#CHURCHTALK 09: What Does the Resurrection Mean to Christians?

The single most important Christian commemoration worldwide and throughout history is the Easter celebration. During this celebration, Christians remember the agony, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But of all these, none is of such soul-lifting and far-reaching significance than the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Celebrated on Easter Sunday, it is a time that Christians remember the most fundamental source of Christian hope and faith: the Resurrection of Christ.

According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, resurrection means "the act of causing something that had ended or been forgotten or lost to exist again, to be used again, etc."
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ refers to the event during which the dead body of Jesus Christ rose up again to immortal life — life without end.

Why is the Resurrection so significant to the Christian believer? This is the central question that this article will seek to answer. And I believe that the best way to answer this question is to look at what the Bible says about it.

First of all, the old testament makes no mention of resurrection. The word does not occur anywhere in it. However, two people, Enoch and Elijah, are on record to not have died at all, but were supernaturally transformed into celestial beings with life eternal by the power of God Himself. The record of these events can be found in Genesis 5:24 and 2 Kings 2:10-11. A dead body has to be involved for it to qualify as a resurrection; so, we shall not be focusing on Enoch and Elijah since theirs' were not resurrection events.

Let's see what the Bible says about Resurrection in the new testament now.

1.   Matthew 22:31 [KJV] 
31. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 
32. I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

This is one of only two verses in scripture that fundamentally give a glimpse of the state in which dead people were in the old testament when they died. They were not resurrected back to life, but their souls were preserved alive in the underworld by God's power, as a sign, waiting for the day their spirits would be brought back to life.

Luke 20:38 [NLT] 
38. “But now, as to whether the dead will be raised—even Moses proved this when he wrote about the burning bush. Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, he referred to the Lord as ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’

The preservation of their souls by the power of God was a sign for the Resurrection from the dead which Jesus Christ would later bring to them and to all those who believe in Him faithfully.

2.   Matthew 27:50-53 [KJV] 
50. Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52. And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53. And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

When Jesus resurrected, He didn't resurrect alone, but also resurrected the spirits of all those Just men of the old testament, whose souls had been preserved alive by God (that is, from eternal death or punishment) in the underworld. Their spirits were brought back to life in celestial bodies, their Graves were opened, they came out, went into the city, and appeared to many people.

The Resurrection of Jesus was not just a spiritual event, but was essentially a properly documented historical event, which was physically witnessed by ordinary human beings who lived during those days. And the witnesses were not just a handful of people, but many people in the city of Jerusalem and beyond.

Modern-day Jewish Banquet: Philanthropic Banquet held in 2017, in support of French Jewish institutions, so Jews should be able to remain "In France", & not immigrate to Israel. Source: Twitter

3.   Luke 14:12-14 [NLT]
12. Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward.
13. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.
14. Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.”

It is during the Resurrection of the righteous or just men of this world that they will be given a reward for their just deeds done while on earth. Apostle John saw a revelation of the fulfillment of this word that Jesus spoke and recorded it in his book.
Revelations 20:4 [NLT] 
4. Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

4.   John 11:25 [NLT]
25. Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.

The Resurrection is "the call to life". It is a 'call', signifying that it is of the word of God; and Jesus is the word of God personified. By Him, God calls all men who have believed and received Him back to life again (but this time, to an eternal or endless life of immortality). In John 11:25 above, by raising Lazarus back to mortal life after having been dead and buried for four (4) days (which was a thing never once done before), Jesus was giving a sign to His followers that He was able to raise them to immortal life when they die as He said He would do.

The tomb of Lazarus in Israel. Source: Wikipedia

In fact, that was the reason why Christ allowed Lazarus to die, and to stay four (4) whole days buried (so that his body would have started decaying) before going to raise him back to life. He needed to give this sign. In the old testament, the prophets Elijah and Elisha raised people back to life. If Jesus had come once Lazarus died, His point would have been no different that what Elijah and Elisha had shown, and would not even qualify as a resurrection per say because the body would have not been buried yet, nor started decaying. This also is why Jesus Himself had to stay three (3) days in the grave before being resurrected.


5.   Acts 1:21-22 [NLT] 
21. “So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus—
22. from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.”

The bishoprick or assignment of the first apostles was to witness to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Hence, being a witness to His resurrection was a criterion for appointment into apostleship. If you read further to verses 23 and 24 of Acts 1, you'll see that two (2) men were chosen for election into apostleship based on this criterion. And when the apostles had prayed and cast votes, one of them called Mathias was selected.

Acts 2:32
32. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

Acts 4:33 [KJV] 
33. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Witnessing to the Resurrection of Jesus was at the core of the apostle's job description. In fact, this is part of why the Apostle Paul could become an apostle— Jesus appeared to him on his way to Damascus and witnessed to Him that He was alive. That event became the bishoprick and authority upon which Paul's ministry flourished as an apostle.

Pilgrims visit and enter the empty tomb of Jesus in Israel. Source: Wikipedia 

6.   Acts 2:31 [KJV]
31. He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
[NLT] 
31. David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave.

In Christ's resurrection, His soul was not left in hell (or Hades; the place of departed or condemned souls). And His buried body did not rot or get destroyed (that is, to fully decay), but it was raised again to immortal (eternal) life. His soul did not remain in Hades; and neither did those of the just men of the old testament. He raised them all. Also, His body did not remain in the grave; and neither did those of those just men too. He raised them all; and their Graves were opened and they came out with new heavenly (immortal or celestial) bodies.
1 Corinthians 15:40-45 [NLT] 
40. There are also bodies in the heavens and bodies on the earth. The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the glory of the earthly bodies.
41. The sun has one kind of glory, while the moon and stars each have another kind. And even the stars differ from each other in their glory.
42. It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever.
43. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength.
44. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.
45. The Scriptures tell us, “The first man, Adam, became a living person.” But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit.

7.   Hebrews 6:1-2 [KJV] 
1. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2. Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

The Resurrection message is a Cardinal part of the gospel message. Without it, the gospel message would be incomplete, devoid of meaning, and of no real significance in man's life.
1 Corinthians 15:14
14. And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

8.   Acts 17:32 [KJV] 
32. And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

Christians recognize that the Resurrection is foolish talk to a non-believer. It is part of the tests of true and complete faith.

9.   Acts 6:5 [NLT]
5. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was.

The crux of the entire Christian belief and faith is that since we have benefited salvation from the death of Jesus (for we have died in His death), we have and will also benefit eternal (immortal) life by His resurrection, both in the now (for we now live to God and righteousness) and in the future (when our bodies shall die and be raised to life by His power), according to His promise.

10.   1 Corinthians 15:12-13 [KJV] 
12. Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13. But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

Doubting or denying the Resurrection of the dead is recognized as a principal form of heretical or erroneous teaching. Because, if truly there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen Himself. But we know that He is risen, with many witnesses confirming that they saw Him after He rose. Such teaching is therefore not just heretical, but essentially baseless, and would seem to be an attempt to hinder the salvation of the hearers of it.

11.   Philippians 3:10-11 [AMP] 
10. [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]
11. That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].

This passage reveals two (2) things:
First, there is a mighty power that the Resurrection of Jesus gives to those who believe in Him. In fact, this point is buttressed in the book of Ephesians.
Ephesians 1:19-20 [NLT] 
19. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power
20. that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.

Secondly, Paul felt in his spirit that if he could know Jesus more deeply, he could come to know and be consumed by the mighty power that raised Him from the dead and the suffering He bore to His death. He believed that if he had this experience, then he could be transformed into celestial being or existence directly, by that mighty power that raised Christ: such that, like Enoch and Elijah, he would not see physical death of his body, but be "caught up" to the heavens by the transformation of his earthly body into a heavenly or celestial one like Enoch and Elijah.

In fact, he continued to have this hope and desire to move into deeper realms of the faith even when he wrote to the Hebrews.
Hebrews 6:1-3 [NLT] 
1. So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.
2. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
3. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.

This honor that Paul sought so passionately is the honor which living saints will receive in being suddenly changed at the sound of the trumpet of the rapture of the saints, and being "caught up" to meet the Lord in the air.
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 [KJV] 
51. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

12.   Hebrews 11:35 [KJV] 
35. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

Indeed, people can be raised back to life also in the name of Jesus. This is, however, not necessarily a resurrection, but the sign of the power of resurrection. This is akin to what Jesus did to Lazarus when he raised Him back to life. He was giving His followers a sign that He had the power of resurrection, and that He in fact was the Resurrection Himself. As pointed out earlier, people like Elijah and Elisha also did this in the old testament, and as we can see in this Hebrews passage, the apostles and believers in Jesus also did so too. In our day today, many ministers of Jesus Christ also do the same. But none of these are the Resurrection. They are only the sign of the Resurrection power of Jesus Christ; that in His name, the dead who believe will be raised to eternal life again.

13.   1 Peter 1:3 [KJV] 
3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ gives hope and confidence to the believer. It is the life-blood of Christian faith.

14.   Revelation 20:6 [KJV] 
[6]Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Jesus said that those who believe in Him would be raised up to eternal (immortal) life when their bodies die. And that eternal damnation (the second death) would not be the lot of anyone who believes in Him. The Apostle John saw a revelation of this coming to pass in the future according to the words of Jesus Christ. This is what reinforces the hope and faith of everyone who truly believes in Jesus Christ, and is what makes the commemoration of Easter so important to many Christians.


Chukwubuikem Paul Anunaso is a civil/structural engineer in Lagos, Nigeria. He is also the editor of The Paul Anunaso Blog, and can be reached at anunaso.cp@gmail.com

Please participate by leaving your comments or questions about today's #ChurchTalk in the comments section below, or simply reacting by ticking the appropriate box. Also, feel free to discuss on social media platforms using the hashtag #ChurchTalk. 


Also, please suggest a #ChurchTalk topic for subsequent consideration, and we may feature it in the next edition of #ChurchTalk. State your suggested topics in the comments section below, or send them to thepaulanunasoblog@gmail.com 


Thanks for reading and participating.