only did He tell them to, they did. They had time with Him to know that He was really the Jesus that they had known before the crucifixion. John 20:27 He told Thomas to touch his side. Luke 24:42,43 He ate fish and honeycomb.
There is a difference between His body before and after the resurrection. Romans 6:9 mentions that death has no power over Him now. "Knowing
that Christ, being raised from the dead, dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him."
IV. PERSON OF THE RESURRECTION
A. CHRIST APPEARED ON THE FIRST DAY
1. To Mary Magdalene. Mark 16:9,11; John 20:11,17; Matthew 28:1,8,9
2. To other women. Matthew 28:9,10
3. To Peter 1 Corinthians 15:5; Luke 24:33,35
4. To the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Mark 16:12,13; Luke 24:13,35 I have always been envious of those on the road that Christ appeared to. I would have loved to have been there with a recorder or note pad to hear that discussion of the Lord in the Old Testament. What a lesson that must have been.
5. To ten of the disciples. Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36,43; John 20:19-25
B. CHRIST APPEARED TO OTHERS BEFORE THE ASCENSION
1. To the eleven disciples. John 20:26,29; 1 Corinthians 15:5?
2. To seven disciples at the Sea of Galilee. John 21:1-23
3. To five hundred plus. 1 Corinthians 15:6; Matthew 28:16-20
4. To the Disciples at the ascension. Luke 24:44-53; Acts 1:3-11
C. CHRIST APPEARED AFTER THE ASCENSION
1. Paul. Acts 9:3-6 Paul has been reported to have mentioned the resurrection in each of his epistles.
2. John. Revelation 1:9-20
D. MISC. TEXTS TO RELATE
1 Corinthians 15:5 mentions the twelve. This may be a collective term for the disciples, or may be an appearance after the replacement was chosen for Judas. The collective idea seems the easiest to most, due to the fact
that the ascension preceded the choosing of Matthias. You would have to deal with a lack of chronology if you held that it was the twelve not collective.
Matthew 28:16,17 mentions the eleven seeing him at the mountain in Galilee. Some have suggested that this is the ascension, however the ascension seems to have been at Jerusalem (Acts 1:4). This would probably fit best after the sea of Galilee appearance.
V. ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE RESURRECTION
A. It is the surety of our own salvation. 1 Peter 1:3-4,
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you," 1 Corinthians 15:
It was also sufficient. It cared for all that was needed to redeem mankind. Romans 4:25
B. It is the surety of the Abrahamic covenant. Acts 13:32,33,
"And we declare unto you glad tidings, how the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee."
Everything that God promised Abraham was set and made fact by Christ. All those things that Abraham took by faith were made guaranteed.
C. It is the surety of the deity of Christ. Romans 1:4,
"And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the
spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead;"
If He were able to raise Himself in his own power as man I think that I'm going to have to start now to psyche myself up enough to raise myself.
D. It is the surety of our faith and life. 1 Corinthians 15:17, "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain, ye are yet in your sins." Ephesians 1:19,22, Romans 6:1-13
E. It is the surety of a future world judgment. Acts 17:31,
"Because he hath appointed a day, in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; concerning which he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead."
F. It is the surety of our own resurrection. Indeed it is the surety of all mankind's resurrection, 2 Corinthians 4:14. John 5:28, 29 mentions that all mankind will be raised — some to life and some to damnation.
G. It is the surety of what Christ told the people of Himself. Matthew 28:6, "He is not here; for he is risen, as he said...."
H. It was the surety of His ascension into heaven. Without the blood for the heavenly tabernacle there would have been no entrance.
I. It is the surety that the Bible is true and valid. Psalm 16:10 looks forward to the resurrection. Matthew 16 21, mentions that He was to be raised, and He was.
VI. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF THE RESURRECTION
A. It helps us live moral lives. 1 Corinthians 15:32-34 Paul mentions that if the dead don't rise then we might as well eat, drink for tomorrow we die.
B. We can be encouraged in the loss of loved ones that they will one day be raised from the dead. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
C. We can relish the thought of what our eternal life will be like. It is based on the resurrection of Christ and is a sure thing to come. 1 Peter 1:3-5
"A New Beginning
"Death is not the end; it is only a new beginning. Death is not the master of the house he is only the porter at the King's lodge, appointed to open the gate and let the King's guests into the realm of eternal day. And so shall we ever be with the Lord.
"The range of our threescore years and ten is not the limit of our life. Our life is not a landlocked lake enclosed within the shore lines of seventy years. It is an arm of the sea. And so we must build for those larger waters. We are immortal. How, then, shall we live today in prospect of eternal tomorrow?"
J. H. Jowett1
We are immortal, we are moving toward the open sea that is immeasurable and full of complete joy. As Francis Shaffer puts it in his book title, "How then should we live?" In light of the fact that the whole world is immortal and moving toward the open sea that is immeasurable, yet not all are moving toward the same sea. The unsaved are immortal and moving toward a sea full of complete and utter agony and torment.
"HOW THEN SHOULD WE LIVE?"
Christ died and was raised that we might also be raised one day. The sobering fact is however, that all the lost will also be raised. Our responsibility is to show them the direction to the proper sea, the sea of eternal life and not the sea of eternal death.
"HOW THEN SHALL YOU LIVE?"
END NOTES
1. Stanley I. Stuber and Thomas Curtis Clark, "Treasury Of The Christian Faith," New York: Association Press, 1949, pp 588-589
HANDOUT
THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
I. TIME OF THE RESURRECTION
II. PROOFS OF THE RESURRECTION
III. NATURE OF THE RESURRECTION
IV. PERSON OF THE RESURRECTION
A. CHRIST APPEARED ON THE FIRST DAY
1. Mark 16:9,11; John 20:11,17; Matthew 28:1,8,9
2. Matthew 28:9,10
3. 1 Corinthians 15:5; Luke 24:33,35
4. Mark 16:12,13; Luke 24:13,35
5. Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36,43; John 20:19-25
B. CHRIST APPEARED BEFORE THE ASCENSION
1. John 20:26,29; 1 Corinthians 15:5
2. John 21:1-23
3. 1 Corinthians 15:6; Matthew 28:16-20
4. Luke 24:44-53; Acts 1:3-11
C. CHRIST APPEARED AFTER THE ASCENSION
1. Acts 9:3-6
2. Revelation 1:9-20
D. MISC. TEXTS TO RELATE
V. ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE RESURRECTION
A. It is the surety of our own salvation.
B. It is the surety of the Abrahamic covenant.
C. It is the surety of the deity of Christ.
D. It is the surety of our faith and life.
E. It is the surety of a future world judgment.
F. It is the surety of our own resurrection.
G. It is the surety of what Christ told the people of Himself.
H. It was the surety of His ascension into heaven.
I. It is the surety that the Bible is true and valid.
VI. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF THE RESURRECTION
THE HOLY SPIRIT INTRODUCED
The actual definition of pneumatology is the study of spirit beings, however in our context our definition is a bit more specific. Our study will concentrate on the study of God the Holy Spirit.
We could, indeed, combine this study with the study of angels, Satan and demons under the heading of pneumatology. We won't do this, but will study the Holy Spirit separate from angelology, the study of angels.
Pneumatology the study of the Holy Spirit. The term comes from the Greek word "pneuma" which means spirit, wind or breath.
There has been quite a phenomena concerning the Holy Spirit and His study. When I entered Bible college in the 60's, if you hadn't had at least two studies in your church on the subject, you weren't normal. Indeed, I believe I had studied the Holy spirit twice before having a class in pneumatology in college. Since, I have had three more courses.
The curious thing is that since college, I have heard nothing on the subject. I have not run across any church that had the subject in their Sunday School, nor have I run across a pastor preaching through the doctrine.
We seem to be avoiding the topic of the Holy Spirit. This is sad, due to the close relationship that we have with Him, or at least should have. I have given thought to the reasons why this avoidance might be true? I would like to list some possible reasons.
1. People really don't understand the Holy Spirit; they don't know how to approach teaching the subject.
2. People are afraid to teach about the Spirit in fear of being labeled a Charismatic. This may well be part of the problem. It, however is somewhat akin to not teaching about God the Father because the liberals overemphasize, and have damaged the doctrine of God's love.
3. They have not been taught concerning the Spirit so do not feel that it is an important doctrine.
4. The Devil is not comfortable with the believer knowing about one of the main defenses the believer has against him. Walking in the Spirit's control keeps us off of the Devil's turf and that ain't good.
This is a unique doctrine in some ways. There is only one source of information concerning the Holy Spirit and that is the Bible. We have historical information about Christ, and we have natural revelation about God, but the only information we have concerning the Holy Spirit is that which the Father has revealed to us through the Word.
No other religion has the Holy Spirit. Indeed, some might wonder if Christianity did, as much as we ignore Him. We have no classical source of information, and very little historical information.
Cambron makes a very stiff comment that may be good for us to consider. "The Holy Spirit cannot displace the Son of God. The Holy Spirit did not come to speak of (or from) Himself, but of Christ. One who speaks continually about the Spirit and omits the Son shows evidence that he really does not have the Spirit." (Cambron, Mark G. D.D.; "Bible Doctrines"; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1954,p 117)
There seems to be much confusion today concerning the Spirit, His manifestations, and His ministries. Many are teaching false things concerning the Spirit today and we need to be equipped to answer these false teachings. We also have need of preparing those we minister to, lest they become involved with the false teaching.