Many people are afraid of the word theology. Often they believe theology is something performed only by men with doctorates behind the closed doors of the seminary. Nothing could be further from the truth. We all, Christian or non-Christian, young or old, man or woman, engage in theology daily. When we make decisions about what to eat, what to wear, what to watch on television, what to say in response to situations or things said by others. We make constant judgment calls on our actions based on what we believe; what we believe about ourselves and, in correlation, what we believe about God. What we believe may be well or poorly thought-out; it could be consistent or not. But central to all our beliefs is the resurrection; did Jesus really live, suffer, die and rise again? What we believe on this point, our theology of the resurrection, makes a difference for everything else we think and makes us different.
The evidence for Jesus' actual death and resurrection, while denied by many, is well attested and evidenced. This blog is not the right context for delving into all the facts supporting the resurrection, but suffice it to say that one major evidence is the wide acceptance within his own generation that Jesus died and rose again. The Bible faithfully records people's reactions to Jesus' death and resurrection, and there were many witnesses to the facts of the miracles. Luke 24:44-48 and Acts 1:1-7 show the apostles to be witnesses to the resurrected Jesus. Luke 24:13-31 and John 20:11-18 describe Jesus appearance to other believers. Many in Jerusalem saw the effects of Jesus' resurrection - the gifting of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 1:8, 2:1-41). Even when arguing against unbelieving critics, the apostles and early Church Fathers appealed to public knowledge. This was no story concocted behind closed doors.
In our day, many of us fashion ourselves to be "people of science," that is, people who only believe in what is governed and measured by natural "laws." This thinking dismisses miracles and spirituality out of hand. Yet we have seen the effects of this kind of thinking in our "enlightened" society. Rape, murder, theft, and crime of all kinds are everywhere. wholesomeness is gone from our public talk (television, radio, internet). Everything is reduced to the lowest common denominator. The negative change in society is directly related to the growth in skepticism and unbelief, fostered by the media and the education system. These evil actions are directly caused by a wholesale loss of belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
There are two reasons why the resurrection is the important hinge pin to faith. The first reason is entirely theological - Jesus' resurrection serves as a sign to us that he is who he said he is - God in the flesh. Jesus claimed to be God by uttering the unspeakable name, I Am, which is why the Sanhedrin (priests and political leaders) wanted to kill him for blasphemy (Mark 14: 1-64; Luke 22:70). Jesus' resurrection also serves as a promise to us that he performed the task of dying in the place for those who would believe in him; the sacrificial lamb (John 1:29; Hebrews 9:1-15). In so doing, Jesus becomes the believer's Passover. We know that we are forgiven because Jesus defeated sin and its punishment of death (Romans 5:11-15; 6:23), rising again.
The second reason that Jesus' resurrection is important to faith is that it is one of the criteria that Paul sets up for identification as Christians. "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame" (Romans 10:8-11). Without belief in and confession of the nature and resurrection of Jesus, there is no salvation.
These two important aspects of the resurrection instantly separate the believer from the unbeliever. Jesus, through his blood as the Passover lamb, separates the Hebrews from the Egyptians. The resurrection is the message we preach and the sign through which we hope in salvation. The question becomes, do you believe in God's salvation; the person, work, death, resurrection, ascension, and continued advocacy of Jesus the Christ for you? If so, may your life reflect choices made in light of the theology of the resurrection; loving obedience to our Father. If not, why not? What about your sin is worth giving up eternal life with the holy and loving God?
Steven Douglas
If you have questions about biblical Christianity or about how to come to saving faith, please leave a comment in the comments section below or call New heights Baptist Church at 502-367-1987.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The Resurrection at the Center of Christian Theology
Labels:
Evangelism,
Resurrection,
Scripture,
Theology
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