God Blog
Chris Gomez
Eternal Life Found in 1 John
Eternal Life Found in 1 John
God Blog
Chris Gomez
The Historical Development of the Trinity

The Trinity, one of the foundational and essential doctrines of Christianity, yet the word is not even found in the Bible (Grudem, 2004). There are thousands of books, articles, lectures, and sermons on the topic of the Trinity. However, one of the most helpful studies one can endeavor is the historical development of the Trinity. Studying the historical development of an essential doctrine of the church will help Christians become more familiar with Biblical doctrine. Also, it will encourage and equip them to defend their faith; it will shape them more into the image of Christ, and help them become better ministers of the Gospel (“Grand Canyon University,” 2019).

The Historical Development of the Trinity
God Blog
Chris Gomez
What is Original Sin?
What is Original Sin?
God Blog
Chris Gomez
What is the Point of Church Community?
What is the Point of Church Community?
Jesus
Chris Gomez
Did Jesus Exist?
Did Jesus Exist?

Raised from the dead

Why Was Jesus Raised from the Dead?

The Resurrection

When Jesus was on earth, he raised four people from the dead: the widows’ son (Luke 7:15), the 12-year-old daughter of Jarius (Mark 5:42), Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha (John 11:44), and Himself. John 10:18 mentions how Jesus said, “No one takes if from me, but I lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.” This charge Jesus says, He has received from His Father. What is interesting though about the resurrection of Christ is that the entire Trinity had a part to play in this monumental event. God the Father is said in Scripture to have raised Jesus from the dead and so is the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:32; Rom. 6:4; 8:11).

 So, what is so important about this historical event? Well, commentator Gary Habermas (2003) once said, “Jesus’ resurrection is an actual example of our eternal life. It is the only miracle that, by its very nature, indicates the reality of the afterlife” (p. 163). Due to Jesus being the first fruit of one who was bodily raised from the dead in a glorified state, we as believers in Jesus have this same hope to go and be with Him where He also is (John 14:1-3). Listen to Jesus’ words in John 14:1-3.

 Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

These are very comforting words by our Lord, but why else was Jesus raised from the dead? Theologian Michael Bird (2013) gives us several reasons:

1. The resurrection of Christ reveals to the fullest extent, Christ’s identity and marks the beginning of the future age (Bird, 2013). The Jews in the Old Testament and in Jesus’s time already had a theology of the resurrection (Dan 12:1-2; John 11:24). Jesus now not only begins a new age with the New Covenant which has no temple buildings, priests, and continual sacrifices; since He fulfills all of these things (Grudem, 2004; Heb. 7:27; 9:12, 26; 10:1-2; 10-14). But Christ also confirms with His resurrection that He truly is God as the ultimate sign (Matt. 12:38-40). Bird (2013) highlights this point:

What most Jews hoped God would do for Israel at the end of history, God had done for Jesus in the middle of history, namely, to raise him from the dead. This was the sign that Jesus had been given all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18), was vindicated from false accusations (1 Tim. 3:16), was marked out as God’s Son (Rom. 1:4), was designated the heir of all things (Heb. 1:2), and was installed as Messiah and Lord (Acts 2:36). God’s covenant with creation and Israel must now be interpreted in light of the fact that the resurrection designated Jesus as the Son of God. (p. 440)

Wayne Grudem (2004) also states:

Jesus fulfilled all the expectations that were prefigured, not only in the Old Testament sacrifices, but also in the lives and actions of the priests who offered them: He was both the sacrifice and the priest who offered the sacrifice. (p. 626)

Jesus in His resurrection proclaimed His identity, fulfilled the types and shadows of the priesthood, and inaugurated the new age. 

2. The resurrection of Christ initiated the beginning of the new creation (Bird, 2013). Jesus was raised to begin the process of restoration and renewal in which God originally stated back in the Garden during the fall (Gen. 3:15). God has been working all throughout history to restore humankind back to their original state which was very good (Gen. 1:31). Wright (2008) says it best, “What creation needs is neither abandonment nor evolution but rather redemption and renewal; and this is both promised and guaranteed by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead” (p. 107). Jesus is the first fruits of this new creation (Rom. 8:29; 1 Cor. 15:20, 23; Col. 1:15, 18; Heb. 12:23; Rev. 1:5).

3. The resurrection of Christ needed to happen so that Jesus could send the Holy Spirit. Many times, in scripture, Jesus continually told the disciples that they would receive the Holy Spirit to remind them, to bring them power, to teach them, to testify about Him, and also that the Spirit would be in them (John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26). Since Jesus rose again, He would now be able to ascend to Heaven and then send the comforter.

4. The resurrection of Christ was needed to fulfill prophecy. Jesus predicted His death and resurrection in many different places in the Gospels (Luke 9:21; 24:46; Matt. 20:18). Jesus also mentions how this act will be the ultimate sign like that of Jonah (Matt. 12:38-40).

5. The resurrection of Christ is the objective grounds for salvation (Bird, 2013). Paul says, “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Rom. 4:25). In 1 Corinthians 15:17, Paul again says, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” At the cross, Jesus took the penalty for our sins and through the resurrection Jesus secured our justification (Bird, 2013). In the resurrection, Christ broke the power of sin, the bondage of sin, and the penalty of sin, and imputed His righteousness into our own lives. Our salvation is based solely on the work that He accomplished, and by Christ rising from the dead, God confirmed this securement.

Now there are also other reasons why but I think these five summarize the point. To close, listen to what Michael Bird (2013) says about all of these points:

Jesus is risen; therefore, God’s new world has begun. Jesus is risen; therefore, the tyrants and dictators of the world should tremble and quiver—because God has exalted Jesus and every knee will bow before him. Jesus is risen; therefore, Israel has been restored and the plan for the nation is fulfilled in him. Jesus is risen; therefore, death has been defeated. Jesus is risen; therefore, creation groans in anticipation of its renewal. Jesus is risen; therefore, we will be raised also to live in God’s new world. Jesus is risen; therefore, go and make disciples in his name. The resurrection means that God’s new world has broken into our own world, and we are heirs and ambassadors of the king that is coming. (p. 447)

 

References

Bird, M. F. (2013). Evangelical theology: A Biblical and systematic introduction. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Habermas, G. (2003). The risen Jesus and future hope. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.

Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: An introduction to Biblical doctrine. Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.

N. T. Wright. (2008). Surprised by hope. New York: HarperOne.