A Thumbnail Theology – Peter Lundell, D.Miss.
1. Sin – and its corruption
Crucifixion breaks the power of 2. Law – and its judgment
3. Devil – and his evil intent
Resurrection breaks open the power of a new life in our living, sovereign Lord.
Jesus’ Spirit—the Holy Spirit in union with his spirit as a human—had to have come back to him for him to rise from death.
Giving up his Spirit was his point of death; receiving it back was his point of resurrected life.
As we identify with Jesus’ death and are “buried with him,” we also identify with Jesus’ resurrection and are “raised with him through faith in the power of God” (Rom. 6:3–4; Col. 2:12).
The stone was apparently rolled away more for us to see the empty tomb than for Jesus to get out.
After the resurrection, he moved through walls/doors and appeared and disappeared.
If Jesus had not been raised:
One would rightfully ask, Was he who he claimed to be? Was he really God? There could be no conclusive answer.
This would cast doubt on everything we know and believe about Jesus. The teachings would still be instructive, but who he is would be left to darkened mystery and doubt.
One could justifiably conclude that Jesus was a good man, a human, who gave his life for his cause.
We might still claim atonement for sin because Jesus died on our behalf. But so what? He died thousands of years ago—a great guy, but we would only have his memory, example, and teaching, like countless other great people. Nothing would be for here and now or for eternity.
The Christian message would ultimately be pointless and hopeless. “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” (1 Cor. 15:14). “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. . . . If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all people” (1 Cor. 15:17, 19).
This would shatter everything in Christian belief. Our best hope would be to hold to the Old Testament and become Jewish.
