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Chapter 180

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THE RESURRECTION
OF JESUS CHRIST
Part 2

180.030.000       Torrey: p178, T:III
Topic 30:   The Manner of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

180.030.010       Torrey: p178, T:III, P:1
POINT 10:   God raised Jesus Christ from the dead by the working of the strength of His might.

      Acts 2:24, 32 [24] But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. [32] God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.

      Acts 10:40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.

      Acts 13:30 But God raised him from the dead,

      Romans 10:9 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.

      Colossians 2:12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

      Ephesians 1:19-20 [19] and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, [20] which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

   It was not so much that Jesus Christ arose as that God raised Him. It was god who put forth the might, it was God who loosed the pains of death. He was raised by an act of power from without and not by the fullness of life within. He laid down His life to the fullest extent, He was in the fullest sense dead, and it took the strength of God's might to raise Him.

180.030.020       Torrey: p179, T:III, P:2
POINT 20:   Jesus Christ, after His resurrection, ate and drank, had hands, feet, flesh and bones, and all the appearance of a man.

      John 20:27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

      Acts 10:40-41 [40] but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. [41] He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen -- by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

      Luke 24:39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."

      Luke 24:15, 18 [15] As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; [18] One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"

      John 20:14-15 [14] At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. [15] "Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."

180.030.030       Torrey: p179, T:III, P:3
POINT 30:   Jesus Christ's resurrection appearance was sufficiently different from His earthly appearance as not to be clearly recognizable by His intimate friends.

      John 21:4, 12 [4] Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. [12] Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.

=== DISCUSSION ===

     Reviser's Note: I have to disagree with Torrey on this point. His original wording is "Jesus' resurrection appearance was so different . . ." Rather, it appears that God clouded the disciples' minds because of their lack of belief.  See Luke 24:13-35, excerpts of which are below:

     Luke 24:13-16 [13] Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. [14] They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. [15] As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; [16] but they were kept from recognizing him.

     Luke 24:25-27 [25] He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

     Luke 24:30-32 [30] When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. [31] Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. [32] They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

180.030.040       Torrey: p179, T:III, P:4
POINT 40:   Jesus Christ's resurrection body was of such character that He could appear in a room where the doors were shut and could vanish from the sight of men. It was not subject to some of the limitations under which ordinary earthly bodies exist and act.

      John 20:19, 26 [19] On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" [26] A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"

      Luke 24:31 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

180.030.050       Torrey: p180, T:III, P:5
POINT 50:   Jesus Christ had a transformed body, incorruptible, glorious, mighty, spiritual, heavenly, not FLESH AND BLOOD. ("flesh and bones" is not "flesh and blood").

      Philippians 3:21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

      Compare 1 Corinthians 15:42-50 [42] So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; [43] it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; [44] it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. [45] So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being" ; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. [46] The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. [47] The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. [48] As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. [49] And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. [50] I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

=== DISCUSSION ===

      Luke 24:39 Revised Standard Version See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself! Handle me, and see; for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.

      John 20:19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"

      Luke 24:31, New American Bible With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him;, whereupon he vanished from their sight.

      Luke 24:36-37 [36] While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself [suddenly] stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." [37] They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.

     John 20:25-27 [25] So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." [26] A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" [27] Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

   If Jesus' resurrected body had blood, it would be flowing out the open wounds.

    Many Christians incorrectly believe we will get a new body when we are resurrected.  If that were the case, what did God do with Jesus' old body?

180.040.000       Torrey: p180, T:IV
Topic 40:   The Results of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

180.040.010       Torrey: p180, T:IV, P:1
POINT 10:   Through Jesus Christ men became believers in God who raised Him from the dead. By the resurrection of Jesus Christ a solid foundation is laid for our faith in God.

      1 Peter 1:21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

   Men have been looking constantly for proofs of the existence and character of god. There is the argument from the marks of creative intelligence and design in the material universe, the argument form the evidence of an intelligent guiding hand in human history, the ontological argument, etc., but the resurrection of Jesus Christ points with unerring certainty to the existence, power, and holiness of the God who raised Him. On the other hand, if Christ is not raised from the dead our faith is in vain.

      1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

   My belief in the God of the Bible is not a felicitous fancy, it is a fixed faith resting upon an incontrovertibly firm fact.

180.040.020       Torrey: p181, T:IV, P:2
POINT 20:   By the Resurrection of Jesus Christ believers are begotten again unto a living hope, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven.

      1 Peter 1:3-4 [3] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade -- kept in heaven for you,

   The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the truth which, made living in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, results in the "new birth to a living hope, and an incorruptible, etc., inheritance."

      Compare Romans 10:9 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.

   Through our believing in a Risen and Living Christ, Christ begins to live in us. The Resurrection of Christ also forms a firm foundation of fact upon which to build our hope for the future.

180.040.030       Torrey: p181, T:IV, P:3
POINT 30:   By His Resurrection Jesus Christ is declared (or openly appointed or designated) to be the Son of God with power.

      Romans 1:4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

   The claim that Jesus made was that, while even the greatest and best of the prophets were only servants, He was a Son, a beloved and only one of the Father. That while other faithful messengers were only servants in the kingdom of God, it belonged to Himself as His own inheritance.

      Mark 12:6-7 [6] He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, "They will respect my son." [7] But the tenants said to one another, This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.

   That He was one with the Father, and that men should honor Him "even as they honor the Father."

      John 10:30 I and the Father are one.

      John 5:23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

   By raising Christ from the dead god set His seal to this claim. Others, it is true, have been raised from the dead by God's power, but they made no such claim as this prior to their death. But Jesus made this extraordinary claim; was put to death for making it; previous to His death claimed that God would raise Him again the third day. God did so, and thus affirmed the claim of Jesus Christ, and announced to all ages in a way more convincing and satisfying than an audible voice from heaven, "Jesus Christ is my Son and all men must honor the Son even as they honor me." The admission of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ leads logically to the admission of His deity.

180.040.040       Torrey: p182, T:IV, P:4
POINT 40:   By the Resurrection of Jesus Christ God "has given assurance to all men" that "He will judge the world in righteousness by "Jesus Christ."

      Acts 17:31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.

   Jesus Christ claimed that God would judge the world by Him.

      John 5:22, 27-29 [22] Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, [27] And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. [28] "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice [29] and come out -- those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.

   By raising Christ from the dead God has set His seal to that claim. If men ask me how I know there is a judgment day coming when Christ shall judge the world in righteousness, I reply because I know Jesus Christ arose. The sure fact of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ in the past, points unerringly forward to the sure coming of judgment in the future. Belief in a judgment day is no guess of theologians, it is a positive faith founded upon a proved fact.

180.040.050       Torrey: p182, T:IV, P:5
POINT 50:   By the Resurrection of Jesus Christ believers in Him are justified -- i.e., declared righteous.

      Romans 4:25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

   (a) Christ gave His life a propitiation for believers. He "was delivered up for our transgressions." The Resurrection settles it beyond a peradventure that God has accepted the propitiation. The Resurrection is God's declaration of His acceptance of the propitiation, and is, therefore, the declaration of our justification. When another agrees to settle for my responsibilities, I always wish to know whether the settlement is accepted. By the Resurrection, God declares that He has accepted and is satisfied with the settlement Christ has made. I am thus declared righteous in God's sight. If we are ever troubled with doubts as to whether God has accepted the offering Christ made, we have only to look at the empty tomb and the Risen Lord.

   (b) When Christ arose, He arose as our representative. He died as our representative, He arose as our representative, He ascended as our representative, He is seated as our representative.

      Ephesians 2:5-6 [5] made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -- it is by grace you have been saved. [6] And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus

   As one risen, ascended, seated, He is declared to be God's chosen and accepted one, and we are declared chosen, accepted, righteous to Him.

180.040.060       Torrey: p183, T:IV, P:6
POINT 60:   It is through being joined to the Risen Christ that the believer brings forth fruit to God.

      Romans 7:4 So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.

   The only living or doing or accomplishing in the Christian life that is acceptable to God is through union with the Risen Christ. Through union with the crucified Christ we get our pardon, our cleansing from guilt, our justification, our perfect standing before God. Through union with the Risen Christ we get power for life and fruit. One reason why there is so little of life and fruit in many professedly Christian lives is because there is so little knowledge of the Risen and Living Christ. Paul tells of God, who raised Him from the dead.

      Colossians 2:12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

   We are raised with Him to walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4 This is the truth which baptism symbolizes.

      Romans 6:3-4 [3] Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? [4] We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

   The full power of Christ's resurrection we shall not know until we attain unto the resurrection from the dead.

      Philippians 3:10-11 [10] I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, [11] and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

   "He that raised up Jesus from the dead shall also quicken our mortal bodies by His spirit which dwelleth in you."

      Romans 8:11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

   But "the power of this resurrection" in our moral and spiritual lives, begetting "newness of life," and "fruit unto God," we may know even now, through being "joined to him who was raised from the dead." Are you "joined to another, even to him who was raised from the dead?" Here lies the secret of holy living, "newness of life," victory over sin, fruit unto God.

180.040.070       Torrey: p183, T:IV, P:7
POINT 70:   Through the life of Jesus Christ believers will be saved.

      Romans 5:9-10 [9] Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! [10] For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

   Note 1 -- The life spoken of here evidently does not refer to the example of Christ, but to His life, which is the outcome of His Resurrection.

      Compare John 14:19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.

   Note 2. -- The salvation spoken of here evidently does not refer to salvation from the guilt of sin -- i.e., pardon and justification. That has been spoken of in the preceding verse as already secured "by his blood." It is salvation in the future -- "shall be saved by his life." By a comparison with the previous verse it is evidently salvation from the coming wrath. The life of Christ that is the outcome of the Resurrection secures this for us. this life will have its perfect manifestation in the coming of the Lord.

      Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

      2 Thessalonians 1:9-10 [9] They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power [10] on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.

180.040.080       Torrey: p184, T:IV, P:8
POINT 80:   Through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ we have an ever-living high priest at the right hand of God to continually make intercession for us, and who is therefore able to save to the uttermost (or "to all completeness").

      Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died -- more than that, who was raised to life -- is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

      Hebrews 7:25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

   Salvation is begun by the atoning death of Jesus Christ; it is continued by the Resurrection and Intercession of Christ. We have not only a Savior who died and so made atonement for sin, but also a Savior who rose and carried the blood into the holy of holies -- God's own presence -- and presents it there, and who ever lives and pleads our case in every new failure.

      1 John 2:1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense -- Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

      Compare Luke 22:31-32 [31] Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. [32] But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.

      John 11:42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.

   Herein He our abiding security and our assurance of the ultimate perfect completeness of Christ's work for us and in us.

   Note the believer's triumphant challenge:

      Romans 8:33-34 [33] Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. [34] Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died -- more than that, who was raised to life -- is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

180.040.090       Torrey: p185, T:IV, P:9
POINT 90:   In the Resurrection of Jesus Christ we have an illustration and proof of the exceeding greatness of God's power toward us.

      Ephesians 1:18-20 [18] I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, [19] and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, [20] which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

   If we would understand and know what God can do in and for us, we have simply to look at and meditate upon the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, looking to God to give us " ... the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better." (Ephesians 1:17)

180.040.100       Torrey: p185, T:IV, P:10
POINT 100:   The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the guarantee of our own resurrection.

      1 Thessalonians 4:14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

      2 Corinthians 4:14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.

   We know that God will raise us up because He raised Him up. We are so untied to Christ by faith that if He rose we must. If the spirit of Him who raised up Christ from the dead will also quicken our mortal bodies by His spirit that dwells in us.

      Romans 8:11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

   The Resurrection of Jesus Christ has robbed death of its terrors for the believer.

      1 Corinthians 15:55-57 [55] "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" [56] The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. [57] But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

180.040.110       Torrey: p185, T:IV, P:11
POINT 110:   The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the promise made to the Fathers.

      Acts 13:32-33 [32] We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers [33] he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: "You are my Son; today I have become your Father."

   QUESTION: What was the promise made to the Fathers of which the Resurrection of Christ is the fulfillment?

   ANSWER: Acts 3:25 And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, "Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed."

   Compare to the following:

      Genesis 22:18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.

      Genesis 26:4 I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed,

      Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

      Galatians 3:16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ.

      Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.

   The Risen Jesus Christ is the seed in which all nations shall be blessed in His turning them away from their iniquities.

      Acts 3:26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.

   Furthermore, "Resurrection" is the substance of the promise made to the Fathers.

      Acts 26:6-8 [6] And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am on trial today. [7] This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. O king, it is because of this hope that the Jews are accusing me. [8] Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?

      Compare Acts 23:6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead."

   And Jesus the resurrected one, and first fruits of them that sleep, is the fulfillment of this promise. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the guarantee of the fulfillment of all the promises of God:

   First, because it declares Him to be the Son of God with power, and thus that the promises of the Bible all of which He endorses.

      Luke 24:44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."

are the sure words of God.

   Second, because it reveals God's ability to keep His word and also His mighty power toward us. He that keeps His word in raising the dead can surely fulfill all His promises.

      Compare Acts 13:38-39 [38] "Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. [39] Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.

   If we wish to know that all the promise of God is in Christ Jesus, we have only to look to that most marvelous fulfillment of God's word and promise that has already taken place -- the Resurrection -- and see in that the guarantee of the fulfillment of all. If you are ever tempted to think any promise of the Word too large and that you must discount it, remember that Christ is risen and that therein you have a proof and illustration of the "exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe."

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