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Several mentions of a denomination not associated with the caucus designation which is Protestant/Evangelical Devotional |
Posted on 03/28/2018 5:03:28 AM PDT by Gamecock
Recently I have been pondering the question: why in traditional theological circles is there such a lack of emphasis on the theology of the resurrection yet so much stress on Christ's death? Not to de-emphasize his atoning death but this oversight is especially curious in light of the fact that in the New Testament there appears to be a great importance placed on the resurrection, at least, it seems, equal in emphasis to Christ's death, but we don't talk about or theologize about it much ... why? I have to ask because the implications of Christ's resurrection is a critical part of Christ's redemptive work in and for us.
In light of the resurrection of Christ, 1 Corinthians 15 speaks of our present victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of the work of Christ in his resurrection Paul is able to say in verse 58, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord." As we participate in his resurrection now and are seated with him at God's right hand, where He reigns over all his enemies, including the world, the flesh, the devil and death, then, in light of this, this should somehow translate to our living in the world now.
We rightly place a great deal of stress on Christ's death and atoning sacrifice but often seem to leave off the saving dimension of Christ's resurrection. The finished work of Christ includes both his death and resurrection in NT biblical theology, because we would still be in our sins if Christ has not been raised from the dead according to the same 1 Corinthians passage. In seminaries and theology books very little space seems to be devoted to this, to a degree we should find alarming. Any victory we have now is from the life which Christ gives our mortal bodies in His resurrection (Rom 8:11). In Rom. 6 Paul also states that we are baptized into Christ's resurrection, which is the power that saves us through regeneration. It is not only what gives us a new heart that we might be raised up from being spiritually dead and so believe the gospel, but grants us the power to live a new life, have spiritual affections for Christ and the grace to live a godly life because of the ethical change that has taken place within us. The disposition in us toward death has been crushed by Jesus' resurrection.
Since the "last days" were inaugurated with Christ's resurrection, we are living in the already/not yet time where Christ's victory over death is being worked out in and through us. There is no such thing, therefore, as Christian who lives in sin as a lifestyle. The resurrected Lord who lives in us is greater than he who is in the world. We may be deceived for a time, but the Spirit working in us compells us to cry ABBA Father and look to Christ in faith for the victory and mortification of any besetting sin. But we cannot do this as individuals since Christ has established his church as the agency for advancing his kingdom rule on earth (Eph 1:22). God calls us to do this through the weakness of preaching the gospel through which he will confound worldly powers and destroy all vain speculations.
It is important to note Paul use of the word "firstfruits" in 1 Cor 15. Without historical background this may not make sense, but what it points to is the Jewish feasts of Passover and Pentecost, each of which had the first fruits of the harvest given to the Lord. These firstfruits were a sign of the full harvest that would come soon after. Of course, more to the point, these festivals were in the Jewish calendar to remember Israel being freed from Egyptian slavery (Passover) and the giving of the Law at Sinai (Pentecost). Here in 1 Cor. 15 Paul is saying that the Christ is our Passover, the firstfruits of the resurrection from the dead ... with many more to follow. This is an act of God's grace alone, not something we work toward, yet that grace, that resurrection which we are untied to in Christ compels us to work, not in order to be saved, but because we are saved. There is nothing natural about this. Christ has saved us completely with no contribution owing to ourselves. His kingdom now reigns in His people and He is extending it by redeeming people and the creation through us. Even now, according to the Scriptures, all powers are being subjected to Christ with death being the last enemy.
As we can see that this is no small matter which has profound theological and pastoral implications. There I would challenge and encourage the Reformed community to develop a more robust biblical theology of the resurrection.
Ping
Don’t know church this person goes to.....the complaint is not my ecperience
Uh, why do we have Easter,? It’s not about bunnies.
This is food for thought. Thank you for posting.
To answer directly why the resurrection is not spoken of modernly as much as the atoning death, it might be because for 364 days of the year Western men are supposedly rational, reasoning, semi-scientifically thinking men. On Easter, they are asked to put that aside and to believe in the resurrection. It might seem weird and is definitely neither rational or scientific.
Jesus’ agony on the cross and the politics immediately before that are understandable in comparison.
Excellent. Thank you GC. I have been pondering this for a while. I help teach a bible study to group of adults with intellectual abilities. They all can pretty say with joy that Jesus died for their sins. But they don’t get the resurrection and the great joy in that.
Since they are very literal, Last week, I compared it to a football game of their favorite team playing a hard game but ending in a tie. Nobody wins. The enemy doesn’t win, but we don’t either. But the resurrection makes the score a gazillion to 0. Death has been defeated!!
I have been working on Phil 3:10 to help them understand the power of the resurrection and how that changes their life as much as the crucifixion.
There has been a big emphasis on His resurrection in every church I’ve attended - both when I lived in Seattle and now here in Kentucky. AG, Baptist, foursquare, Church of God, Christian and non-denominational.
Maybe the author is attending the wrong churches.
An issue about resurrection might more to to with what does it mean to believe Jesus appeared in the flesh after he died to several witnesses? Mark’s gospel originally did not account for any physical sightings of Jesus after his resurrection unlike Mathew, Luke and John. Its pretty much accepted a paragraph was added to the gospel of Mark later telling the story of sightings so as to fit the narrative of the other three gospels. Therefore, the importance or non importance of the sightings of Jesus alive in the flesh ( as opposed to or in addition to being alive in spirit) has been a controversy within the church since the beginning,
i’m a believer however, Jesus demonstrated life after death and as a charismatic believer i know this because he communicates to the church through his holy spirit today. The strange ending of Mark , and or the conflicts with the other gospels or within denominations does not change my faith, but i have to concede the resurrection is mystery , yet the fact Jesus can be felt in the spirit today is just a more important part of my worship than the interpreted accounts and rituals of the past.
The whole point of Christianity is to have a personal relationship with God every day knowing through his word of love and forgiveness we will live with him forever in spirit. The rituals of holidays once a year are not as important for me as is my everyday personal experience of Jesus’s resurrection. .
We don't know how to talk about things that blow our minds. So we're comfortable discussing death by torture and attaching meaning to it. But resurrection in a recognizable but new sort of body, that just leaves us agog. The thing itself just doesn't “fit”.
The average liberal theologian tries to appropriate the meaning without the fact ... and leaves himself open to Paul's dictum that in that case our hope is in vain.
When I achieve my plan to become both pope and emperor of the world (any day now — watch this space), the funeral of anyone who dies of natural causes over the age of 65 will have a mandatory reading from 1 Cor 15.
Both are critical to the whole event. Without the crucifixion and death, we have no “perfect lamb” to absorb our sins so that we may be reconciled to Yahweh God in the Hebrew tradition. It cannot be overstated the importance of that event.
Likewise, without the resurrection, there is no victory over sin and death. It cannot be overstated the importance of this event either.
The churches I frequent seem to grasp that both events are intertwined and essential to the Christian experience - and proclaim both with celebration. Maybe this fellow needs to find better churches.
A devout Catholic will have a crucifix on the wall, in their vehicle, hanging around their neck, on a Rosary ... At Mass Catholics are focused upon the crucifixion, even encouraged to consume Him. ... Next question?
Next question?
I have to confess that at any church I’ve ever attended the death and resurrection are discussed in unison. The death can not be mentioned without mentioning the Resurrection. It’s the whole point of the death.
Christ’s appearance in the flesh was of utmost importance. It took the apostles from scared rabbits hiding behind locked doors to bold evangelists that feared nothing. The bodily resurrection is key to our faith. Christ is risen fully and in the flesh. So will we also rise. To say Christ rose only spiritually is to rob the Resurrection of its power.
Alas, the central theme of Catholicism is the crucifixion. What does the priest say as he places the wafer in the adherent’s mouth, and as he passes the cup (I was an Episcopalian, we shared the cup of actual wine).
If interested, see my profile page for the central question.
Amen!
“Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?”
An interesting article. Thanks.
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