The Apostles' Creed by Mohler Jr. R. Albert

Author:Mohler, Jr., R. Albert
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2019-03-25T16:00:00+00:00

Theological Significance

To further illustrate the theological centrality of the resurrection, consider three dimensions of the theological significance of the resurrection. First, through the resurrection, Christians find justification. The Father justifies or vindicates the Son by accepting the sacrifice of the Son on behalf of Christians, and the Father demonstrates this vindication through the resurrection. Therefore, the resurrection provides proof that the atonement Jesus made was accepted by the Father (Rom. 4:24–25; Phil. 2:8–9).

Second, the Bible depicts regeneration as the result of resurrection power. Paul prayed that the Ephesians would know “the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us” and wrote that this power was revealed “when he raised him from the dead” (Eph. 1:19–20). Also, in their union with Christ, the resurrection power transforms the life of the Christian into greater conformity with Christ (Rom. 6:3–5, 8; 1 Cor. 15:20–23; Eph. 1:18–20). Calvin helpfully characterized the resurrection in terms of both justification and regeneration:

Sin was taken away by his death; righteousness was revived and restored by his resurrection. For how could he by dying have freed us from death if he had himself succumbed to death? How could he have acquired victory for us if he had failed in the struggle? Therefore, we divide the substance of our salvation between Christ’s death and resurrection as follows: through his death, sin was wiped out and death extinguished; through his resurrection, righteousness was restored and life raised up, so that—thanks to his resurrection—his death manifested its power and efficacy in us.1

Indeed the New Testament, the source of Calvin’s theology, routinely applies resurrection terminology to the regeneration of the Christian. Peter, like Paul, associated regeneration language with Christ’s resurrection. Christians were made “to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Christ’s resurrection provides the source of new spiritual life—new life is a sharing of Christ’s resurrection life (1 Peter 1:3).

Third, the resurrection of Christ portends a great eschatological glorification of God’s people. In fact, the resurrection of Jesus itself represents an eschatological event and signifies the beginning of the eschatological resurrection for all Christians:

Glorification is the final step in the application of redemption. It will happen when Christ returns and raises from the dead the bodies of believers for all time who have died, and reunites them with their souls, and changes the bodies of believers who remain alive, thereby giving all believers at the same time perfect resurrection bodies like his own.2

Paul indicated that the resurrection of Christ symbolizes the “firstborn from the dead” (Col. 1:18). As a result, Christ’s resurrection foreshadows the corporate resurrection of his people. Also, Christ’s resurrection is the “firstfruits” of those who have fallen asleep (1 Cor. 15:20, 23), and the term “firstfruits” (Rom. 8:23; 11:16; 16:5) guarantees that more will come. Furthermore, Jesus Christ, as the “last Adam” and “a life-giving spirit” (1 Cor. 15:45), signifies that Christ is the creator of a new race of people—a people outside of the headship of Adam. Adam passed on

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