The resurrection of Christ, as well as the entire subject of the resurrection of the dead, receives far less attention from believers than it deserves. It has lost much of its importance in the Christian world because of the almost universally-accepted theory that death is not death, but just a transition from a lower condition of life to a higher one, from a temporary experience into a permanent one. But the Scriptures set forth the resurrection in a very different light from this. They say that death and resurrection are realities. In the case of Jesus, it is distinctly stated that he died and that he rose from the dead. We quote the Apostle Peter in Acts 2:31-32, “that his soul was not left in hell, (Greek word hades - the state of death) neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up.”

From this standpoint, the resurrection of Jesus, which this year will be generally celebrated on Sunday, April 11^th, (we believe April 7^th, which is Nisan the 16^th, is more correct) was and is the most important event in the world’s history, because on that event hangs every element of Christian faith and the only hope for the world of mankind, though the world doesn’t yet realize this. The Apostle Paul affirms this when he said: “If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain …. your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.” (1 Cor. 15:14-18) The Apostle evidently gave full weight to the doctrine of the resurrection.

We sometimes say that the death of Jesus was the very hub, the center, of the divine plan upon which every other feature of divine grace depends. We still hold to this thought, but draw attention to the fact that in many respects our Lord’s resurrection was no less important. His death was necessary as our redemption price. But even though the world’s sins were all canceled, Jesus’ death alone would be insufficient; more would be necessary. He who bought the world with his precious blood must live again in order to wholly restore, revive, and uplift them from sin-and-death conditions. The first part of the Redeemer’s work was to satisfy the demands of Justice against the race so that God could “be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Rom 3:26). But the second part of his work is equally important to us, namely, the application to mankind of the benefits secured by Jesus’ sacrifice, which could not be given until Jesus had been resurrected.

As we have already noticed, the dead world knows nothing of the blessing that God has in store for it. Only a comparatively small number of the race have yet even heard of the grace of God in Christ, that the redemption price has been paid and that in due time the great Redeemer will complete the work ¾ to awaken, revive, restore, and bring up to full perfection, if they will, all the families of the earth, all for whom the precious sacrifice was made.

It has been over nineteen centuries since the Savior was born, since he was touched with the feeling of our infirmities and tasted death for every man. Why has he not long ago given the blessing secured by his sacrifice ¾ to revive those who are asleep in the grave, to give beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for the spirit of heaviness? Why does he still permit the world to groan and travail in pain and sorrow and death? Has the plan of God failed? Has it been changed, altered, or amended? What reason can there be for this long delay?

The Scriptures tell us that before beginning the work of blessing and reviving the world, Christ is first taking out his church. They tell us that the church will ultimately bless the world in general. Acts 15:14, 17: “Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name (the church) …that the residue of men (the remainder of mankind) might seek after the Lord.”

The Scriptures tell us that the church is called the seed of Abraham, of whom Jesus is the Head and all of his faithful followers are members of his body. To this seed belongs the promise made to Abraham ¾ “In thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” In other words, the Church will, in God’s kingdom, bless the whole world of mankind. So, then, the delay between the time of Jesus’ redeeming the world, raising them out of sin-and-death conditions, up to the full perfection that was lost in Adam through disobedience, is because of this work which is still going on of selecting the seed of Abraham. The Lord, through the Apostle, declares to the faithful believers and followers of Jesus, “If ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29) ¾ the promise to bless all the families of the earth through this seed.

Hartford Bible Students * P.O. Box 493 * Manchester, CT 06045

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Last modified: 09/19/09