It is a central doctrine of biblical faith which affirms that God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day. Without the Resurrection, the apostle Paul declared Christian preaching and belief are meaningless (1 Cor. 15:14). The Resurrection is the point at which God's intention for Jesus becomes clear (Rom. 1:4) and believers are assured that Jesus is the Christ and our sins are forgiven (1 Cor. 15:17).

The appearances. The post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus are clearly at the heart of early Christian belief. The consistent witness of the New Testament is that in the appearances of Jesus something incredible happened. The two followers in Emmaus, upon realizing it was the risen Jesus, forgot their concern with the lateness of the hour and rushed back to Jerusalem to tell the others (Luke 24:29-33). The doubting Thomas uttered Christianity's greatest confession when he realized that the risen Christ was actually addressing him (John 20:27). Peter left his fishing nets for good when the risen Savior asked him, "Do you love Me?” (John 21:15). And at a later time (1 Cor. 15:8), the persecutor Paul was transformed into a zealous missionary as the result of a special appearance by the risen Lord (Acts 9:1-22).

But what was the nature of these appearances? Some have suggested that the appearance of Jesus to Paul seemed to be of a spiritual nature, similar to the revelation of Jesus to believers today. But since Paul equates all of the appearances together in 1 Corinthians 15:5-8, critical arguments that Jesus' appearances must be "spiritual” in nature must collapse. It is clear that the risen Jesus could be touched (Matt. 28:9; Luke 24:39; John 20:27) or that He could eat (Luke 24:41-42).

The truth of Scripture also countermands the contrived approach advocated by the German theologian Rudolph Bultmann, who spoke of an "Easter faith” of the disciples rather than an actual bodily resurrection of Jesus. He splits the Jesus of history from the spiritual experience of the Christ of faith, suggesting the Resurrection was only a belief, not a historical fact. But this notion is inconsistent with the evidence of the New Testament writers who bore witness not to what God did for them (with an idea), but what God did to Jesus (raising Him from the dead—Acts 2:32).

The resurrection of Jesus, His exaltation to the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:33), and the giving of the Spirit (John 20:22) are all to be seen as a single cluster of events verifying the resurrection reality. The summary practical impact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ may be seen in the following statement, and studied phrase by phrase with the supporting references from God's Word.

I Believe in the Resurrection

I believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; that He personally, physically, and actually died, and on the third day rose again according to the Scriptures. I believe that by His resurrection He declared His deity and announced His conquest of death and hell, and that all who believe this in their heart may be saved.

Because I believe this, I confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus and worship Him whom I glorify as the Son of God, risen from the grave and ascended upon high in triumph above all the powers of darkness.

(Supporting texts: Ps. 16:8-11; John 19:1-20:31; Rom. 1:4; 10:9-10; 1 Cor. 15:1-8; Eph. 1:19-21.)

I believe in the resurrection of the just, that at Christ's coming we shall all be changed into the likeness of His glorious, resurrected body. I believe that we shall receive eternal, physical bodies which shall not be subject to decay, and that in that glorified state we shall forever be with and serve the living God.

Because I believe this, I live life in hope of the resurrection, without fear of death and without bondage to the endless grievings of those who have no such hope.

(Supporting texts: Job 19-26; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Cor. 15:51-58; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 John 3:2.)

I believe in the resurrection of all mankind, that on the last day every creature shall stand before the throne of God and give account for the deeds done in the body. I believe that by His death and resurrection, Christ Jesus has made it possible for every person to anticipate that day with joy, but that all those resistant to His Lordship shall experience endless judgment in bodies intended to know eternal blessing rather than eternal shame.

Because I believe this, I walk in faith and holy sobriety, knowing that my motives as well as my deeds, my thoughts as well as my words constitute the substance of eternal values which I either serve or shirk and according to which I shall be judged before the loving and righteous Father.

(Supporting texts: Luke 16:19-31; 1 Cor. 3:12-15; 2 Cor. 5:9-10; Rev. 20:11-15.)

With such an expectation as this, I can walk in praise to a resurrected Savior who has not only given me an eternal hope, but who can fill me with an eternal quality of life and power to live daily in the resources of His victory.