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Resurrection of Christ

Dictionary of Biblical Words:

The resurrection of Christ is one of the cardinal truths of the Gospel (1 Cor. 15), for it demonstrates the acceptance by God of the work of Christ on our behalf, He being raised from the dead by “the glory of the Father” (Rom. 6:4⁴Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)). The idea of a general resurrection is a Jewish one (Acts 24:15¹⁵And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. (Acts 24:15); John 11:24²⁴Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. (John 11:24)), but the clearer light of the New Testament teaches us this will be divided into the resurrection of the just (of which 1 Cor. 15 speaks), and of the unjust (see Rev. 20), separated by an interval of more than 1,000 years. The first resurrection is of all the dead in Christ, and may take place at any moment when Christ comes, and will be instantaneous (1 Thess. 4) It will also include some Jewish saints, who will be slain by Antichrist after the Christians have all been taken to heaven (Rev. 20:4-6⁴And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. ⁵But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. ⁶Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4‑6)). The second resurrection or second death (John 5:29²⁹And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:29)) takes place after the millennium, and is exclusively to damnation, all being condemned who then rise. Christians now are risen with Christ, being alive in a new life, by a spiritual resurrection, (Col. 3:1¹If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1)) in the power of which they are to live daily. Hence the expression, “resurrection ground,” meaning the position of being risen with Christ—no longer dead in trespasses and sins.

Concise Bible Dictionary:

This is the great central fact on the testimony of which the structure of Christianity has been reared. If Christ be not risen, there is no salvation, since sin would still be reigning by death in universal sway. But Christ, who was made sin, is risen and is at God’s right hand, a manifest proof that atonement has been made, and that God’s righteousness has been vindicated. The result has been the sending of the Spirit from the Father. Abundant evidence was given to the disciples that Christ was risen from the dead. He appeared again and again, ate in their presence, and gave opportunity for identification. Evidence of the fact was also borne to the Jews by the apostles in the power and by the gifts of the Spirit (Acts 4:10¹⁰Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. (Acts 4:10)), confirming what they had themselves seen and heard and the testimony of the scriptures. The resurrection of Christ is the keystone of the faith of the Christian; at the same time it is the assurance on the part of God that He has appointed a day when He is going to judge the world in righteousness. Hence it has a voice to all.

It has been asserted that the accounts given of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus in the gospels are discordant and irreconcilable. This is not the case: it has been overlooked that Luke 23:54-56⁵⁴And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. ⁵⁵And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. ⁵⁶And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment. (Luke 23:54‑56) refers to Friday evening, before the Sabbath, and Matthew 28:1¹In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. (Matthew 28:1) refers to Saturday evening, after the Sabbath: the women return after viewing the sepulcher and finish their preparations, according to Mark 16:1¹And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. (Mark 16:1).

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