We get the resurrection of our Lord detailed in the four gospels. In the epistles we have traced for us the results flowing from the resurrection in the way of doc-trines, and their application to Christian living.
To begin with we get the knowledge of salvation linked up very specially with the resurrection of Christ. We read, "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart, that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Rom. 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)).
Again we read, " Now it was not written for his [Abraham's] sake alone, that it [righteousness] 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/' (Rom. 4:23,2423Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; (Romans 4:23‑24))..
Another very striking verse links up the resurrection of our Lord with the quickening of the mortal bodies of the saints, who are alive in the earth at the second coming of Christ. Ponder over this verse till you grasp its wondrous meaning. "If the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you." (Rom. 8:1111But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11)).
That is to say, that the Holy Spirit is the power that raised our Lord from the dead: and that same Spirit, in-dwelling the mortal bodies of the saints, is the pledge that their bodies shall be quickened by the same Power at the coming of the Lord. (1 Thess. 4:13-1813But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13‑18)).
Writing to the assembly at Corinth a whole chapter of fifty-eight verses' is devoted to an argument proving the value of the resurrection of Christ." We read, " If Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain." (1 Cor. 15:12-1412Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. (1 Corinthians 15:12‑14)).
Writing to the assembly at Ephesus we find the same stress put upon the fact of the resurrection of Christ. We read, " God who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved); and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Eph. 2:4-64But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (Ephesians 2:4‑6)).
In this interesting passage we have the actual resurrection of our Lord stated, as having a moral effect on the believer in so identifying him with the risen Christ, as to put him in spirit on risen ground before God.
Writing to the Philippian assembly we read, " 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 exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name." (Phil. 2:8, 98And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (Philippians 2:8‑9)).
Here we have our Lord's resurrection and ascension given as the intimate result of His death on the cross on behalf of sinful men.
Writing to the Thessalonian assembly we read, that they were saved " To wait for His. [God's] Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." (1 Thess. 1:1010And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:10)).
Writing to Timothy, his son in the faith, the Apostle Paul said, "Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel." (2 Tim. 2:88Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: (2 Timothy 2:8)).
The Epistle to the Hebrews ends with a magnificent doxology, in which the resurrection of our Lord is emphasized, " Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Heb. 13:20, 2120Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20‑21)).
The Apostle Peter writes of believers as those, " Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him [Christ] up from the dead, and gave Him glory: that your faith and hope might be in God." (1 Peter 1:2121Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. (1 Peter 1:21)).
Besides Scriptures that mention directly the resurrection of our Lord, it is very evident on reading through the epistles of the New Testament that the whole system of Christian teaching is based on the resurrection of our Lord. We give one single example of what we mean, " Our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." (Phil. 3:2020For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (Philippians 3:20)).
Though the resurrection is not expressly mentioned in this Scripture, yet it is taken for granted, for if the Savior is coming from heaven to call His saints into His presence, and He died and was buried, as we know happened to Him, He must have risen from the dead and ascended to glory in order to fulfill this Scripture.
A very good illustration of this is seen in the ocean. When the salt sea recedes from the shore again and again, as tide succeeds tide, salt crystals are formed on the rocks. These are visible, yet the salt that forms them, though invisible to the naked eye, is in solution at all times and in all places of the ocean.
So we have definite proof texts as to the resurrection of Christ blessedly visible in the Scriptures, yet the fact of His resurrection is found in solution, as it were, throughout the whole of Scripture.
If Scripture had been framed on a lie, this could not have been sustained in perfect consistency throughout the writings of the inspired penmen. Slips, inconsistencies, contradictions would have occurred. Yet not one inconsistency can be discovered, however microscopically the ^Scriptures are examined. This is most convincing.
We shall see how true it is that a lie cannot be consistent when we consider how