The place which the Holy Ghost has assigned, in the Scriptures, to the resurrection of Jesus is very conspicuous. He adduces it not merely as a proof, that indeed he was the Son of God (because he could lay down his life and take it up again), but makes it a leading thought, and gives it a most prominent place in every doctrine. It is presented in everything connected with the believer’s position before God. For instance, the title under which God introduces himself to us is as “the God of resurrection.” The resurrection of Jesus is also both the proof our justification and the explanation of it That in which alone we can know that we are accepted, or the measure of our acceptance, is the resurrection of Jesus. And what opens the treasury of blessing which belongs to the church, but the resurrection of Jesus? And what has brought out to light the character of our relationship to God is the resurrection of Jesus. And what but the resurrection of Jesus manifests our responsibilities? Much more might be said; but the notice of the connection of the resurrection with the character of the God we serve, with our justification, righteousness, blessings, and relationship to God, may suffice for the present.
1St. God’s title to us ward is the God of resurrection. Abraham (the father of the faithful) had his faith resting upon the God of resurrection; “and being fully persuaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead” (Romans 4: 21-24). Such is the character under which God introduces himself to us. As is seen also elsewhere, “Believe in God, that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory, that your faith and hope might be in God” (1 Peter 1: 21).
But 2nd. The resurrection of Jesus is at once the proof of the justification of every one that believeth, as well as the explanation of it; seeing that by it the justification is wrought. It is the proof of our justification, for “he was delivered for (or on account of) our sins, and raised again for (or on account of) our justification” (Romans 4: 25). As the Lord made himself the bearer of our sins, the judgment sunk him down; but when all that justice could say or do against our sins was ended, we were justified, and his resurrection was the proof of this: he was raised again on account of our justification, that is because it was finished. And this was proved also by the assertion of Paul on the other side of the question in 1 Corinthians 15: 17, 18. “If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain, ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished; and (verse 14) if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.” Thus we see that without the resurrection there would have been no proof of justification, and that the resurrection of Jesus is the proof of our justification being accomplished. I can therefore have no question about my sins, when I see Jesus risen from the dead; I know they must be put away. He died, the Just One for the unjust. But now is Christ risen. He whom God put to bear all my sins is now in the presence of God for me-the answer to every charge Satan can make against me. “Who (then) all lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? it is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died; yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Romans 8: 33, 34). And this is confirmed when we think of the mode of our justification; we are justified by the resurrection of Jesus because we are one with him. We were planted by baptism in the likeness of his death (Romans 6: 3) that God might be able to look upon us as crucified with him, as dead with him (2 Timothy 2: 11), as buried. with him (Romans 6: 4); but then we are quickened also together with him (Eph, 2: 5; Colossians 2: 13), and raised up together with him (Ephesians 2: 6; Colossians 2: 12; 3: 1), and made sit together with him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2: 6).
Again, 3rd. How do we know that we are accepted, or the character of our acceptance? By the resurrection of Jesus. Thus Paul knew that he was a member of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 6: 15) and a temple of the Holy Ghost (verse 19), for God had shined into his heart, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of the risen Jesus (2 Corinthians 6: 6).
And what again, 4thly, is the measure of our acceptance-our righteousness before God (1 Corinthians 1: 30)? Jesus in resurrection. “Accepted in the beloved” (Ephesians 1: 6), “at that clay (that is now) shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you” (John 14: 20); “ ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3: 3), &c., &c. The poor prodigal needed not only to be stripped of his filthy rags, but to be washed and provided with a robe proper for his father’s house. So we have not only had the stain of sin removed, but been arrayed in beauty to stand before God, “made accepted in the beloved,” not in the beloved as seen on the cross, or in the grave, but as risen and sat down at God’s right hand.
Again, 5thly it was only in the resurrection of Jesus that the true position, the actual relationship of the disciple came out to light. To Israel God said, “My people,” but to us he says, “My sons and daughters.” Jesus never let out such large and blessed words as “My brethren-my Father, your Father-my God and your God,” till after his resurrection (John 20), and no soul till then knew what it was to have “fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1: 3). Take away the resurrection, and you take away the power of understanding this, the amazing proof of the grace of God—I am a poor prodigal, but I’ve got the best robe on, the ring on my hand, and shoes on my feet, and music and dancing are sounding within the house to which my Father and his firstborn are hastening my steps. There is no relationship now but that of sons.
“Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3: 26). But the thing which manifested this, the gift of the Holy Ghost (“because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father,”—Galatians 4: 6), was not till the resurrection. “The Holy Ghost was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7: 39). Then he came as the proof of Jesus’ acceptance at the right hand. of God, and of the union of those to whom he came with Jesus risen.
And lastly. It is only out of this relationship, discovered and made ours in the resurrection of Jesus, that the true character of our service is seen.
The service of the Son of God flowed out naturally in the power of his sympathy with the mind of the Father. Just so, according to the measure of faith, the christian, being a child, is able to enter into the mind of his Father. He does things, not as a slave or hireling, by command only, but with the affection and understanding of’ a child. His service is that of one associated with the house, having an interest in everything connected with it. The hired servant may say, I have fulfilled my duties, all I was engaged to do—not so the son. Love likes service, and seeks after opportunities. The child loves to serve his parent—the grateful wife loves to serve her husband. If God were to say to any of his loving children, “I have nothing more for you to do,” it would be sorrow and grief to that child-not joy.
Dear brethren, we are looked upon by God as in his risen Son; may we then look upon ourselves and act as heavenly-risen men. Set by God in Christ above everything that can come in to hurt, may our conversation be in heaven, and our watch-word (like those of old), The Lord is risen! And when the Lord comes to take his glory, we shall come with him.
And may the Lord hasten that day!
Amen and Amen.